Religious Rumors

As I am far too exhausted from classes today to post anything deep and meaningful, at the very least I can aim for interesting and entertaining. In this age of information technology, internet rumors have been an amusing phenomenon. Everyone has come across them, and sometimes you don't even know that what you're reading is an actual rumor.
Internet rumors involving religion are by no means exempt. Thanks to snope.com, I dug up some popular internet rumors regarding religion. Most are amusing, but they also reflect human gullibility, as well as our depressing ignorance of religions outside our own. Ironically, those are the same reasons why I laugh at them. (The beautiful irony of humor, I suppose)


"Scientists drilling in Siberia punch discover Hell."
This amusing little myth was run in a few Christian magazines, and ironically debunked in other Christian magazines. Another variation of it ran in the Weekly World News (you know, that black and white magazine depicting batboy?)
http://www.snopes.com/religion/wellhell.asp


"A bindi is an indication of a woman's marital status"
This one surprised me, because I have always heard that. Though I probably heard it from people who read it on the internet. I did a little research and found that bindis are purely decorative, a religious allude to the third eye or 6th chakra. However, there is an Indian tradition to paint a vermilion dot on the forehead of a married woman. The similar location of the two is probably what contributed to Western confusion. (Yay for leaning moments)
http://www.snopes.com/religion/reddot.asp


"Jesus will be depicted as gay in an upcoming film"
I have been hit with this one numerous times through email, usually claiming the title of the film to be "Corpus Christi" or "The Sex Life of Jesus". The rumor acutally has amusing origins, dating back to 1984, where, within a year, thousands of Christians signed a petition against the film (which never existed).
http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/gayjesus.asp


"Orthodox Jews have sex through a hole in a sheet"
No....just no.... Who though that one up, seriously? Acutally (according to snoops), not making love to you wife may be grounds for divorce.


"In the Qur'an, verse 9:11 foretold 9/11 and the following events"
I was hit with this one too, once from a friend and once from my father. The rumor claims that verse 9:11 of the holy Qur'an states: "For it is written that a son of Arabia would awaken a fearsome Eagle. The wrath of the Eagle would be felt throughout the lands of Allah while some of the people trembled in despair still more rejoiced: for the wrath of the Eagle cleansed the lands of Allah and there was peace."
instantly smelled an internet rumor and rummaged through my Qur'an. The verse actually states something akin to: "But if they repent and establish worship and pay the poor-due, then are they your brethren in religion. We detail Our revelations for a people who have knowledge."
Big difference.
http://www.snopes.com/politics/war/quran911.asp


"Airlines will not pair Christian pilots in fear that both will disappear during the rapture, leaving the plane unmanned."
I haven't heard of this one, but as the website quickly points out: Why airline pilots and not air traffic controllers?
http://www.snopes.com/religion/pilot.asp


Well, there you go. Hope you got a giggle out of it.