International Symposium of Nuclear Physics inaugurated with giant photo of Sathya Sai Baba #fail

By Atheist |
Saturday, December 19, 2015
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International Symposium of Nuclear Physics organised by Indian Govt Dept for Atomic Energy - 8th Dec 2015

Karnataka to ban all TV shows based on astrology

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On a welcome move, Karnataka government is being progressive by deciding to ban "Astrology shows" on TV channels. India Today reports:

The Congress government in Karnataka is all set to ban astrology-based shows being telecast on regional Kannada TV channels, as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah believes that too much of superstition is being spread by the astrologers.
"Every TV channel wants to air astrology-based shows in Karnataka. In my home too, the scenario is no different. It is time we banned such shows," Siddaramaiah said in Bengaluru on Monday. The chief minister was speaking at a programme organised to felicitate a senior leader of the Dalits.
This is not for the first time that the Congress government has proposed imposition of a ban on astrologybased shows in Karnataka.
Though not an atheist, Siddaramaiah has been a critic of superstitious practices, including astrology. In Karnataka, all the leading TV channels have astrology based shows, which are aired at prime time. The shows enjoy high TRPs.
Source: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/karnataka-to-ban-all-tv-shows-based-on-astrology/1/541029.html 

Revenues of Religions

By Atheist |
Thursday, September 24, 2015
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The purpose of this article is to bring to the world's attention, the true cost paid by people for religion. As an indicator, I am pointing out the revenues made by the head institutions for the three major religions of the world.

Islam - Haj pilgrimage - $8.5 billion per year

Mecca in Saudi Arabia

The revenues per year that Saudi Arabia makes from the nearly 2.5millions that visit Haj for pilgrimage every year:

2014 - $8.5 billion (expected)
Expenses for pilgrims include housing, food and drink, gifts and phone bills
Avg Revenue from international pilgrim: $4633
Avg Revenue from domestic pilgrim:  #1319

2012 - $16.5 billion

One normally can expect some level of infrastructure to make sure that the pilgrims are accommodated safely, given the total income that they bring in for host countries. However, 118 people were killed last month in a crane collapse at Hajj, and today 200 (and counting) are dead in a deadly stampede.

Christianity - Vatican pilgrims - $308 million per year

Vatican City, Credit: Getty Images
Vatican city's income is generated solely from the sale of stamps, coins, medals, and tourist mementos; by fees for admission to museums; and by publication sales.

Hinduism - Tirupati pilgrims - $342 million per year

Tirupati in India

This number is just the donations that are made by the visitors at the Tirupati temple. There are no published figures from the total revenue made from the visitors to Tirupati temple.

Tirupati has its share of stampedes over the years: 2015, 2012, 2010


Author note: This report is far from a complete analysis. This is just an introduction. Can do more research based on the reception of this report and feedback.

Man kills two month old son fearing bad luck

By Atheist |
Friday, January 27, 2012
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In yet another superstitious atrocity, a man from Kerala killed his own son after an astrologer predicted that the son would bring bad luck since he was bron with two teeth.

Madhu, a 27-year-old fisherman from Punnapra , allegedly thrashed the baby on the floor two days ago after an astrologer told him that the child born with two teeth was a bad omen for him, police said.

News article link


Alappuzha district, Kerala where the incident took place\


Boy sacrificed for hidden treasure in India

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Superstitious people strike again. This time, idiots from Andhra Pradesh state sacrificed a boy in hopes of finding a treasure in a fort.  

Nirmal Town Fort, where the sacrifice was performed by eight people
The human sacrifice was offered as part of a plan to bribe the gods into revealing a hidden treasure.

The boy was sacrificed for the believed-to-be hidden treasure in the fort on Amavasya (new moon night) on the intervening night of Jan 24-25. He was buried in the same area and the police exhumed the body Thursday. The body showed signs of rituals having been performed, with turmeric powder, vermilion and other puja related objects found on the victim’s body.

 
Read full article here


Adilabad, Andhra Pradesh, India where the incident took place
 

Superstitious sons kill mother by trying to exorcise her by beating her with rods

By Atheist |
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
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In a 2 year old news  dug up from CNN-IBN India, three sons murder their mother trying to exorcise her.And then tried to sacrifice their sister-in-law to bring her back from death. Its sad to mention that one of the killer is MBA holder,one is am Engineering student.Its realy sad that even educated people are criminally superstitious.

From CNN-IBN,
New Delhi: Apr 8, 2008: It is a bizarre tale from the Capital's suburb Ghaziabad. Three boys beat their 55-year-old mother to death, believing she had been possessed by a spirit. The three boys — an engineering student, a MBA degree holder and a student of Class XII — beat up the woman with rods. They then tried to sacrifice their sister-in-law to bring their dead mother back to life.
All three — aged between 18-24 years — have been arrested.
The incident happened at Vijay Nagar in Ghaziabad on Saturday night. Rohit, Ashish and Navneet even beat up their sister, her husband and other relatives who tried to intervene.
The incident happened at Vijay Nagar in Ghaziabad on Saturday night. Rohit, Ashish and Navneet even beat up their sister, her husband and other relatives who tried to intervene.
Says their sister-in-law, Preeti Singh, "These people believed that their mother was possessed by a spirit. We don't believe in these things, but then they started saying that a human sacrifice was needed and then they got after me, that I was the one to be sacrificed."


News video of the incident from CNN-IBN

Albino girl, 11, killed and beheaded in Swaziland ’for witchcraft’

By Atheist |
Sunday, August 22, 2010
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Albino girl, 11, killed and beheaded in Swaziland ’for witchcraft’


An 11-year-old albino girl from Swaziland was shot dead in front of her friends and then beheaded in what police believe was a ritual murder.
Police believe children are targeted because of a belief by witch doctors that the blood and body parts of albinos can bring good luck and fortune when used in potions Photo: AFP/GETTY The child had been washing clothes and bathing at a river with friends and was returning home when she was grabbed by a man wearing a balaclava.



As her friends looked on, the man shot her in the back before dragging her away. Her headless body was found upriver a short time later.

The murder is the latest in a series of albino killings in Sub-Saharan Africa, where sufferers of the rare skin pigmentation condition are concentrated.




Earlier this year, another 11-year-old albino child was killed close to the same spot in Swaziland and her hand was removed.

Police believe both children may have been targeted because of a belief by witch doctors that the blood and body parts of albinos - who lack pigment in their eyes, hair and skin - can bring good luck and fortune when used in potions.

Their value for black magic practitioners sees them often fall prey to human traffickers, one of whom was jailed for 17 years in Tanzania this week for abducting and attempting to sell a live albino man.

The girl murdered in Swaziland was named locally as Banele Nxumalo. A man identified as her father, Luke Nxumalo, told The Times of Swaziland that his late uncle had also been an albino.

“What happened to my child is very painful. I wonder why albinos are targeted because they are just humans like us and a gift from God,” he said.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/swaziland/7956458/Albino-girl-11-killed-and-beheaded-in-Swaziland-for-witchcraft.html
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