Followers of the Hindu Faith Figure What the Heck

Religion plays with the mind in so many ways. To some Christians the communion ritual is so powerful it changes temporarily their behavior. There are Christians who pass out from emotions. Now we read how Hindus see religious meaning in the Hindu traditions.

Mid August was the time of a huge Hindu celebration. Traditionally, massive numbers of people came from across India to the shores of the Arabian Sea. They enter the water with cheap idols of the god, Ganesh. Often they would leave the idols in the sea and they would wash up other places. Worshippers wear make up considered toxic to the environment.

On land the celebration includes Ganesh statues raised high above the crowds. People gather around below the statues and have parties.

Several adjustments had to be made because of the Coronavirus. Instead of crowds in the Arabian Sea the city water utility drove around with water trucks. They hosed water into tanks or puddles where people immersed their statues. Sometimes the tanks were moved from one neighborhood to the next. The statues on polls still host parties underneath.

We have preachers in the U.S. who insist on holding church services. They believe their religious practices are well worth the risk of being left injured of dead. The same seems true in Hinduism.

Whether we're talking Christianity or Hinduism I think not practicing religion in order to save lives is a good moral principle. But, we know, it is Christians (and Hindus), and not atheists, who know how to live lives of sound moral character. That being the case I must be wrong and killing people by holding services is morally sound. Not going to church so as to not spread disease is morally unsound.

If we survive this pandemic it will be in spite of, not because of, religion.