A is A--no matter how often you pretend to yourself and others that it's non-A.
Latest example comes from India, where the heroic Sanal Edamaruku, president of Rationalist International, challenged tantrik Pandit Surendra Sharma to prove his claim that he could use “magical powers” to kill anyone. The Times takes up the story:
When a famous tantric guru boasted on television that he could kill another man using only his mystical powers, most viewers either gasped in awe or merely nodded unquestioningly. Sanal Edamaruku’s response was different. ‘Go on then — kill me,’ he said.
And the barmy swami tried to. On live TV.
“First, the master chanted mantras, then he sprinkled water on his intended victim. He brandished a knife, ruffled the sceptic’s hair and pressed his temples. But after several hours of similar antics, Mr Edamaruku was still very much alive — smiling for the cameras and taunting the furious holy man…
“When the guru’s initial efforts failed, he accused Mr Edamaruku of praying to gods to protect him. ‘No, I’m an atheist,’ came the response. The holy man then said he needed to conduct a ritual that could only be done at night, outdoors, and after he had slept with a woman, drunk alcohol and rubbed himself in ash.
“The men agreed to go to an outdoor studio that night — all to no avail. At midnight, the anchor declared the contest over. Reason had prevailed…
“‘He was over, finished, completely destroyed!’ Mr Edamaruku chuckles triumphantly as he concludes the tale in the Rationalist Centre, his second-floor office in the town of Noida, just outside Delhi.
Nonsense is nonsense. As you can show when you have reality on your side.
Have a good laugh at the voodoo guru. Watch on You Tube: (Part 2 here; Part 3 here.)
7 comments:
Cool!!, A Win for the rationalist!
How's that for a pickup line: I need to sleep with you, because I want to kill an atheist!
Having watch the videos, it has some similarities to a story in the Bible where Elijah challenges the priests of Baal to a contest. But the followers of Baal were a bit more fanatic, after their initial attempts failed ("And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them."). But this guy kept his calm.
But I doubt this demonstration will have any real effect, just like the demonstration of the failure of the priests of Baal had no effect.
"The holy man then said he needed to conduct a ritual that could only be done at night, outdoors, and after he had slept with a woman, drunk alcohol and rubbed himself in ash."
Yup I think that's a religion we could all join.
KiwiGreg
Yes, except the rubbing in ashes part. The faith can do without that bit.
LGM
LGM
Do what all true believers do: Keep the bits you like, and discard the rest as being an archaic and outdated, all the while claiming that your religion is unchanging and eternal.
It's worked for christians for milennia.
Question: if he had died, would the swami have been convicted of murder? Would have been a laugh if he'd faked his death just to see if the swami would deny his "powers" in court :)
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