10 Dark Facts You Didn't Know About Major World Religions

Summary

This video delves into the obscure and darker aspects of major world religions, uncovering shocking beliefs and practices. It explores the Book of Mormon's portrayal of Native Americans, Taoist rituals involving body piercing, the Catholic Church's Cadaver Synod, kosher slaughtering's animal rights controversies, and the Quran's stance on polygyny. Additionally, it touches on Jehovah's Witnesses' refusal of blood transfusions, the violent history of early Mormonism, the secretive Apostolic Penitentiary, Buddhist monks' extreme asceticism, and the violent origins of the Jewish holiday Purim.

Takeaways

• 📜 The Book of Mormon suggests that Native Americans are descendants of a 'cursed' group with darker skin as punishment for their wickedness.
• 🔮 Taoist practices, such as impalements during the Vegetarian Festival in Thailand, involve body piercing without anesthesia for spiritual cleansing.
• ⚖️ The Cadaver Synod was a historical trial where a dead Pope, Formosus, was put on trial and found guilty, reflecting a corrupt era in the papacy.
• 🐏 Kashrut laws in Judaism require animals to be killed without anesthesia, which has faced criticism from animal rights activists.
• 🕌 The Quran permits polygyny, allowing men to have up to four wives, provided they can treat them equally, but this has been misused to oppress women.
• 🩸 Jehovah's Witnesses are prohibited from accepting blood transfusions due to their interpretation of biblical commands, which can have life-threatening consequences.
• 🔫 The early history of Mormons includes violent conflicts with the U.S. government, including the Mountain Meadows Massacre.
• ⛪ The Apostolic Penitentiary in the Catholic Church deals with the forgiveness of sins that ordinary priests cannot absolve, such as attempted assassination of a pope.
• 🧘‍♂️ Some Buddhist monks practice extreme asceticism, including starving themselves to death in pursuit of spiritual enlightenment.
• 🎭 The Jewish holiday of Purim commemorates the saving of the Jewish people from a planned massacre, as told in the Book of Esther, and involves a day of inversion and celebration.

Q & A

What is one of the dark periods in the history of the papacy mentioned in the script?

The Cadaver Synod, which marked the beginning of one of the most corrupt eras in the history of the papacy.

According to the Book of Mormon, what was the supposed reason for Native Americans having darker skin?

The Book of Mormon suggests that Native Americans, referred to as Lamanites, were cursed with darker skin to reflect their inherent evil as punishment.

What significant change occurred in the LDS Church regarding people of color in 1978?

In 1978, the LDS Church had a revelation that led to the reversal of the policy excluding people of color from the priesthood.

What is the Taoist Vegetarian Festival, and how does it involve a practice that might seem extreme to outsiders?

The Taoist Vegetarian Festival, also known as the Nine Emperor Gods Festival, involves a piercing ritual meant to cleanse the soul, where participants pierce their bodies with sharp objects without anesthetics.

Why was Pope Formosus put on trial posthumously, and what was the outcome of the trial?

Pope Formosus was put on trial by his successor, Pope Stephen VI, for having illegally ascended to the papacy. He was found guilty, and his body was dumped in the Tiber River.

What is the kosher slaughtering method known as, and why has it been criticized?

The kosher slaughtering method is called Shechita. It has been criticized because it does not allow for any form of anesthesia, leading to concerns about animal welfare.

What does the Quran say about polygyny, and how has this been interpreted in some societies?

The Quran allows men to marry up to four wives, provided they can treat them equally. However, this has been used in some societies to justify the oppression of women.

Why do Jehovah's Witnesses refuse blood transfusions, and what are the potential consequences of this belief?

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that accepting blood transfusions violates biblical commands to abstain from blood. This belief can lead to refusal of life-saving transfusions, even in life-threatening situations.

What historical conflict involved Mormons and the U.S. government, and how was it resolved?

The Utah War involved Mormons and the U.S. government, with tensions culminating in President Buchanan sending federal troops to subdue the Utah territory. The conflict was resolved in 1858 when the church and the U.S. government came to terms.

What is the Apostolic Penitentiary in the Catholic Church, and what kind of sins does it deal with?

The Apostolic Penitentiary is responsible for forgiving sins in the Catholic Church that are beyond the authority of ordinary priests, such as desecrating the Eucharist, breaking the confessional seal, and attempted assassination of a pope.

How do some Buddhist monks practice asceticism to the extreme, and what is the goal of this practice?

Some Buddhist monks practice extreme asceticism by starving themselves to death over thousands of days, reducing their diets to pine needles, tree resin, and seeds. The goal is to achieve true spiritual enlightenment by unburdening the body of fat, muscle, and moisture.

What is the story behind the Jewish holiday of Purim, and how is it celebrated?

Purim celebrates the story from the Book of Esther, where the Jewish queen Esther foils a plot to massacre Jews in Persia. The holiday is celebrated with eating, drinking, present-giving, and dressing up in costumes.