By Shyamon Jayasinghe –
Shyamon Jayasinghe
Death Cult in Kenya
It’s the wrong time, Mr Pastor. The world is agog with the excrutiating and shocking story a few days ago from Kenya. There, in the far east vast massacres unearthed from the village of Shakahola where the “faithful” have been mercilessly under the grip of a taxi driver-turned evangelist who has persuaded incredulous persons to come and join his religious cult, starve to death and see Jesus! It is beyond normal human understanding as to why thousands were hallucinated o join him. Burials, in the manner of scratches on the red earth, are being daily uncovered of the these foolish innocents who lent their ears to the Pastor.
Jerome Fernando
This is Faith
History is replete with stories such as this and with stories of faith killings. The most notorious contemporary illustration was in Nine/Eleven where Muslim fundamentals bombed the twin Towers in US and succeeded in murdering thousands. All in the name of faith. That gruesome massacre had been done on the fundamentalist promise that the bombers will have several virgins to suck!
The erradical truth about faith being a way of knowledge or truth is that it is just the opposite. Faith represents an abandonment of the human need for truth-finding.
The normal process of investigation for truth of any proposition is to test it with material evidence. A hypothesis is set up and we look around for clues that can substantiate that. If we have no clues or possess insufficient ones, we abandon that hypothesis or amend it or totally abandon it – depending on the circumstances. Even if clues be available, we only tentatively accept theories and that only on condition we keep our minds open to change our theory in the event of subsequent findings of new evidence.
The ‘technical’ term for such a foolproof form of investigation procedure is ‘scientific investigation.’ Intelligent people’ realise this as self-evident. You may pray and pray but you cannot determine the truth in any other manner.
Faith is an attempt to give it all up and ‘just believe.’ Once you adopt faith as a device to know, it becomes an easy slippery step to engage in anything that can bring you hallucination and destruction.
Faith-Peddlers are dangerous to Society
From my account above it is easy to imagine that such characters must be closely watched for their activities. President Ranil Wickremesinghe did right by setting an alarm and instructing the CID to investigate our own faith maestro, Jerome Fernando.
It is reported that Pastor Jerome is very rich and has been smart enough to collect vast donations from overseas. Like our quoted ex-taxi driver in Kenya, all faith callers and “divine healers” are rich. The taxi driver rolls in money and has private jets. A huge leap from from the taxis!
Our Buddhist Perspective
Pastor Jerome hasn’t the common sense to observe that Sri Lanka has been home to a population nurtured in the Buddha’s teachings for centuries. The Buddhist ethos is rampant and deep despite nasty stories of monks going wrong and Buddhism, inherently a philosophy, getting transformed into a religion. That metamorphosis is a creation of the social institution of the Sanga. The fundamental fact is that the Buddha, long before Christ mind you, announced to the world that one must try to understand the happenings around us as causes and consequences of a natural order. Budhha denied a supernatural cause or a supervising monitor in the sky who is amazingly able to watch eight billion persons individually at the same time. He taught a simple ethic that can enable you and I to get along in a natural world. “Be a lamp unto yourself,” the Buddha told his chief disciple Ananda Maha Thera, while he lay dying. We are in the midst of nexuses of cause and consequence operating in the world of man and Nature. It is not the stars or God or any other supernatural being who can extricate you and me from a mess.
In the Kalama Sutta, the Buddha proclaimed to the world 2,500 years before Jesus the critical method of thinking
Sri Lankan Buddhists
Sri Lankan Buddhists are bathed in thoughts such as these and so Pastor Jerome is playing with fire in the wrong place.
This is not to say that Sri Lankan Buddhists are incapable of a kind of tribalism that can lead them to riot and burn when the Buddha is insulted by an ignoramus like Pastor Jerome
This is a consideration that our made-in-local Pastor must bear in mind!
On the other hand it looks like the state law-enforces will catch up with him before that.
Pastor Jerome is a catalyst for social unrest in our already troubled land . He had better return from wherever he popped up. If he has a private jet, that’s safer! Even Jesus cannot save him!
*The writer can be reached at shyamonjayasinghe@gmail.com
Leonard Jayawardena / May 18, 2023
What is at issue in Jerome’s case is freedom of speech. His sermon, which was delivered to his congregation, contains his religious views with no abusive language against any religion or religious leader. If any find this offensive, it is THEIR problem. If by any chance the laws that exist relating to offending religious sensibilities, etc. were interpreted by the courts to include Jerome’s case, then this would be an alarming situation and all right-minded people should then demand that these laws should be amended/ abolished.
Shy-Amon, for all his pretensions to holding to a “higher” form of Buddhism (based on, I believe, selective readings of Buddhist scriptures, ignoring the embarrassing parts), doesn’t have the goodness, wisdom and decency to defend Jerome’s right to free speech, thus showing that he is yet another cheap, tribalistic, parochial-minded Buddhist. Jerome may be a charlatan, money launderer like his “spiritual father” U. Angel or whatever, but that is a separate issue.
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SJ / May 18, 2023
Freedom of speech is not absolute.
The man claiming to be a prophet provokes people with offensive insensitive remarks.
Can knowingly hurtful speech be acceptable?
Abuse of any freedom can leave one with a bloodied nose if not worse.
Can we call it freedom of the fist?
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Leonard Jayawardena / May 19, 2023
SJ: “Freedom of speech is not absolute.”
Who is the fool who said otherwise? That is why we have laws against defamation and libel. Surely, you can do better than quote trite truisms like this at me.
“The man claiming to be a prophet provokes people with offensive insensitive remarks.”
Did you listen to the entire sermon of Jerome, as I did, and, if so, please state exactly what these “offensive insensitive remarks” are and then we can discuss further. Just cite one example to begin with.
“Can knowingly hurtful speech be acceptable?”
What is “knowingly hurtful” speech? Is calling a spade a spade hurtful speech? If a judge, after careful examination of the evidence, declares that the accused is a “murderer, liar and cheat,” that may “hurt” the accused and his family but that is the truth, isn’t it? If, based on my interactions with you in the CT comments section, I conclude that you sometimes remind me of Professor Calculus and show at least occasional signs of senile decay, that may “hurt” you but that, I believe, is the truth and I have every right express that view on the appropriate occasion.
Continued.
/
Leonard Jayawardena / May 19, 2023
Continued from my last reply to SJ:
In case any one runs away with the wrong idea, I am not a follower of Jerome and think he is a false prophet and a preacher of a false Christianity. If need be, I can demonstrate that in a debate with him with biblical arguments. Now is that “knowingly hurtful speech”?
In political discussions/debates, both in and out of Parliament, members of one party criticise and even revile leaders of other parties. If, for example, with supporting arguments, opponents of RW call him an “inept leader” who should not be elected at the next Presidential election, should Ranil supporters (including OC 😊) accuse them of “hurting their political sensibilities”?
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / May 19, 2023
Buddha enjoyed freedom of speech in his days, commenting on Hinduism. He condemned idol worship and said the religions at that time (meaning Hinduism and Jainism) had failed to end suffering. If he could do that Jerome Fernando also has the same right to criticize.
What he should have said is ” Buddha claimed he is enlightened to find the answer to end suffering, but despite his methods, Buddhists are undergoing suffering. Therefore Buddha needs to revisit his path and get properly enlightened. To be enlightened you need light and that light is Jesus.” This cannot be contested by any Buddhist unless he is bigoted.
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SJ / May 20, 2023
“He condemned idol worship and said the religions at that time (meaning Hinduism and Jainism) had failed to end suffering.”
Did he?
Can we have his exact words to tat effect?
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SJ / May 20, 2023
“To be enlightened you need light and that light is Jesus.”
But Jesus was not there until nearly 500 years after.
Is it not possible that he had the light within him, like all of perhaps have, and he found it by searching?
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old codger / May 21, 2023
SJ,
There is evidence that the Sinhalese were much more tolerant till colonial times, and even later, eg the Catholic and Muslim refuges provided from Dutch and Portuguese persecution. But the Sinhalese, who are great imitators, seem in modern times to have picked up the intolerant ways of the Portuguese, along with the Victorian morals of the British.
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Leonard Jayawardena / May 20, 2023
Jerome Fernando was contrasting Jesus (called the “light” in the Gospels) with the Buddha (the “enlightened one”) at a superficial word level. His argument was that as the “light” himself, Jesus was superior to “the enlightened one.” The Buddha was looking for light and, since Jesus was the light, the Buddha was actually looking for Jesus!
This is dumb stuff and impressive only to an audience with a low level of biblical literacy and intellect!
Actually, an “enlightened” person is also a light to others. Jesus himself went through a process of “enlightenment,” if I may use that word, for we read, “Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and with people” (Luke 2: 52). Thus the Gospels clearly tell us that Jesus did not become the embodiment of wisdom all at once. He, too, was “enlightened” and the source of his light was God.
People who are offended by this sort of stuff are unbelievably stupid, tribalistic, spiritually bankrupt, ignorant and suffering from a deep sense of insecurity about their own religion.
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old codger / May 21, 2023
“People who are offended by this sort of stuff are unbelievably stupid, tribalistic,..”
Many of these, including the Cardinal, allege that this will cause disunity and violence. The fact is that most of the so-called Prophet’s followers are well heeled middle and upper class types. That’s where the Prophet gets his lifestyle funding.
Are these people the ones who will unleash violence? Or is it the “tolerant” lot on the other side? What a defence of ahimsa!
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ramona therese fernando / May 20, 2023
Leonard Jayawardena,
–
Agree with you. He was merely giving a comparative analysis of other religions next to what he believes is true in the 4th-D. Yes, other religions do the same – each trying to prove their religion is above all others (and outright naming the religions too). Probably his message gives a new-age scientific twist to Christianity that attracts followers. Hardly the stuff for religious riots unless in a place like Pakistan and other such horror places. Other religions can take up his call and explain their religions in newly-fangled ways in accordance with modern day thought.
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What he should be prosecuted on is having huge amounts of money that goes even beyond the number in his congregation, each giving e.g. $250 (taxable amount) on a monthly basis for a year, donated by the patrons who had accumulated the country’s wealth without taxation.
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ramona therese fernando / May 20, 2023
If this pastor had placed all this accumulated money of the long-suffering-Lankan-worker on Lankan society to build up the Lankan SME, then he would have been well welcomed. It us a serious felony offense that he is building up his newly fangled religion on the backs of the suffering-Lankan-workers
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That he is creating delusions of monetary glory when taking country money, by giving the impression that the money will supernaturally burst into golden nuggets starting in the earthly real-estate plan, and moving into the heavenly one, is a grave punishable offence for its delusive content.
. He and adherents are not gullible -they are greedy! They close their eyes not caring of the method on how the money will magically bloom on the global scene – untaxed wealth, global money-laundering, drug trade, global dysfunction, global upheaval, Wars……with them all worshiping Mammom! Needs to be prosecuted and stopped in its tracks
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Jesus did not take the money of the hardworking-suffering-worker to justify his teachings. Jesus told the rich man to sell off all his possessions, give them to the poor, and follow him.
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old codger / May 21, 2023
Ramona,
“Jesus told the rich man to sell off all his possessions, give them to the poor, and follow him.”
That’s exactly what Jerome does. His followers aren’t poor. They are mostly upper middle class. But they don’t sell their possessions, they donate them to the Prophet.
The same way you followed your Prophet Gota in 2019.
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ramona therese fernando / May 21, 2023
Old Codger,
Just the usual bunch of words with no meaning
……Typical!
Even the one about Gota is your usual rambling in an attempt to discredit. And I was for JVP in 2019 btw.
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Leonard Jayawardena / May 21, 2023
Ramona
“Probably his message gives a new-age scientific twist to Christianity that attracts followers.”
Actually, there is nothing new in his message. If you go to YouTube, you will hear this sort of stuff from countless self-appointed “Christian” preachers and teachers.
As you said, what actually should be investigated is how his organisation seems to have accumulated so much wealth. This is all the more important when you consider that Jerome has called U. Angel, a man now shown in an Aljazeera espose to be involved in money laundering and bribes, his “spiritual father.” This is a either case of “birds of a feather flock together” or incredibly poor judgement on the part of Jerome.
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SJ / May 20, 2023
You sound like Captain Haddock screaming “Billions of blue blistering barnacles”
Calm down.
*
When persons defend in the name of freedom of speech the indefensible speech by the self proclaimed prophet, one suspects misunderstanding of the idea of free speech.
I have nothing against any follower of anybody. Even followers have at times the sense to denounce a wrong word or act.
This is not the place to claim debating prowess but to seek the truth and tell right from wrong.
*
“His sermon, which was delivered to his congregation, contains his religious views with no abusive language against any religion or religious leader.”
The sermon, if truly private, nobody may have taken note. It has come to public attention, and there is cause for feeling of offence.
*
One can use the politest of language to powerfully propagate fascism. That is worse than rabble rousing. (Soma Thera was calm and collected in his sermons. Was he less dangerous than Gnanasara? In fact he was deadlier.
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Leonard Jayawardena / May 20, 2023
SJ:
“When persons defend in the name of freedom of speech the indefensible speech by the self proclaimed prophet, one suspects misunderstanding of the idea of free speech.”
In spite of my request to you in my last response to you to quote exactly what was offensive in Jerome’s speech, so we could discuss it, you still go on talking about “indefensible speech” without producing a single example of it. This is what is called argument by assertion (in your case, reassertion). I suspect that the reason is that you are really out of your depth and you are smart enough to know that when it comes down to specifics you can’t continue to bullshit (prevaricate, obfuscate, dodge) like you do now and fool the naive and the ignorant. I recall that in a past exchange in CT that you, a dyed-in-the-wool commie and socialist, failed to produce your list of “socialist achievements” despite my repeated requests and resorted to delaying tactics (until the article became “time-barred” for comments after 5 days?).
There is moral wickedness and then there is intellectual wickedness. Your continuing to obstinately maintain your position without even attempting to substantiate it with concrete evidence qualifies as intellectual wickedness.
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Leonard Jayawardena / May 20, 2023
Continued from last comment:
SJ:
“The sermon, if truly private, nobody may have taken note. It has come to public attention, and there is cause for feeling of offence.”
This sermon was delivered by Jerome in the first instance to his congregation and an official recording of it would have been posted on their website, which some idiot downloaded/copied and distributed to other idiots to be offended thereby. Is that Jerome’s fault? If Jerome and his followers had invaded a Buddhist temple/Catholic Church, etc. and made these statements there, THAT would have been offensive. Even the sweetest song, if sung in the wrong place, can cause offense (not that I am comparing Jerome’s sermon to a sweet song).
SJ:
“One can use the politest of language to powerfully propagate fascism.”
So are you seriously comparing Jerome’s sermon to fascism? Do you even know the meaning of fascism?
At least you now agree that no abusive language was employed by Jerome in his sermon, so the “offensive” part must relate to the substance of his sermon. What exactly was it? Come on, pleasantly surprise me by giving an example.
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Leonard Jayawardena / May 21, 2023
In a reply to an earlier comment of mine (click the “Previous” comments section), SJ wrote the following:
“If God needs people to perform (I include his Son Jesus) to perform miracles to prove his existence, God has some serious doubts about his capablities [sic].
One of the things I admire much in Budda’s [sic] personal life is that he bluntly refused to perform ‘miracles’.”
This was totally irrelevant to either the article or my comment under it and I responded that I neither post nor respond to comments that are not relevant to the content of the article under they are posted.
For those who are easily offended, the above statements of SJ would be offensive. If I remember correct, he has habitually written snide remarks about certain religious beliefs in the CT comments section in the past, such as belief in the supernatural. This is the same guy who, for reasons and motives best known to him, has now chosen to take the side of those who are religious bigots and ignoramuses and would curtail freedom of expression. But then, he is a commie, isn’t he, so not too surprising.
Perhaps SJ was pissed off by Jerome’s remarks about Siddhartha because he appears to have a certain admiration for some aspects of latter’s teachings? But I wonder
SJ’s religious hero would have been offended by Jerome’s sermon himself.
Continued.
/
Leonard Jayawardena / May 21, 2023
Continued from last comment:
If SJ had made these statements publicly in a bygone age in Catholic countries (or even uttered them privately but they had come to the notice of the authorities), they would have deemed blasphemous and he would have been tied to a stake with his sarong and burnt. But the question is, if, as he screamed and cursed while the flames slowly enveloped him, he was momentarily transported in a time machine to the year 2023, would he, given his obstinate nature, still have acknowledged that he was wrong about the stance he took in Jerome’s case?
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Leonard Jayawardena / May 21, 2023
SJ:
“This is not the place to claim debating prowess but to seek the truth and tell right from wrong.”
My purpose was not “to claim debating prowess” but to emphasize that my view of Jerome, that he is a false prophet and a preacher of a false Christianity, was not made lightly. This is in contrast to you, who continue to prevaricate and dodge when asked to produce concrete evidence to support your position.
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Leonard Jayawardena / May 21, 2023
Correction: “my view of Jerome…was not EXPRESSED lightly.”
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TruthIsSacred / May 21, 2023
Where Jerome goes wrong is that he claims that his belief is superior to the others. He preaches that everyone must follow Jesus, while making arrogant, foolish, unsubstantiated, disparaging remarks about other religions.
Compare this with the conduct of someone like Fr Marcelline Jayakoddy, who moved closely with the Buddhist clergy.
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sonali / May 18, 2023
Religions are composed of cults, creeds and rituals. The more complex and confounding, the better. Befuddle adherents are then warned that it’s a grievous sin to ask questions. Instead followers are compelled to believe all sorts of mumbo-jumbo. Such beliefs can be decided on, let us say, 1500 years before we were all born. Then a powerful emperor on the Anatolian Peninsula organized a conference of influential priests who announced that from then on the only truth was going to be that a woman can be made pregnant by a supernatural being and create a hybrid that is both god and man. Subsequently, and in forcing that ‘truth’ on others, entire races were slaughtered throughout centuries. The sharpness of the sword was also felt in ancient Serendib where in the city of Gimhathitha, today’s Galle, people were strung up and executed on crosses to terrify locals into accepting the foreigner’s faith. Continued: 11
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sonali / May 18, 2023
Continued: 11. Cults, creeds & rituals.
Many centuries ago there was a wise man in the east who preached that humans should use logical thinking to understand life and death. His was the doctrine of “non-self”, of anattā. This means humans have no unchanging, permanent self, soul, or essence. At death humans pass into Nirvana, or nothingness, he said. But some Buddhist want to continue living after death. So they have borrowed the concept of reincarnation from Hinduism.
Let me add: We are mammals with the largest brain of the species. But we are no different from other mammals. We live, procreate, die. We will putrefy, stink. There’s no unearthly other-world except in our delusions. Throughout the ages powerful priestly castes have arisen claiming nearness to gods to take advantage of such fantasies and acquire money and power for themselves. Amen.
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Paul / May 19, 2023
Sonali,’
.
‘preached that humans should use logical thinking’
‘At death humans pass into Nirvana, or nothingness, he said’
.
I’m sorry but this is nonsense. You should learn something about Buddhism before typing.
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sonali / May 20, 2023
Paul
No one has come back from the dead to tell us if there is life after death in the 200,000 years that modern humans are known to have existed. Paul seems to know everything about rebirth and such matters. But he isn’t telling us. He will clear all doubts if he tells us what his previous life was? What life is he on now? Number 100? 1000?
This is my recommendation for all who are near their use-by date. Donate usable organs so they will benefit a living person. You will be treasured for the gift. Your remains will be buried or cremated and returned to earth, where they came from.
Religions are a primitive approach to understanding the universe, a lack of knowledge that science is gradually filling in.
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Paul / May 20, 2023
Sonali, I can only repeat, you should learn something about Buddhism before typing.
.
Here are two pointers to help you
Where did the Buddha preach that humans should use logical thinking alone? Where did he say “At death humans pass into Nirvana, or nothingness”?
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sonali / May 20, 2023
Paul
Let me also repeat:
This was Buddha’s doctrine of “non-self”, or anattā. This means humans have no unchanging, permanent self, soul, or essence. At death humans pass into Nirvana, or nothingnes
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davidthegood / May 21, 2023
sonali, have you heard of the cloud of witnesses.
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davidthegood / May 20, 2023
sonali, Are you aware that Jesus came back from the dead 2000 years ago and was seen and touched by his disciples, by 120 in the upper room on the feast of pentecost, 50 days after his resurrection and also seen by 500 in Galilee, faraway from Jerusalem. They all watched him at the mount of ascension on top of the mount of Olives as he ascended to the father, and promising to return there at a future date for unbelieving Israel to recognise him as the battle of armageddon rages against Israel by all the nations gathered against it. Yes, this body goes to dust, but the spirit given to all men at creation gives us spiritual bodies, not just a natural body in a reincarnation. If anaththa why love to do good and hate evil and sin.
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Paul / May 20, 2023
Sonali,
‘Religions are a primitive approach to understanding the universe, a lack of knowledge that science is gradually filling in.’
.
Interesting, Science is king. So let me ask you this. Science uses instruments to understand the universe. Agreed? What instrument do Scientists use? They use the human brain, despite not fully knowing how it works! Even if they did know, the are using the instrument to study the same instrument! Ridiculous is it not?
.
So I am not claiming that logic and Science are useless. They have brought immense benefits to us. They are not useless but they are limited. They can only take you so far.
.
Fortunately all humans have a certain ability that allows them to solve this problem. Its not blind faith. Any ideas?
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sonali / May 21, 2023
A commentator attests with certainty an event supposed to have happened 2000 years ago, as if he too was witness. In that uninformed and illiterate era, gossip and hearsay became fact. 500 years later those falsehoods were turned into religion and laws by a ruling class for more power and monetary gain. Yes. Let me swear that 2000 years ago Joe Bloggs and one Perera saw a dead man walk on water and sing a song. Alleluia.
Paul, the reincarnated disciple, now takes on science, among other things.
Let me clarify: the discussion here is about religions, an important aspect in some people’s lives. Silly claims and ignorance debases the debate.
Sonali will not argue with fools. She too becomes a comedian if she does so.
Let me clarify: the discussion here is about religions, an important aspect in some people’s lives. Silly claims and ignorance debases the debate.
Sonali will not argue with fools. She too becomes a comedian if she does so.
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Paul / May 21, 2023
It’s a case of pearls before swine. I wont bother.
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sonali / May 21, 2023
When the intellect has sunk to muddy depths and can no longer be plumbed, the hope is that a hackneyed metaphor will suffice.
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old codger / May 21, 2023
“Sonali will not argue with fools. She too becomes a comedian if she does so.”
“It’s a case of pearls before swine. I wont bother”
The immovable object and the unstoppable cannonball. 🤣🤣
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Black Lankan / May 18, 2023
Now the rougue priest Gnanasara is out in full bloom. It looks more a set up game once again to divert the modays from the theft of $250 million. Our modays are very short sighted and famous for running after another piece leaving behind the previous piece. Jerome too must have got $250 million to divert this and may be gone to Singapore to sort out things with the bank. In the chosen land anything is possible.
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Goraka / May 18, 2023
Don’t forget that most of our politicians are Buddhists who were in the forefront of creating hatred against other religions for political gains. They used and had the support of Buddhist monks. It is not the religion that is the problem, it’s the people who abuse religion.
And, beware of special interests and privileges of the religious leaders who are threatened by newcomers. The shout the loudest!
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SJ / May 18, 2023
G
Rogues they are, I agree, but how many of them insult other faiths?
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Bert / May 19, 2023
Did Jerome insult Buddhism?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXcPplwTgF8
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davidthegood / May 21, 2023
Bert, One of the regular christian hymns is ” And Christ’s great kingdom shall come on earth, A kingdom of love and light.”
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AYATHURAY RAJASINGAM / May 20, 2023
This is a reported news item which says about a church called Miracle Drome in Katunayake. Gratien Gunawardhana donates his 10 acres of land to the church. Billions of funds have been provided for its development. But there is no audit data for it. The religious group ‘Born Again’ is an accessory to this. Jerome Fernando could not have grown this far without political power. Many politicians like Sajith Premadasa, his wife Jalani Premadasa, Rosie Senanayake, Saliya Peiris, Tapula, Harsha de Silva and Mahinda Rajapaksa’s three sons are disciples of Jerome. One of the most talked about things in politics was Ranil’s house burning down. Who burned? Members of the group ‘Born Again’ are an obvious one. Laxman Fonseka is the boyfriend of Sajith Premadasa’s wife Jalani Premadasa. He is a colleague of Born Again. …….. The next destination is the very powerful aristocratic complex that Jerome associates as his colleagues in Sri Lanka. So his moves worked in Jerome’s favor. The reason for this is Mahinda Rajapaksa’s family. How will the CID handle this issue at a time the Archeological Department & some Buddhist monks and politicians like Sarath Fonseka are bent on destroying Hindu temples on various pretexts.
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old codger / May 20, 2023
AR,
“Billions of funds have been provided for its development. But there is no audit data for it.”
I am no Prophet supporter, but to be fair, why should “audit data” be provided if the funds are all private? Do Buddhist and Hindu temples provide audit data on what people donate to them?
All organized religions exploit their worshippers, and all should be treated equally.
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AYATHURAY RAJASINGAM / May 20, 2023
old codger,
Agreed. This is not my version. I am providing what is reported in the news item. To my knowledge as regarding audit data, it is only the Nallur Kandasamy Temple that gives the correct account for every cent. No extra money for the Archanai. Very good administration. The priests at this temple cannot receive anything more than their salary. Every cent in the Undiyal Box is accounted.
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Native Vedda / May 20, 2023
old codger
–
“Do Buddhist and Hindu temples provide audit data on what people donate to them?”
–
If they haven’t in the past they should in the future.
How we know the funds are being spent for the purpose to which it was collected.
Unlike the monks who keep women on the side.
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(By the way recently a monk was arrested for sexually abusing his mistress’s 11 years old daughter. https://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking_news/Monk-remanded-for-abusing-mistress-daughter/108-259512)
–
Some of the god’s middle men come from very poor families and some of them are very greedy. Don’t you think you need some outside independent institutions to scrutinise what is happening to private fund, how it is used, … funding drug trade, terrorism, armed robbery, …… land grabbing, ….
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Native Vedda / May 20, 2023
old codger
–
No it was not nimal fernando who was in saffron disguise I assure you.
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Tamil from the north / May 20, 2023
Shyamon you got all your sarong in a knot over Buddhism which is not even a religion, it is a philsophy. Did Buddha ever call himself God? All these years these 3rd class bald headed uneducated thugs called monks have been insulting Christianity, Islam and Hinduism and no action was taken. Now this lazy ass pariah Ranil wants to chase this idiot Jerome to prison? Bloody circus of a country, every week there is some crap taking place.
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Tamil from the north / May 20, 2023
Oh by the way, what happened to the main perpetrator of Easter Bombings by the name Gota Rajapaksa? How is that he is still running around with STF protection?
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Sinhala_Man / May 20, 2023
Dear TFTN, and all other readers,
.
That is a very relevant observation, and a relatively “safe” one So are your others, and old codger’s. Even safer is now lambasting “Prophet Jerome“. Even the Cardinal (who must have been worried about sheep straying from his flock to await the end of the World, which the Prophet may have been forecasting), has denounced the Prophet.
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Well, I don’t know what this charlatan, now enormously rich, has been.been forecasting. I’m not going to study this article or the “century and a third” of comments.
old codger (and author, Shyamon) wants all religions condemned, but not his own, which entails belief that Ranil is the fittest to reign over Lanka until 2048 or beyond with no election held because the voters are idiots. Well, to be fair, that last bit of nonsense comes mostly from “leelagemalli”. If I say more about LM the moderators will have no option but to edit me out. I will therefore tell you about him not as a Reply, but at the bottom of this page. It may then be separated from this comment, although yours is the last visible now.
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Sinhala_Man / May 20, 2023
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy. The key to maintaining the website as an inviting space is to focus on intelligent discussion of topics.
For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2
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Sinhala_Man / May 20, 2023
CONTINUING
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LM has tried to get false rumours going: NPP/JVP නායකත්වයට සාලිය පීරිස් හෝ හරිනි අමරසූරිය පත්වනු ඇති බවට රාවයක් පැතිරෙමින් තිබේ. That is from the same Jehan Perera article which is a translation of this:
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https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/preparing-or-posturing-for-elections/
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LM is trying to create and establish a rumour that doesn’t exist! Please don’t allow CT to be used for such despicable purposes. This is the most trustworthy and reliable forum that Lankans now have.
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Among Lankans now, there is just one man whom he venerates – Ranil Sriyan Wickremsinghe. If “leelagemalli” can give my real name, why can’t I give his? I will accept the ruling of the moderators on this. I will not make any formal complaint – please allow my comment in. I have seen LM writing that his life is in danger. What, in Germany? How much more then am I, who clearly identify myself, in danger in Bandarawela, Uva Province, Sri Lanka?
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I do not seek to know the identity of any commenter here. I respect CT policy on that. I used to be plagued with emails and WhatsApp calls from Dan, so I’m certain of his identity.
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Panini Edirisinhe (NIC 483111444V)
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old codger / May 21, 2023
SM,
“If “leelagemalli” can give my real name, why can’t I give his?”
Really, even for you, that is the height of dishonesty.
“How much more then am I, who clearly identify myself, in danger in Bandarawela, Uva Province, Sri Lanka?” And assumed self-importance.
You need psychiatric help.
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