Temple Virgins

During past centuries, young girls in India were sometimes sent to live at a Hindu temple, where they went through an initiation ceremony which “married” them to the god or goddess associated with the temple. These girls, who were known as Devadasi, were often only eight or nine years old when they left their families. After they went to live at a temple, they were trained in arts such as music and dance so that they could take part in the elaborate rites performed during most Hindu worship services. Some of them may have also had other duties, such as working on temple decorations or helping to grow the flowers used in the ceremonies.

Originally these Devadasi were virgins from high-caste families, and they were admired and honored throughout their lives. But over the centuries the system slowly changed, until eventually most of the girls came from low-caste families and served as “sacred” temple prostitutes instead of sacred temple virgins. This transition from high-caste virgins to low-caste prostitutes occurred because political and economic changes gradually reduced the funds that temples received from royal patrons and wealthy donors, so that new sources of income were needed.

Read the full article at World Wide Weird Beliefs.

Naturist Religious Sects

Read all about nudists WorldWideWeirdBeliefs.Com

When Alexander the Great led his army into India in the 4th century BC, he encountered several wandering groups of naked Hindu holy men. In fact, members of some Hindu sects still practice nudity today, and there are also some Jain and Ajivika monks in India who go around naked. In these religious groups the practice is usually associated with a belief that a truly virtuous person should give up all material possessions, including clothes.
Naturist religious sects have also appeared at various times in other parts of the world. For example, an ancient Gnostic-Christian sect called the Adamites existed in Egypt in the 2nd century AD. Its members believed that going naked would enable them to return to the original state of innocence enjoyed by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. This sect, which rejected marriage as well as clothing, eventually came into conflict with mainstream Christians, and it apparently died out in the 4th or 5th century.

Read the rest of this piece at World Wide Weird Beliefs.

Sex Slaves of Paradise

World Wide Weird Beliefs

One of the most controversial aspects of Islam is the belief that a devout Muslim man will find female sex slaves called Houris waiting for him in heaven after he dies. Islamic writings describe these Houris as young virgins with sparkling eyes, firm round breasts, and fair skin. In their behavior they are very modest and submissive, and always ready to do anything a man desires. Unlike normal women, they don’t menstruate and they never get pregnant. They are like programmed zombies whose only purpose is to give pleasure to men.

According to some Islamic writings, every man who goes to heaven will be given 72 Houris for his own exclusive use. In other words, he gets a heavenly harem of 72 sex slaves. Oddly, even after he acquires this harem, he may still maintain a marital relationship with his earthly wife, provided that she also makes it to heaven. The man, his wife, and all of his Houris never have any disagreements, and everyone lives harmoniously in a state of eternal youth, beauty, and perfect health.
Note: Some sources say that each man in heaven gets 70 Houris instead of 72. Of course, as a practical matter this would make little difference.

Read more at World Wide Weird Beliefs