Arabic "Patron of Knowledge" was Gay

     This relates to my previous post: "Gay Guys from History"...

http://halfwindsorfullthrottle.blogspot.com/2013/07/fascinating-history.html

     Al-Hakam II, born January 13, 915 A.D., was a caliph in Moorish Iberia (modern Spain).  He is renown for two things: his improvements, and his flagrant homosexuality.  

     Al-Hakam improved agriculture via irrigation, and constructed highways and marketplaces.  A fan of science, immersed in data collection and experimentation.  He employed a mathematician as his private secretary.  As the "patron of knowledge", his reign experienced massive translation efforts from Latin and Greek into Arabic.  He owned 600,000 books; the catalogue of his library was 44 volumes long!  He also established supremacy over other caliphs and peace with the Catholic kingdoms of Iberia.

     Accounts also indicate that his loves were entirely homosexual, involving his own male harem.  

     In order to produce an heir, the courtiers dressed up a concubine as a ghulam (young man)--with a short haircut and male attire.  The technique worked, and a son was born: Hisham.  
     Al-Hakam's death in 976 A.D., forced his 11-year-old son onto the throne... under the regency of Hajib Almanzor.
     Almanzor had all the ancient science books destroyed.  In 1010 A.D., Al-Hakam's flourishing palace, Medina Azahara ("shining city"), was looted during civil war and then abandoned.  

Only ruins remain of the ceremonial reception halls, mosques, government offices, 3 gardens, aqueduct, mint, treasury, workshops, villa and baths... 112 hectares in all.

     According to the Encyclopedia of Medieval Iberia, homosexual pleasures were enjoyed by the intellectual and political elite.  During the final centuries of Islamic Spain--in part because of Christian opposition to it--homosexuality became suppressed.  The Roman Catholic/Castilian emphasis on virginity, marriage, and clerical celibacy also pushed a rejection/terror of homosexuality.  The anti-gay attitude began.

MTA Subway Delays Offer Variety

The MTA uses multiple excuses for delays: 
Due to a smoke condition
Due to police activity
Due to train traffic ahead
Due to fire department activity
Due to an earlier incident
Due to train traffic ahead
Waiting to accept more passengers from an arriving train
Being held momentarily by the dispatcher
Due to a sick passenger
Due to train traffic ahead 
... So when they said, "In an effort to keep evenly spaced trains, this train will be delayed", we all felt like strangling them!
(but they always "apologize for any inconvenience"...)

Campus Diversity?

Readers who enjoyed my 11/17/12 post about my college life asked if there was ANYTHING that I didn't enjoy about my extracurricular participation.
     Yes.  There was one stand-out phenomenon.  Certainly, the New England campus was mostly Caucasian--even though Alfred University boasted a "diverse" mix.  Obviously, to garner good recruitment, university officials put "emphasis" (a.k.a. pressure) on the Office of Student Activities to "help along" the Minority Groups.  There were 2 "Diversity" groups: Umoja and Poder Latino.  Nothing for Asians.  (Technically, the campus ALSO categorizes the gay club, Spectrum, as part of the "Diversity" clubs).
     As you'll read in that earlier blog post, I was extremely active in campus social life.  I contributed "above & beyond" to several student groups simultaneously, in addition to my studies.  I gave whole-heartedly.  So, when I saw the Director of Student Life "propping up" the not-so-active / not-so-interested multicultural groups, I raised an eyebrow.
     All the student groups had offices in one wing of the Powell Campus Center building.  But, the multicultural groups kept their offices separate from everybody else.  Across the hall.  In a separate suite of offices.  Removed from everyone else.  That arrangement was their own.  They hardly ever came over to interact with the other groups in the other wing... even though people ventured to their wing.  (I suppose that was marginally better than Spectrum, which held most of its events off-campus).
     In the dining hall, they kept together at their own table(s).
     To maintain their campus-given budgets, all student groups had to host a quantity of events.  The 2 multicultural groups seemed to lag behind, not having many events.  It frustrated us "student leaders"--who did most everything ourselves--to watch the employees of the Office of Student Activities do all the work of putting on an event for the multi-cultural events.  Instead of the students, it was the paid employees who created the posters, reserved rooms, made banners, coordinated, found & brought in guest speakers, set up rooms, and cleaned up.  At a "multicultural cookout", it was the employees who had bought the ingredients, actually cooked the food, set up and decorated the room, and promoted the event.  They even served the food, alongside the student members (who finally seemed interested).  
     Nope, the same employees didn't help Spectrum as much (so I guess that's a SECOND thing I didn't like about AU).
     One year, I was the Voting Chair of the Alfie Awards (our version of the Oscars).  Special categories were suddenly created to "favor" multicultural groups.  I did my job organizing the voting booths, designing the ballots, going to every group/team on campus to get nominees, and supervised the accurate voting collection.  At the last minute, the Office of Student Activities wouldn't let me do the last part of my job: counting the votes!  They insisted on tallying the votes, alone.  How absurd.  No surprise, that the multi-cultural groups won several Aflie award categories.  Thus, prestigious recognition went to groups that might not have actually deserved the award (which was a entry-point to campus Leadership Awards, Dean's Awards, and was a resume booster).  Meanwhile, Spectrum--which AU grouped in the Diversity segment, too--never got awards!  Go figure.
     Needless to say, those aspects of AU life disappointed me.  Such "help" didn't seem to foster diversity, nor empower those groups.  In fact, it might've taught those students an entirely DIFFERENT set of life lessons.
     Years after my graduation, the university established more "Diversity" groups: Caribbean Student Association, Drawn to Diversity, and the International Students & Scholars Organization.  Being a fellow who befriends and appreciates a huge variety of nationalities and cultures, I hope the current students in those groups are getting a better-blended experience.

Poisonous Ice Cream - FDA Food Regulations Are Ineffective

     While sitting in my dentist's waiting room, I read this month's Fortune article by Peter Elkind about the Blue Bell ice cream scandal.  Here's what I think.

     Despite its marketing image as a "small town, family business", Blue Bell is actually the nation's 3rd-largest ice cream producer.  Deception is their middle name, apparently.  That's Big Business.  They knew about a listeria bacteria problem in their plant for two years... without addressing the issue.  Really??!  A food provider who shirks the responsibilities of cleanliness and food safety?  Did they have the potential money to clean it up?  Yes!  According to the article, their annual sales have grown to $880 million.  So why ignore the problem?

     The article said that on January 28 of this year, South Carolina state inspectors found listeria bacteria in two products at Blue Bell's plant in Brenham, Texas.  That's serious.  That bacteria causes listeriosis, which causes 1,600 serious infections a year, including 260 fatalities.  It is the third-leading cause of food borne death in America.  Again, why would a wealthy company ignore the problem?  How could such a problem exist for TWO YEARS before official inspectors noticed it?

     Next, the Center for Disease Control matched Blue Bell's bacteria to an outbreak at a Kansas hospital, involving 3 deaths.  Four of the patients had drunk Blue Bell milkshakes. Further tests linked the company to listeriosis cases, dating back to 2010!  Those are only the "reported" cases!  

     Feb 13, Blue Bell executives learned of the official report by the SC inspectors.  Without any public announcement that they had sold a tainted product, they quietly began retrieving 10 product lines made in Texas.  Apparently, in our wonderful nation, neither the Food & Drug Administration nor state regulators insisted on "disclosure" to the public.  That should be fixed immediately.  

     What the f*ck is the point of having tax-paid FDA and state-level inspectors if THEY don't warn the tax-paying public?!  Sounds like treason to me.  Such laxity!  Any such health concern should be announced publicly immediately.  Any such disregard for health should be punished severely.  After all, the virus existed long before inspectors caught it--meaning the company's own people should've spotted it first.   

     March 9, Blue Bell learned of the link between its listeria bacteria and the deaths in Kansas.  The next day, it finally stopped production in its infected Texas plant.  

     March 13, Blue Bell announced a recall of "a limited amount" of snacks with "a potential listeria problem" that "in no way involved its other products".  The company should never have been allowed to publicly announce such lies.  

     March 22, Kansas authorities told Blue Bell that they found more listeria at that hospital, in another product.  That product had been made at the company's Oklahoma plant.  A second plant, in another state, with the SAME PROBLEM.  That's company-wide negligence.  

     April 3, the CDC linked the bacteria from Oklahoma with 5 listeriosis cases.  Blue Bell suspended manufacturing in Oklahoma.

     April 6, the CDC recommended that consumers "not eat" any product made at the Oklahoma plant.  That should've been the responsibility of the company.  The same day, Blue Bell did announce that it was "withdrawing" everything made at that plant, insisting, "It is important to note that these products HAVE NOT BEEN RECALLED."  Really??? 

     April 7, the FDA finally notified Blue Bell of bacteria in another flavor made in Oklahoma.  

     April 20, after more listeria was found in tubs of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream made in Texas, Blue Bell finally recalled all its products.  CEO Paul Kruse apologized and was "heartbroken".  Sounds like he was trying to keep that "family-run small-town" image.  In reality, Blue Bell knew of its listeria problem two years earlier!

     The FDA released inspection reports showing that the company found the bacteria in its Oklahoma plant, on surfaces such as floors and catwalks, on 17 occasions beginning in March 2013.  Despite this, the FDA revealed that Blue Bell hadn't followed up "to identify sanitation failures and possible food contamination", taken proper steps to root out the problem, or inform the agency of its findings.  FDA inspections of multiple plants, starting in March found not only listeria but also condensation dripping from machinery into ice cream and ingredient tanks; poor storage and food-handling practices; and failure to clean equipment thoroughly.

     Well, that certainly shows what a lax regulatory system our country has!  What good did the FDA do, by letting the company stay open?  Any food provider--especially of such wealth-- who irresponsibly, and thus harmfully, neglects public safety should be shut down permanently.  It speaks to the decision making process at the highest level of the company.  Such corporate disdain for the consumer reminds me of the film "Food Inc."

     How did the "family run" company respond?  The corruption of the executives was paid for by the employees.  Blue Bell's CEO announced that it was laying off half of its nearly 4,000 workers, furloughing the other half... to help pay for the necessary overhaul.

     The Wall Street Journal announced that billionaire Sid Bass loaned $125 million to Blue Bell, otherwise the company  (founded in Texas) might've gone under.  I had never heard of Bass, but I had a hunch that he was a fellow Texan.  Looking him up online... he is.  Another "good old boy" to the rescue.  

     Blue Bell's PR consultant, Gene Grabowski, defends the company's approach, "In my playbook, you apologize sincerely once and then you move on."  Are you f*cking kidding me?  Sickness and death because of widespread / rampant bacteria growth in your dairy factories, and you tried to cover it up/shirk public responsibility (unlike Johnson & Johnson during their 1980's Tylenol tampering).  Blue Bell's PR attitude reminds me of the BP Oil CEO's arrogant attitude, right after the 2010 BP Oil Spill (explosion) in the Gulf of Mexico.  BP CEO, Tony Hayward said, "There's no one who wants this over more than I do.  I would like my life back"... after his oil killed 11 people and spewed 100 million gallons of toxic oil into the Gulf.  Hayward also said on Sky News TV on 5/18/10, "I think the environmental impact of this disaster is likely to have been very, very modest."  

     Bass' support reminded me of what "good ol' boy" Texas Governor Rick Perry said in support of the BP spill, "From time to time, there are going to be things that occur that are acts of God that cannot be prevented."  What planet are you living on?

     Sure, the average consumer may act in uneducated and unhealthy ways.  I'm certain that ignorant ice cream fans will cheer new waves of Blue Bell product.  Yet, I agree with Craig Helberg, a food safety expert, "If bacteria is persisting in a plant, one of the mandates is to root it out.  If you don't it's pretty clear you've failed to do your duty to your customers."  I wish that the customers' tax-paid regulators and inspectors did a harsher job on such companies.  
     For example, the FDA is supposed to "watch" food producers.  At least according to the Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act.  Yet, ingredient lists on products fail to include pesticides or growth hormones... which are in/on the ingredients!  

     The FDA allows GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe), which allows companies to omit ingredients that are considered safe.  That doesn't help folks with food allergies.  
     The things that ARE listed are often disgusting.  Look at this Easter candy wrapper, and you can really tell that the Corn and Wheat industries greatly influence America...

     The FDA does a poor job of policing "food adultering".  According to this month's issue of WebMD, Olive Oil listed as 100% sold in America is often thinned out with nut, soybean, corn, vegetable or canola oil.  More than three-fourths of honey sold in U.S. stores isn't what manufacturers claim on the label.  91 million pounds of honey enters the U.S. illegally from other countries.  Impure honey contains pesticides and antibiotics.  To save money, companies add cane, corn or beet sugar or rice syrup and high-fructose syrup.  It's no secret to Lewis and I that even seafood listed in stores and restaurants is fraudulent.  Fish labelled as red snapper can really be swordfish, cod, yellowish or mako shark.  Producers add coloring to make the fish seem fresher and mask visual indicators that the product is old.  Pricey pomegranate juice frequently contains blends of cheaper apple and grape juice... yet it's still priced 5x more than apple/grape juice.  So much for the FDA, and the USDA (US Dept of Agriculture), which regulates meat and dairy only.  Such waste of taxpayer money and potential (which, in turn, harms the taxpayer health).  Is that treason?  Maybe the public should "remove" officials when they fail to do their jobs, fail to prevent what was within their control (if they exerted themselves) and failed to fix problems.
     It would also be nice if the media did a better job informing its viewership.  Alas, such are "ideals" when the government is "in step" with its populous, instead of mostly just with Big Industry.
     For example, California was supposed to introduce a statewide ban on non-biodegradable plastic grocery bags.  Yet, the plastics industry secured enough pressure to ban the ballot.  For contrast, Denmark began taxing bag users in 1994.  By last year, it had the lowest plastic bag usage in Europe.  Success CAN be achieved!

Religious Rituals

     A teacher once told me that if Jesus Christ had been killed in an electric chair, then electric chairs would be on necklaces and church steeples, instead of a cross.  Christians put crosses everywhere: above graves, in gardens, atop cathedrals, and crucifixes lead Sunday's priestly procession.

     To outsiders of the Christian faith, the accoutrement, rituals, symbology, singing styles, and costumes seem odd.

     It is a fact that Jesus Christ lived simply.  He led by example.  He taught and lectured the masses in simple settings.  When he turned water into wine, they drank it; they didn't bottle it up as "relics" to worship.  
     Centuries after his death, mankind "layered on" materialistic accessories.  Ancient Romans sought power and increasing spheres of influence, so they overlapped the new Christianity above existing pagan religions within their empire.  It has continued in force to this day.

     For thousands of years before Christianity, civilizations around the globe worshipped different deities and ensembles of gods.  Druids, Native Americans, Peruvians, Incas, Aztecs, Mayans, Egyptian pharaohs, Buddhist monks, Korean emperors, shaman, Indian yogi, Wiccan, Amazonian, Mesopotamian, Persian, tribal African, and Viking clans all prayed to their own sets of entities.  And everyone thought there's was correct.  Do you think they all went to Hell for not worshipping the entity we call God?

     After the ancient Greeks were conquered by the Romans, the Grecian gods were renamed as Roman gods (but kept their "job descriptions").  Even after the Roman Catholic Church was formed and a pope created the Gregorian Calendar (that we use today), the names of the months are still named after ancient Roman gods!  Statues of pagan gods still adorn newly-constructed buildings, clothes and gardens.
     As an outsider, if you look at the rituals that Christians partake of, they might seem weird.  Here are some:

     Seen above, men are grouped by colored outfits and they kneel before a church-leader to worship a God, His Son, and an overlapping Holy Spirit.  Nobody is certain about what the Holy Spirit is, but it seems to occupy the space of polytheistic entities from older religions.  

     Seen below, water is poured on people during their indoctrination.  

Sometimes, as seen below, water is sprayed on worshippers as a blessing.

     Other times, Holy Water is flicked on the congregation to keep away evil spirits.  (In the image above, the Easter baskets are a holdover from pagan customs).

     The Catholic Church has documentation for how priests can use Holy Water to conduct an exorcism to repel demons and evil spirits (above).

Urns and relics are worshipped and given prominence.  

     Parishioners merely "enter" a church, but purely symbolic processions and recessions are used for the officiants (below).

(Above) Episcopal churches give a pointed weapon to their Vergers (originally used to beat back over-enthusiastic or unruly worshippers), and the Verger leads the processions.

There is an official separation of church & state, but Catholic echelon are treated like royal dignitaries and national leaders.

Superstitious or not, lots of things & people get blessed before "going into action": 

     Looking at the hats, robes and "seemingly requisite" facial hair might make Christian priests and bishops look unique.  (always lots of gold, the human symbol of power, wealth, importance)  A friend once commented, "They look like wizards, but they're very stoic."

Southern Baptist church leaders seem to agree that an effusive and joyously loud "celebration of mass" is needed.

     Priestly garb varies wildly.  Monks, nuns, priests and pastors tend to wear solemn black.  Yet, the hierarchy gets to "stand out" with bright purple, scarlet and white.

     Yet, everybody gets dressed up in different colors during religious "seasons".  Officiants with enough bankroll might have several entire sets--of the same uniform--in requisite colors: green, blue, red, purple, white, gold.  I don't think God ordained any rules about religious garb, but mankind did.

(People don't dress in costume for yoga or Zen reflection, like they do for prayer or Evening Vespers).  

      In fact, it's the only organization that gets volunteers and employees to dress up in the centuries-old style of tunics with ropes around the waist, like below...

Such outfits are worn wherever the processions go... even through the streets like a parade.

Speaking of parades, certain nationalities celebrate festivals for Christ and also for individual saints or the Virgin Mary (both images below):

     The Chinese and Japanese cultures use mini-temples and shrines in their homes and businesses for reverence of ancestors and polytheism.  Christians might scoff at such things, yet they similarly have shrines in their homes... 

...and their domestic gardens.

    During Christmas, they add additional "shrines" as Nativity Scenes.  Unbeknownst to them, those scenes actually testify that Christ was born in summer, when shepherds brought their flocks to graze.  (The Catholic Church moved Christ's birthday to winter as a recruitment tactic to lure believers who had preexisting festivals in December).

    You might want to sing during church, but there are certain "styles" that are acceptable in each faith.  There is a prescribed book of allowable songs, called hymns.  They are sung in certain styles/tempos, depending on the branch of Christianity.  In some branches, the music is only sung by cantors.  Somewhere along Evolution, the pipe organ was chosen as the "churchly" musical instrument.  If you want to sing in the church choir, you need to wear a 5-piece outfit.

     Members of the Greek Orthodox faith explained to me that their church still uses things for no apparent reason other than tradition.  For example, the gold "fan" below...

Centuries ago, it had feathers attached and was used to "cool" the priests.  Nowadays, the feathers are gone, and they keep manufacturing and buying them ($2,000 each)... for no purpose.  
      Another Greek man told me that the lanterns near each icon are merely expensive "symbolic accessories".  Centuries ago, they actually lit the icons, but nowadays, churches keep using them due to tradition--except they're often hung high so as not to block the view.... thus, the lanterns don't illuminate anything (see below).  But churches buy them and constantly refill them.

     Bishops carry a staff (with a crook), to symbolize them as God's shepherds, herding the followers (sheep).  

     I grew up attending Lutheran services.  After being an acolyte and crucifer, I became a Communion Assistant.  Admittedly, some of the accoutrement on the altar is unnecessary.  Even my pastor told me so, including the cover that is draped over the chalice (below).  The color-matching "envelope" on top of it is manufactured/sold to hold "napkins".  Do they NEED to be there?  No.  But it's "good theatre"... because "it's all about the presentation".

Thusly, churches with enough funds can have a set in every color, for each religious season (to match the priestly outfits).    
     Underneath the cloth cover, the chalice and paten are covered by yet another piece of cloth/cardboard!  (below)  It was designed to keep bird poop off the Sacraments, in medieval open-air churches.  But, we don't need them now.

The need to use precious metals for church objects was a theatrical "membership retention" method.  Jesus probably used a mere copper or pewter cup during the Last Supper.
     To a Buddhist, the notion of eating a dead man's body and blood might seem disturbing,

yet Christians line up and/or kneel down to receive sips of wine and a wafer of bread, representative of Jesus's self-sacrifice.

In certain branches of Christianity, like the Greek Orthodox, they believe that the bread and wine becomes Christ's body and blood.  Thusly, there are extra accouterment to catch any crumbs or drips, so as not to waste it (below).  

Greek priests have a unique way of stabbing, slicing and preparing the Communion Bread--which occurs out of view from the congregation (below).

Naturally, the disposal of such food items "requires" specially constructed/installed receptacles... at extra expense.

To be able to partake in Communion, a member has a ritual of achieving First Holy Communion status (via classes and contributions to the church), 

followed by a ritual to achieve Confirmation (via similar steps).  Catering & retail companies love both occasions, as much as Baptisms and Weddings!  [A Jewish friend of mine was disgusted that her rabbi actually created competing monetary bids between her family and another, to use their temple for a wedding on a particular day].

     While we're talking about "eating", some denominations of Christians abstain from meat on Fridays.  They believe that since Jesus died on a Friday, they should avoid red meat forever on Fridays.  Other denominations only obtain from meat during Lent.

     To enthrall followers (mostly uneducated medieval serfs and peasantry), church leaders used symbolism to teach the gospels and Old & New testaments.  Halos were drawn over "holy entities".  

Wings were drawn on Angels, to express their speed as God's messengers... just like Mercury, the messenger of the ancient Roman Gods.

Yet, churchgoers decorate their homes with angels and cherubs, despite the fact that they are incorrectly designed.  

     Angels and demons were created by the Catholic Church as a strategy to incorporate pre-existing deities (gods and goddesses) from ancient polytheistic religions.  

     Another form of church symbolism is the use of candles.  Part of the "theatre" of church is illuminating the "stage lights" to signal that the service will start soon (even if 3 services occur in a row, the candles are lit and extinguished each time):

     Some candles are lit for certain ceremonies.  Some are lit when Communion is being offered.  Others are lit for processions.  A pascal candle is for holy days.  You light candles for prayers/wishes (and hopefully the church doesn't charge you for that).  Sanctuary (red) candles must remain lit forever.  Candle companies make a fortune!

During Advent, Christians imitate pagans and make a wreath out of winter greenery and light candles on that.

      Below, look at images that might seem peculiar to outsiders, atheists and civilizations of other religions/beliefs. Yet, different branches of Christians consider it part of their faiths.

(In the image above, notice the guy's head under the book to hold it up).

     In reality, Jesus lived in the Middle East, so he was not a white Caucasian.

     Yet, that is how the Roman Catholic Church falsely portrayed him (as a recruitment technique) for centuries.

     Nonetheless, his followers worship plastic dolls of his childhood likeness.

     Christians have been criticized for confusing Santa Claus and God.  Catholics in Europe and South America still maintain duality with local superstitions and ancient pagan rituals.  The Roman Catholics tried to eradicate competing ancient and medieval faiths (Arianism, Ebionites, Assyrian, Sumerian, Gnostics, Cerdonians, Catharism) via "witch hunts" and crusades.  Missionaries went to colonies and foreign lands to promote Catholicism (their nations killed the resistant ones) and recruit membership (that's why South America is mostly Catholic).  Yet, factions broke away during the 1500s.  Why?  The early and medieval Roman Catholic Church turned Prophet into Profit, by charging for the forgiveness of sins via "Indulgences" (and from false relics).  And because they were power-hungry.     
      Each Christian denomination has "Do's and Don'ts".  Each one has costumes, music, liturgies, rituals, calendars, and ceremonies.  Some people take it very seriously (e.g.: I know a Greek woman who won't throw away postage stamps if they have a religious image because she considers it a sin.  e.g.: Catholic boys I tried to date wouldn't be intimate with me unless they had done Confession in advance.  e.g.: Lutherans bow, Episcopals kneel, and Catholics genuflect).  Baptists don't use rosary beads.  Quakers don't take Communion.  Anglicans don't recognize the pope as the head of the church.  Presbyterians  don't have Confession.  Many groups call it a sin to veer from their traditions.  (Yet I know Jews who happily eat bacon).  To join one group means renouncing everything from a previous one (see the film, My Big Fat Greek Wedding).
     In reality, mankind is continually developing.  Look back upon history.  Early Jews worshipped many gods, just as the ancient Egyptians did.  In 623 BC, King Josiah made the decree that everyone should praise only one god.  
     The Greek god, Zeus (king of all gods), killed his father in an epic tale.  Zeus' "deluge" caused a massive flood on Earth, to perish all but 2 humans, who had built an ark.  Sounds similar to Noah, doesn't it?  It's amazing how tales get re-told.  Zeus existed for 1,000+ years!  The story of Jesus "dethroned" Zeus because Jesus' teachings promised an afterlife--something for people to believe in.  A woman once said, "Simple people are ready to believe any prophecy.  A spark of hope in their simple minds is all you need to drive them."
     Ancient Greeks had the epitome of civilization (we still believe so today)... and yet they praised multiple gods.  They also invented the idea of idyllic heaven--which included sex--for the ethically worthy.  Ancient Romans were pagans, too, and they took over the Greeks.  Following them, early Christians used Cicero's virtues to rebuke the hedonism of the Romans.  Jesus' incarnation story, created during the Nicean Convention, tweaked it again.  
     Christ was a summer baby.  So, why does the Church celebrate his birth on December 25?  Born of a virgin on December 25th, known to his 12 disciples as "the Son of God", and resurrected 3 days after his death… Guess who that is?  It is Mithra, the mythical Persian god who existed since the third millennium before Jesus Christ.  Some historians say that is where the Nicaean Convention got its story, and they applied it to Jesus so celebrations for him could overtake Mithra.

     Jews have some unique rituals, too.  For instance, the eruv ring. Jewish Law mandates that certain activities/work cannot be done during the Sabbath Day.  That's it.  No question about it.  Yet modern Jewish society desired a loophole, so religious leaders announced that if they drew an imaginary circle around a community--marked by lampposts, electric poles and/or fences, then it would suddenly be okay to do those activities on the Sabbath.  As you can see, lots of religions have unusual rituals.
     Asking churchgoers why they liked going to church got these answers: people liked the socializing, the opportunity to wear their "Sunday best" outfits, the chance to contribute their musical talents, the chance to "volunteer" at something, the opportunity to "show off" their importance, and for networking purposes.
     The possibility exists that culture might change.  Religions may change, and their rituals/costumes might change.  Just like we don't use drawbridge castles, cannonballs, or jousting accoutrement anymore.
     For the time being, everybody is supposedly getting into Heaven from their prescribed Christian ritual.  I hope there's room "up there" for the Buddhists, persevering pagans, Jews, Hindus, Muslims, Druze, Shabakism, Taoists, Yiguandao, Juche, Quimbanda, Haitian mythologists, Zulu, Shakers, Quakers, Mapuche, Japanese mythologists, Eskimo shamans, Australian Aborigine, Kulam and atheists.