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From: wilson_3@h-sc1.UUCP (bradford wilson)
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Deities with skulls...
Message-ID: <615@h-sc1.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 22-Oct-85 22:53:58 EDT
Article-I.D.: h-sc1.615
Posted: Tue Oct 22 22:53:58 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 24-Oct-85 06:31:56 EDT
Distribution: net
Organization: Harvard Univ. Science Center
Lines: 25


       There now rages a dispute whether or not there are Hindu/Tibetan 
religions with skulls and such..."obviously satanist."

       First, I believe the religion alluded to is the Indian cult of Kali,
a minor religion followed by the Thuggees, who were sort of maniacal dervishes.
(Spielberg's information in "Temple of Doom" is remarkably accurate...). The    cult of Kali was a death-worshipping religion, so skulls and human sacrifices
were in evidence. Most historians believe the accounts concerning these people,
but claim that the cult no longer exists...

       Second, I don't know how you go about making the judgement, "obviously
satanist". I am surprised at you. The masculine materialistic Satan (who is
the Satan created by the Christians) is a far cry from the feminine Kali.
Satanism emphasizes a spirit of defiance in its followers; sacrifice is used
to produce energy for achieving various ends. The accounts of the Kali Cult
purport that the Goddess needed human blood to survive; sacrifices produced
a frenzied religious ecstasy in the followers. I do not think it is fair to
equate two such disparate faiths just because there were skulls lying around;
this is like saying Christians and Satanists are comparable because both use 
candles in their rites.
       Any questions and comments are appreciated...

                                The Wombat .:.

   "Do What Thou Wilt..." Fnord.