Muslims in Beijing, celebrate Abraham's willingness to slaughter his son.

by fulltimestudent 4 Replies latest social current

  • fulltimestudent
    fulltimestudent

    Some 20 million Muslims live in China, with maybe around 12,000 residents around the Niujie mosque in Beijing. Along with their worldwide fellowship of believers they have this week celebrated the above event in a festival known as Corban or Eid al-Adha.

    Here's some images of their festival from the English (web) edition of the Global Times.

    Reference: http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/817939.shtml#.Ul19WlBmhcY

    1. Prayers in front of the Niujie Mosque in Central Beijing

    Muslims pray during the Corban Festival in Niujie Mosque in central Beijing on Tuesday.Photo: Li Hao/GT

    The faithful include nearby residents and travelers from afar.Photo: Li Hao/GT

    Thousands pray ahead of the animal sacrifice later that day. Photo: Li Hao/GT

    Two little Muslim girls in tradtional Chinese/Muslim clothes

    Muslim girls in traditional clothes Photo: Li Hao/GT

    And, as you likely recall, Yahweh trapped a sheep for Abraham to kill (and eat) in place of his son.

    So the Muslim festival includes slaughtering a number of sheep and cattle to BBQ and eat. It must be a scene

    reminiscent of the Jerusalem temple in its heyday, when the priest slaughtered large amounts of

    animals for sacrifice on festival days. Some scholars describe the scene around the temple on festival days as

    chaotic, with terrified animals bawling, noisy crowds of worshippers calling out to Yahweh, and the smell of the butchered animals (intestines, etc),

    the smell of BBQ'd meat and smoke. Yet Yahweh is described as being pleased with it.

    Bulls are slaughtered as part of the religious celebration. Photo: Li Hao/GT

    Guarding the sheep to be slaughtered for the festival. Photo: Li Hao/GT

  • adamah
    adamah

    That last photo reminded me of the irony of Christianity: Jesus called his followers 'sheep', when a moment's thought should reveal that shepherds didn't keep sheep for their wool (or for snuggling with them at night), but to SLAUGHTER them for their meat and use as sacrifices (apparently many people don't reflect on the meaning of the phrase, 'sacrificial lamb').

    Adam

  • cofty
    cofty

    The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want
    He makes me down to lie.
    Through pastures green He leadeth me
    The silent waters by.
    With bright knives He releaseth my soul.
    He maketh me to hang on hooks in high places.
    He converteth me to lamb cutlets.
    For lo, He hath great power, and great hunger.
    When cometh the day we lowly ones,
    Through quiet reflection, and great dedication,
    Master the art of Karate,
    Lo, we shall rise up,
    And then we'll make the bugger's eyes water. - Pink Floyd

  • tornapart
    tornapart

    Hmmmm... how many of us are quite happy to have a lamb, pig, cow, chicken, on our dinner plate for a Sunday roast? How do you think it gets there?

    All wrapped up in pastic from the supermarket....................... have you seen inside an abbatoir???

  • designs
    designs

    The story of Abraham and his son was to be a lesson in Not killing humans in scarifice vis a vie Jesus should not be viewed as the sacrifice to save the world. Radical Muslims may think this story gives them license to kill themselves which would be a mistake on the moral lesson.

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