On organized religion
November 24th, 2005
A boy has appeared in Nepal who people are likening to Buddha. He has allegedly sat under a pipal tree for six months, without moving or eating; there are already rumors of halos in his head and people are flocking to see him.
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A thriving market has grown in the once pristine forest, supplying pilgrims with everything from chewing tobacco and bicycle repairs to incense and sacred amulets. The ground is covered in litter.
A fence was built around Ram’s tree to prevent pilgrims prodding him, then a second, and now a third is planned, as well as a bus park, leaving Ram at the centre of an ever growing circle of rubbish.
I couldn’t have made a more incisive comment on organized religion myself.