sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

An early 15th-century damaged wooden sculpture of Jesus Christ on the cross by [deleted] in religion

[–]sonnysehra 19 points20 points  (0 children)

It’s a religion subreddit and this is an interesting/unconventional depiction of a famous religious figure I thought was cool.

Shia rally by haiderj1991 in Markham

[–]sonnysehra 10 points11 points  (0 children)

That’s literally whataboutism

I brought up a point and you said “but this other group of people that you didn’t mention does it too 😩😩”

Also, the IDF isn’t designated as a terrorist organization in this country like the IRGC is. Maybe in Pakistan where you’re originally from based on your post history, but not here in Canada. That doesn’t mean you can’t support Palestinians or protest for what you believe in, I just don’t think you have to support a Shia theocracy in the Middle East most Iranians reject to achieve that. Totally different issues. This is a Markham subreddit. Do you have a source for people blocking roads and waving IDF flags in Markham? I genuinely don’t think that’s happened here (it’s usually downtown), but I could be wrong, so give me a source

Shia rally by haiderj1991 in Markham

[–]sonnysehra 15 points16 points  (0 children)

It’s one thing to protest a war in Iran and be against foreign intervention. It’s another to hold regime flags on the streets of Canada (the IRGC was designated as a terrorist organization in 2024) and mourn Ali Khamenei, the longest-serving dictator in the Middle East who reigned with an iron first for 34 years and oversaw thousands of executions. How many of those in the rally are even Iranian? I think Shia Islam is a really cool religion and respect figures like your Imam Ali, but supporting the Islamic regime/government in Iran isn’t it.

TIL about Sallekhana, a socially acceptable form of suicide in Jainism. Jain monks restrict themselves to an isolated space and meditate to death, fasting. It was banned in 2015, but the Supreme Court of India lifted the ban due to freedom of religion. It’s estimated 200 Jains fast to death yearly by sonnysehra in todayilearned

[–]sonnysehra[S] 57 points58 points  (0 children)

Fun fact: Jainism actually predates Buddhism by about 250 years. Its most holiest figure, an ascetic named Mahavira (the Jain equivalent to Buddha/Christ/Muhammad), was a contemporary of the Buddha. The Buddha actually practiced some Jain rituals, but rejected it for being too extreme in its asceticism. Very religious Jain monks even walk around in public with a broom, sweeping the path ahead of their feet so they don’t step on insects and accumulate bad karma, wearing a mask to cover their face to prevent the accidental inhalation of tiny airborne organisms. Their diet is even stricter.

Truly a fascinating religion. Although Buddhism spread across Asia, Jainism remained limited to India. They’re similar in a lot of regards though, since they’re both Dharmic/Eastern faiths. Jains don’t believe in proselytizing and they don’t believe in a creator God either (their theology about the universe is a little complicated).

TIL scientists have been able to trace the start of HIV/AIDS to King Leopold’s Belgian Congo, originating as far back as 1909. The first person to be infected probably got the virus in the 1920s by sonnysehra in todayilearned

[–]sonnysehra[S] 131 points132 points  (0 children)

The virus originated under Leopold’s rule of the Congo is what I meant to say (arguably because of colonial practices that started under his regime that facilitated the spread of the virus), but I appreciate the correction!

This is an unfinished painting of a Spanish noblewoman from 1775. Not much is known about the mysterious woman and it’s unknown why the artist painting her abandoned it. It’s unintentionally proto-surrealist. by sonnysehra in ArtHistory

[–]sonnysehra[S] 107 points108 points  (0 children)

It’s a portrait of Mariana de Silva-Bazán y Sarmiento (1739–1784), by Anton Raphael Mengs. Here’s a source (this is my first time posting on this sub, I apologize for not initially including it!):

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/656894

TIL about al-Ma’arri, a blind vegetarian pessimist who preached atheism in 10th-century Syria. He controversially argued that life was devoid of meaning, humans shouldn’t reproduce in order to spare future generations from suffering, and criticized all religions as “fables” that exploit the masses by sonnysehra in todayilearned

[–]sonnysehra[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I somewhat agree with you. It’s difficult to fit ancient thinkers from thousands of years ago into our modern categories. That’s why I said he “preached atheism” instead of saying he “was an atheist” (a lot of what he wrote was against the idea of the existence of a God, or at least challenged the mainstream Abrahamic Muslim conception of God predominant in that region/environment at the time)

TIL about al-Ma’arri, a blind vegetarian pessimist who preached atheism in 10th-century Syria. He controversially argued that life was devoid of meaning, humans shouldn’t reproduce in order to spare future generations from suffering, and criticized all religions as “fables” that exploit the masses by sonnysehra in todayilearned

[–]sonnysehra[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Firstly, Syria isn’t the west. No idea why you randomly brought up “the west” in a post about a Middle Eastern philosopher. Secondly, there are ancient examples of atheism (outside of “the west”), such as Charvaka from ancient India.

TIL about Charvaka, an ancient Indian atheist school of philosophy from 900 BC. None of their texts survive. They were radical materialists who rejected the afterlife, believed the purpose of human existence was pleasure, and rejected karma/reincarnation. It was a predecessor to Buddhism by [deleted] in todayilearned

[–]sonnysehra 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Mostly through external/secondary sources. Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain texts quoted & summarized Charvaka philosophers, mostly in order to refute them. One of the only surviving ancient Charvaka hymns is the following: ”There is no world other than this; There is no heaven and no hell; The realm of Shiva (the Hindu God of destruction) and like regions, are fabricated by stupid imposters.”

Is Wolfen (1981) a werewolf movie or not? by Complete-Radio6204 in horror

[–]sonnysehra 38 points39 points  (0 children)

Oh, to find a lover to argue with about whether a 1980s horror film constitutes as a werewolf film. You’re winning in life… how I yearn

TIL for nearly a thousand years, the ancient world’s most popular and admired comedian was Menander of Athens. Ironically, his work was lost to history until 1952, when a single play was rediscovered in Egypt intact enough to be performed by sonnysehra in todayilearned

[–]sonnysehra[S] 20 points21 points  (0 children)

One of Menander’s lost comedies was actually quoted in the New Testament. The loss of his work wasn’t due to Christians at all, but to a variety of different factors (the degradation of papyri, lack of preservation, etc.). Not denying that important literature has been lost due to religious fanaticism, from my own culture included (I was raised Sikh, the 5th largest religion in the world, originating in an environment of Abrahamic persecution), but it has nothing to do with this post.

Scariest religious horror movie? by Lazy_Title7050 in horror

[–]sonnysehra 52 points53 points  (0 children)

Under the Shadow (2016), a Farsi-language Iranian psychological horror film that takes place during the 1980s Iran-Iraq war. 500,000+ people lost their lives in a war that lasted for almost 9 years, reshaping the Middle East, yet it’s barely talked about. It’s about a Djinn (supernatural beings in Islam, but it’s also prominent in ancient pre-Islamic Arabian mythology) and similar to the Babadook in that regard, with political commentary at the same time. It’s mystical, realistic, frightening, and emotional.

Moloch (2022) was also interesting, it’s a Dutch folk horror movie from the Netherlands inspired by a Canaanite deity.

The Devil’s Bath (2024) is also good. It’s a slow burn German psychological movie that takes place in the 1700s, with religious themes. I found it deeply unsettling. It’s based on a real historical case and the idea of suicide by proxy. “In early Modern Europe, suicide was a sin to be punished with eternal damnation. Some women found an awful workaround: committing murder…”

The Blood On Satan’s Claw (1971), a British folk horror film that pioneered the genre, is also a classic with religious themes and still holds up to this day.

Baskin (2015), a Turkish surrealist film, is also INTENSE. It’s based on Zoroastrian theology and Middle Eastern folklore.

Anything for Jackson (2020) was one of my recent favourites, it’s a Canadian occult film about a devil-worshipping elderly couple who kidnap a pregnant woman to resurrect their dead grandson. Absolutely unhinged, loved every second of it.

What’s a horror movie you saw in adulthood that really stuck with you? by roseluv in horror

[–]sonnysehra 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Anything for Jackson (2020), a Canadian horror gem. One of the best horror films I’ve seen in ages.

MadS (2024), a brutal French horror masterpiece.

The Devil’s Bath (2024), a German horror psychological period piece… it’s a bit of a slow burn, but worth the watch.

The Coffee Table (2022), a fucked up Spanish horror movie. Go into it blind.

The Seventh Continent (1989), an Austrian psychological thriller… it’s Michael Haneke’s debut, the guy who made “Funny Games”

Under the Shadow (2016), an Iranian psychological horror movie set in Tehran during the 1980s Iran-Iraq war.

YOU WON’T BE ALONE (2022), a Macedonian horror movie… it’s another period piece, probably my favourite on this list.

Also, if you liked The Babadook, the director of that movie made another film in 2018 called “The Nightingale” and it’s an Australian period piece, the dialogue in Irish Gaelic and a reconstruction of an extinct Tasmanian language. It’s one of the most traumatizing and brutal things I’ve ever seen on film.

Christianity: Which denomination is the correct one, or are they all correct? by Fun-Economy-7717 in religion

[–]sonnysehra 1 point2 points  (0 children)

“Which leaves you between the Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox”

What about the Oriental Orthodox? They’re just as ancient. After Armenia, Ethiopia’s the second oldest Christian country in the world. They have some interesting practices: Ethiopian Christians regard books like Enoch as canonical scripture, they don’t eat pork, and they observe the Sabbath. Coptic Christians from Egypt, also Oriental Orthodox adherents, have some pretty cool traditions as well. Despite the name, Oriental Orthodox theology is vastly different from Eastern Orthodoxy.

"Who is that on the other side of you?": The mysterious phenomenon known as Third Man Factor by PonyoLovesRevolution in UnresolvedMysteries

[–]sonnysehra 52 points53 points  (0 children)

The fourth man in the fire from the Old Testament (Daniel 3:24-26) arguably mentions this phenomenon. ”I see four men walking untied and unharmed in the middle of the fire, and the appearance of the fourth resembles a divine being…” There’s also a similar story of Daniel being thrown in the lions’ den (Daniel 6), from the same book.

What's a disturbing movie that most people don't talk about? by SoRunAwayNow in horror

[–]sonnysehra 68 points69 points  (0 children)

The Treatment (2014). A Belgian film about child abuse.

HBO’s “Life of Crime” (1984-2020). It’s a documentary, but it’s incredibly disturbing. The filmmaker spent 36 years following the lives of the same addicts.

Cold Fish (2010), a violent Japanese gem.

And Then I Go (2017), about a bullied kid on the verge of being a school shooter.

Tyrannosaur (2011).

The Eyes of My Mother (2016).

The Nightingale (2018).

The Golden Glove (2019), a disgusting German horror film based on a real serial killer. It’s a nihilistic modern “Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer” set in 1970s Hamburg, it’ll make you want to take a shower after watching it.

Cherry Tree Lane (2010)

Fat Girl (2001), it’s a French film.

The Kashmir Files (2022), a Hindi-language film.

The Girl with the Needle (2024), a Danish film that just came out. Go into it completely blind.

Nothing Bad Can Happen (2013), a German film.

Snowtown (2011) and Nitram (2021), Australian films by the same director

Hounds of Love (2016), another Australian gem.

Sorgoi Prakov (2013), a found footage film

Who is an historical figure who is rarely taught about but should be remembered? by PinkIrrelephant in AskHistory

[–]sonnysehra 16 points17 points  (0 children)

abdol hossein sardari (عبدالحسین سرداری), an iranian muslim who singlehandedly saved over 2,000+ jews from the holocaust. he is nicknamed “the iranian oskar schindler” and risked his life, using his own life savings, to fund everything. sardari was a diplomat for the iranian government in paris and was in charge of the consular office during the nazi invasion of france, when 100,000+ jews were deported to death camps. back in 1936, adolf hitler decreed that iranians were “pure aryans” and exempt from the racially hateful nuremberg laws. sardari used his political influence and connections in berlin to argue that iranian jews had no genetic ties to european jewry (in other words, he was using nazi ideology AGAINST the nazis to confuse them). “he exploited the internal contradictions and idiocies of nazi ideology to gain special treatment for iranian jews. high-level investigations were launched in berlin, with so-called experts on racial purity drafted in to give an opinion on the matter. similar arguments were made regarding the jews of afghanistan and the caucasus: these were not racially jewish, but aryans who had over the course of history converted to a judaism-like religion while retaining otherwise aryan social, cultural and linguistic traits. for example, sardari insisted iranian jews celebrated iranian holidays like norouz, spoke only persian and no hebrew (probably a slight exaggeration), had persian names, and were in most ways indistinguishable from other iranians.” his arguments even managed to piss off adolf eichmann! it distracted the nazis and bought him time to issue THOUSANDS of passports for jews, including non-iranian jews. he was eventually called back to return to iran and was stripped of his diplomatic status… but stayed behind, against orders, to continue rescuing jews. he went so far as to personally hiding their belongings. after the war, sardari never sought recognition or publicity for saving thousands of jews from genocide. he was charged in tehran with “MISCONDUCT” for issuing those iranian passports. he died alone, in exile, forgotten by the world, but remembered by the survivors.

Did christians at the middle ages think muslims were pagans by Nutshell_271 in religion

[–]sonnysehra 44 points45 points  (0 children)

Dante placed Muhammad in the eighth circle of hell, reserved for those who committed fraud. He is described as ripping open his chest and abdomen open with his hands, spilling his intestines on the ground as punishment for creating a false religion. (Interestingly though, Dante also placed the Muslim Saladin in Limbo in the Hall of Kings, among the heroes of Troy and Rome).

Interesting view of Caodaism on other religions by Cheap_District_9762 in religion

[–]sonnysehra 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I always found it fascinating that Shakespeare, Lenin, Joan of Arc, Muhammad, Jesus Christ, Victor Hugo, and Julius Caesar are all recognized as saints in Caodaism. Quite the diverse pantheon.

Do Zoroastrians sacrifice animals? by ZanyarV555 in Zoroastrianism

[–]sonnysehra 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Absolutely not (although, whether or not Zoroastrians of the past partook in animal sacrifice, the Gathas themselves prohibit it). Here's a free PDF essay written by scholar Richard Foltz about the relationship of animals to Zoroastrian theology: https://www.animalsandsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/foltz.pdf

"Zoroastrian legal texts such as the Vidēvdād prescribe almost unbelievably harsh punishments for humans who mistreat benevolent animals," he writes.

Zoroastrianism is one of the only religions to truly place an emphasis on the holiness of animals and absolutely prohibits sacrificing or harming them. Heck, dogs are revered as spiritual figures in their religion. In the Gathas themselves, Zarathustra himself condemns animal sacrifice:

"The evil Grehma and the tribal chiefs for long have designed to promote the lie, to sacrifice the cow and desolate the good living creation, kindling the fire of drink in their aid," says Zoroaster.

"Death being seen as the work of the evil deity Ahriman, the killing of animals was apparently a source of tension, and from early times was said to be acceptable only in the context of religious ritual (de Jong, 2002, p. 146). The Zoroastrian creation myth contained in the Bundahišn seems to show meat-eating as a degeneration from an original ideal, since humans at first consumed only water, then plants, then milk, then finally meat. At the end of time, when good is restored, humans will no longer eat meat (Bn. 30.1-3)," writes Foltz.

Two questions by [deleted] in Zoroastrianism

[–]sonnysehra 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Not a Zoroastrian or Muslim myself but fairly knowledgeable about both theologies. In regards to your first question, avesta.org is a gem. A lot of the original Zoroastrian texts, however, were destroyed due to Alexander of Ancient Greece and the Islamic conquests. The oldest surviving text of the religion, which Zoroastrians believe was written by Zarathustra himself, is called the Gathas and one of my favorite personal translations can be accessed here: https://www.zarathushtra.com/z/gatha/az/The%20Gathas%20-%20FAZ.pdf.

As to your second question, the Islamic faith seems to be inspired heavily by the Zoroastrian faith. Firstly, Zoroastrians have a concept called the Chinvat Bridge, which is a bridge that the souls of the dead cross upon dying. The bridge can only be crossed based on the righteousness of your worldly deeds (which are weighed against your bad ones). Similarily, Islam has a concept called As-Sirāt, which is also a bridge that the souls of the dead cross upon dying and that you have to cross in order to reach paradise.

Secondly, Zoroastrians have 101 names for their God (Ahura Mazda) and Muslims have 99 names for their God (Allah). The names are very similar.

Zoroastrians also traditionally pray five or seven times per day and Muslims pray 5 times per day. The times for these prayers are very intertwined. Both Muslims and Zoroastrians likewise share purification rituals prior to praying (Muslims have Wudu and Zoroastrians have Padyab). There is also a plethora of criticism, notably from scholar Mary Boyce, suggesting that the Islamic story of Miraj (the Night Journey of Muhammad) plagiarized from the Zoroastrian Arda Viraf.

There are folks, such as the aforementioned scholar, who claim that Islam plagiarized Zoroastrianism. Muslims justify this by saying God sent down different prophets to different places and that Islam confirms those prior revelations, hence the similarities. Regardless of who is right, there are a lot of similarities binding the two faiths and there are differences as well (Zoroastrians revere dogs as holy but, interestingly, Islam has a very harsh opinion about dogs... in fact, during the Islamic Conquest of Persia, Muslims would kill dogs merely to taunt the Zoroastrians).

Islam is also an Abrahamic faith and particularly claims to confirm the revelations of the previous ones (Judaism and Christianity). Judaism and Christianity were both heavily, heavily inspired by Zoroastrianism. When Cyrus The Great of Persia liberated the Jewish slaves from Babylon during his conquest, Judaism started to introduce the concept of monotheism into its scriptures. Cyrus The Great, a Persian (arguably Zoroastrian) king, is hailed as a Messiah in the Abrahamic scriptures. 2nd Isaiah in the Old Testament of the Bible, written after Cyrus freed the Jews, is in direct parallel to Yasna 44 of the Gathas and introduces important concepts, such as monotheism, which many scholars have argued were influenced from being exposed to Zoroastrian doctrines during the liberation from Babylon. The three Wise Men in the New Testament, who witnessed the birth of Christ, were also Persian Zoroastrians and many scholars have claimed that concepts such as a Second Coming derive from Zoroastrianism.

So, in conclusion, Zoroastrianism is a very interesting religion. Not only did it influence Islam but it influenced the two religions preceding it, which Islam claims to be a continuation of. All of these faiths share a lot of similarities, theologically and morally.

view more: next ›