In Tulsa, Oklahoma the zoo features elephants from India. Next to the elephants was a statue of the Hindu/Buddhist God Lord Ganesha. Lord Ganesha has the head of an elephant and the body of a human. The Bible fanatics claimed the statue was promoting devil worship. Isn't this just laughable. What an appropriate statue to have in an Indian elephant exhibit. These Bible crazies really irk me. They fear everything they cannot understand. They have to label anything different from their mindset as 'demonic'. Oy vey!

I realize I may be cross-threading here, but did you hear the sanctimonious post-verdict interview with Enron's Ken Lay? What is it about the Southern Baptist creed that consistently engenders such hypocrisy?

As far as the elephant goes, I'd have thought the Buddhists might have objected to the juxtapositon of one of their deities alongside an animal, which might be seen as disrespectful towards their religion. That they didn't speaks volumes.

Speaking of elephants in general, I always thought it was pretty cool that some cultures managed to tame the beasts and use them much as oxen. I've always had a soft spot for elephants and am a sucker for films like "Elephant Walk," "Sabu" and others that show them interacting with people.

The elephant is a sacred animal to Buddhists and Hindus and Ganesha is supposed to protect the elephant. And I love the movie ELEPHANT WALK too. Isn't it just terrific? When the elephants destroy the mansion it is awesome. Elizabeth Taylor was sooo lovely too.

it's Oklahoma

what do you expect

Maybe they're just freaking because the elephant is the unofficial symbol of the Republican party. I say replace it with a jackass, then everyone can go home happy.

LXN

If you truly wanted a jackass and a symbol of the elephant party all in one, then a statue of our glorious president would be in order, don't you think?

Seriously though, one has to wonder exactly what is it that threatens the sanctity of Christianity when a symbol of elephants in Lord Ganesha is placed at an elephants exhibit. Sometimes I question the sanity of some of my fellow Americans.

[ May 27, 2006, 09:18 AM: Message edited by: UCLAfan ]

Lord Ganesha is a friendly, protective deity. Not like the Pat Robertson zap you type of god. I agree with all your posts on this topic.

Hey now!!!!

wink

I like this state but the bible thumpers really slow the progression of Oklahoma. It is, after all, the buckle of the bible belt.

Hmm, the real story seems a bit different:

http://www.pluralism.org/news/index.php?xr...hibit&sort=DESC

A few loud and annoying Christians got angry at the Ganesh statue not because it was "demonic" or promoting devil-worship but it was unfair to people who hold other religious beliefs. The parks board voted under pressure to allow a christian creationist exhibit. Then quickly reversed themselves when they realized they'd have to include exhibits on any and every creation myth.

That seems to be the whole story. Can't find anything about the Hindu statue being removed. I'll ask my friends in T-town if the Ganesh statue is still there.