Religion - two snapshots

First, we had the pomp and ceremony of the beatification of John Paul II. An old man in a gold chair, speaking solemn words in an ancient language, before massed hierarchical ranks of men in costly and elegant array, with gold objects, and fine books, and artefacts beyond value.



And you wonder what that young man in Palestine, who was mainly concerned with being humble and kind, would have thought of it all.

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Then we have this: a 14-year-old girl is raped by her uncle, and then condemned by her village imam for adultery. She is sentenced under Sharia law to 101 lashes as a punishment. She holds out for 70 before collapsing and dies a week later in hospital. Now her family, having spoken out, are under police protection for fear of reprisals from the village elders.



And you wonder what kind of person could do that in the name of religion.