Devadasi (Hinduism)

[Ankou]

the site is awash with christin/muslim debate, but for a change something of a talking point is the life of the devadasi girls of hinduism in india, following a bbc4 programme i watched last night.

a link to the programme:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00xyzjy

anyone esle watch it ? it was very sad really. is it religious intent/honoring, or do you think this is just the only way that the families believe they can earn some money?

an article here also explains it a bit:
http://news.bbc.co.uk...outh_asia/6729927.stm

[Theland]

So sad, the fruits of man made religion, ignorance and superstition.

[237SJ]

These things happen everywhere. There has been something like this going on in Nepal for years. Have you been to The Cages in Bombay? Not pleasant but that is the way of the world unforunately

[mibn2cweus]

"So sad, the fruits of man made religion, ignorance and superstition."
We are born ignorant by no will or choice of our own. Sadly, religion and superstition have done, and continue to do, far more than their fair share to keep us that way.

[237SJ]

mibn I don`t think it is anything to do with religion. Just superstition and a way of life

[DTCwordfan]

Isn't religion founded on superstition?

[237SJ]

Not necessarily. I don`t think I want to go there due to the fact that I`ll get the religious/.athiest contingent wanting to discuss that issue until kingdom come. DT aren`t you a west country person born and bred? I am and you must know if you come from the south west where the sea is in your blood, there is a lot of superstition that comes into play but it has nothing to do with religion.

[mibn2cweus]

"Isn't religion founded on superstition?"

I'm inclined to agree with DT on that point and would in fact argue that religion might well be the preeminent superstition. ~ http://www.google.com...1&fp=b9d89de37295e86f

[Theland]

..... only if the world is only ever viewed through a microscope

[Ankou]

perhaps some underlying superstition, but really i was wondering whether marrying their children to a god (i.e selling them as prostitutes) adds some "legitimate" justifcation to earning money in their minds ? thus to these hindus their children are not sex slaves, but adherent religious followers, who happen to make money.

[mibn2cweus]

Calling on God as a justification for countless evils persists to this day. For those who believe there is no need to seek any other 'legitimacy' for that which they do in His name. God is accepted, worshiped and celebrated as the ultimate wild card of moral justification for His believers.

[Theland]

Convering to Christianity would free these poor girls from their slavery.
A wider conversion within their society would also free them.