These footprints belong to Hua Chi, a monk who has been praying in the same spot for almost 20 years.
In his early days he was praying 2,000 to 3,000 times a day but now can only manage 1,000 a day (or 500 in winter). Link
I wrote earlier in the week that the Westboro Baptist Church were planning on coming to the UK to protest at an anti-homophobic play. The play was showing tonight and Fred Phelps and his daughter won't be doing any protesting. The Home Secretary has banned them from entering the UK.
"The government has made it clear it opposes extremism in all its forms. We will continue to stop those who want to spread extremism, hatred and violent messages in our communities from coming to our country … regardless of their opinions and beliefs."
On the one hand it's good that we don't allow people like these into the country to incite hatred but on the other hand I wanted to see how people reacted to them.
Fred Phelps has posted a video response to the announcement of him being banned from this "stinking little island".
Gunnison County's Jason Crawford was angry at God for taking the life of his brother John, so he decided to take it up personally with the "Big Guy in the Sky."
Crawford was seen with both middle fingers raised high toward the angry clouds for "a good twenty minutes to half an hour," as an onlooker described. Apparently, he was standing in the middle of an open field during a thunder storm during his open act of defiance.
In a later statement by Crawford, he explained more in detail the events that took place that evening:
"It melted my gold chain and crucifix. I was a little drunk and pretty pissed off at God when I decided to give him my ... special message."
The good news is that Jason's faith has been renewed and he now regularly attends church.
"My brand new testimony will be sure to convince a lot of young hearts that Jesus is real and watching their every move." He laughed and said "you don't want to mess with Jesus."
"I'm convinced God had his reasons for taking my brother and won't be testing my faith again any time soon."
There was a fire at the Westboro Baptist Church on Saturday night. Unfortunately, nobody was injured. Raw video here.
Could the Chapel of St. Martin be the world's smallest church? More photos at the official website. [via]
Make sure you enjoy yourself today as it may be your last day on Earth. At least that's what self-proclaimed prophet Yisrayl "Buffalo Bill" Hawkins is predicting. He is predicting that nuclear war will be declared either today or tomorrow which will result in the end of the world.
According to this report, his followers are standing by with hundreds of truck trailers loaded with food and water on the group's 44-acre compound in Abilene, Texas.
This is not the first time that Hawkins has predicted the end of the world. Back on September 12th, 2006 he also thought the world was going to end but obviously was wrong and hundreds of his followers in Kenya who were hiding out in bunkers removed their gas masks and walked home in humiliation. Link
The image below is a press release from those evil people known as the Westboro Baptist Church. They also thank God for the cyclone in Myanmar, tornadoes in Oklahoma and for downing a medical helicopter in Wisconsin. That last one is because Wisconsin didn't like the WBC protesting in its state.
Seven people were injured on Thursday when Greek Orthodox and Armenian priests came to blows in a dispute over how to clean the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
Following the Christmas celebrations, Greek Orthodox priests set up ladders to clean the walls and ceilings of their part of the church, which is built over the site where Jesus Christ is believed to have been born.
But the ladders encroached on space controlled by Armenian priests, according to photographers who said angry words ensued and blows quickly followed.
For a quarter of an hour bearded and robed priests laid into each other with fists, brooms and iron rods while the photographers who had come to take pictures of the annual cleaning ceremony recorded the whole event. Link (w/ video)
A Florida woman has struck it lucky and found not only Jesus, but also Mary in her pancake! The woman managed to get $29 for it on eBay. Link
Newsweek has an interview with a man who spent a year following every rule in the bible - more than 700 of them.
GodTube = YouTube for Christians.
Apologies for spoiling it for those who haven't read it. [via]
Over the last couple of weeks, parts of Britain have suffered from severe flooding caused by what is likely to have been the wettest June on record.
Some will say say that it's 'just one of things' others will speculate that it's a side effect of global warming but the Church of England say the floods were a result of 'God's judgment on the immorality and greed of modern society'.
One Bishop even what as far as saying that the introduction of pro-gay legislation angered God who then caused the floods to teach us all a lesson.
"In the Bible, institutional power is referred to as 'the beast', which sets itself up to control people and their morals. Our government has been playing the role of God in saying that people are free to act as they want," he said, adding that the introduction of recent pro-gay laws highlighted its determination to undermine marriage.
"The sexual orientation regulations [which give greater rights to gays] are part of a general scene of permissiveness. We are in a situation where we are liable for God's judgment, which is intended to call us to repentance."
On a lighter note, this is how one police force coped in the floods.
Is this the face of God? These people in a Memphis church think so.
The only remaining Welsh language church in Canada is celebrating its 100th birthday.
Dewi Sant Church in Toronto, Ontario, is believed to be the only church in North America still holding regular services in Welsh.
Eisteddfods, folk dancing and banquets are being organised throughout the year to mark the centenary.
The church was set up in 1907 by two Welshmen - one from Anglesey and one from Denbighshire.
Dewi Sant, which has more than 100 regular worshippers, holds a Welsh language service on the first Sunday evening of every month.
Two years ago, Reverend Deian Evans emigrated from Criccieth in Gwynedd, to become the church's minister. Link
Louie Theroux investigates the most hated family in America aka the Westboro Baptist Church. [Thanks Samantha]
This chart shows various religions plotted on a map of the World as well as the percentages of believers and non-believers. There is also an accompanying article. [via]
A very funny clip from an LA open access show aired in 1997 (at least that what Break.com says). The clip stars a gangster preacher who uses language most Christian's would find offensive. Before watching, prepare yourself for a bumpy ride. The clearly drunk cameraman has just discovered the zoom function on his camera and can't stop using it.
A guy explains how a banana disproves the whole theory of evolution. Now that he's explained it like that I'm converted! The clip is from a longer video called the 28 Minute Way of the Master. [via]
At least 11 Filipino devotees were nailed to the cross during Good Friday reenactments of Christ's final hours.
The Lenten ritual, opposed by religious leaders in the Philippines, is an annual tradition in this farming village about 45 miles north of the capital, Manila.
The Roman Catholic devotees were crucified in batches, their palms and feet attached to wooden crosses with four-inch nails soaked in alcohol to prevent infection.
A map showing the modern distribution of religions. [via]
BBC: 'Intelligent design' teaching ban
A court in the US has ruled against the teaching in schools of the theory of "intelligent design" alongside Darwinian evolution.
A group of parents in the Pennsylvania town of Dover had taken the school board to court for demanding biology classes not teach evolution as fact.
The authorities wanted to introduce the theory that Earth's life was too complicated to have evolved on its own.
Parents said it was effectively teaching creationism, which is banned.
Sun Sentinel: Fla. appeals court upholds ban of Muslim veil in driver's license photo
A Muslim woman who wanted to wear a veil in her driver's license photo must follow a Florida law that requires a picture of her full face, according to a state appeals court.
The Fifth District Court of Appeal upheld a 2003 ruling by an Orlando judge that Sultaana Freeman's right to free exercise of religion would not be burdened by the photo requirement.
Freeman's attorney, Howard Marks, said Wednesday he was considering further legal action, including an appeal. He said the decision didn't respect the state constitution's guarantees for religious freedom.
It really gets to me when people try to use religion as a way of getting out of something that everyone is required to do.
The Bible According to Cheese, or a Brie History of Time. [via]
A Florida woman discovered the image of Jesus - on a crisp. Yawn! The woman was about to bite into the crisp when she saw the face of Christ. Not sure what to do with it, you can bet she will try to palm it off to the Golden Palace Casino.
Related: "Jesus found on black chicks ass cheek". [via]
Beer mats are to be used to advertise for Catholic priests.
The Church hopes to overcome a nationwide shortage by encouraging drinkers to ditch last orders for Holy Orders.
But while reformed drinkers may be considered, the Church is NOT looking for candidates like Father Jack Hackett — the boozy, swearing priest played by Frank Kelly in hit Channel 4 comedy Father Ted. - The Sun
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