Conversation

Only time I read paper newspapers now is when I’m in India. First thing that caught my eye was the kerfuffle around statues of regional atheism-positive party’s founding father Periyar. Good question. Is active atheism a religion to be separated from state?🤔
Image
Replying to
The current leader of same party (or main fork DMK rather) was also named for Stalin during a Stalin-positive era. I’m for atheism-positive state affirmative action but not so sure about this.
Image
3
5
We conclude today’s India news bulletin with some Chola history snippets. Timely for me since I’m headed to Thanjavur tomorrow with family for a quick tour of the famous Chola temple there, which I haven’t seen before. TIL copper for chola bronzes came from Jordan.
Image
Image
1
6
Just noticed this detail: the Indian penal code section 428 under which the poisoners of the stray dogs are charged is “mischief by killing or maiming animals” … Indian legalese always seems to contain weird language like this. Mischief???
Image
7
4
Replying to
Periyarite version of atheism, Kerala’s version of communism, Bengal’s version of the current thing and some other unmentionable items are all religions.
2
Replying to
Not the gist of your thread, but a kinda funny coincidence that the Scopes Trial, where the US courts fought about state education for atheism, was also in a “TN court”, in Dayton, Tennessee.
1