Bulldozers tear down giant religious teapot

[emad]

Bulldozers tear down giant religious teapot
By Sebastien Berger
(Filed: 02/08/2005)

A religious commune in Malaysia's Muslim heartland that worshipped a bizarre collection of structures including a giant teapot, vase and umbrella was being torn down yesterday.

About 40 workers with bulldozers and lorries destroyed the "subversive" teapot and other symbols of the pan-religious Sky Kingdom, in Terengannu state. An assembly hall, a concrete boat and a temple-like structure that was under construction were also demolished. About 30 members of the commune watched but did not intervene.


Worshippers claim that water from the giant teapot, when poured into the vase, holds purifying powers
Members and visitors to the commune believe that water from the teapot, which poured into the giant vase, held purifying powers. They follow the teaching of Ariffin Mohammed, 65, better known as Ayah ("Master") Pin, who holds that every religion is equally valid and that anyone can find his or her own path to God. His settlement has been a popular destination for Muslim, Chinese and Indian Malaysians, as well as foreign tourists.

The main problem for the authorities was that, as a Muslim, Ayah Pin committed the heresy of claiming to have a direct link to the Almighty, bypassing the Prophet Mohammed.

http://telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/08/02/wteapot02.xml&sSheet=/portal/2005/08/02/ixportal.html

[RedCloud]

1. It stood in the way of progress.

What do we want? Jobs or religion?

[Modem Butterfly]

2. Holy cargo cult Batman!