J Colaco asked Bandare, BTW: if you know of any other religion which forbids individuals entry into certain temples by virtue of their 'low caste' membership - please advise. ====
edward desilva <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: This is precisely what Jesus was fighting or arguing with the Rabbis. It was not Caste system but the lame, blind and the sick who were not allowed to enter the holy temple. This is the injustice Jesus was against. ==== Dear Edward, just a few quick points in response 1. Even in 2007/2008 there is justification for the exclusion of individuals with certain illnesses from public places. 2. This IMHO justifies the restrictions placed on certain individuals in olden times i.e. The Bhangis were restricted from the use of certain wells (possibly to prevent transmission of GI diseases like Salmonella et al); Lepers were kept in isolation (though we know now that most leprosy needs prolonged contact for transmission); Jews were forbidden to eat pork (pork tape worm) and Hindus banned the slaughter of the cow and the eating of the meat they enjoyed i.e. Beef (in part because of beef tape worm); food was eaten with the right hand and not left; footwear was left outside the front door ...etc etc... 3. However (and importantly) your example is not as precise as you make it out to be. It was ONLY the sick (only) who were banned as from Jewish temples, not their children ....Certain Hindu temples forbid entry (in 2007) even if they (the 'lower castes' ) are perfectly healthy. And until recently - many Catholic churches would have separate areas where the so called 'lower castes' would sit (and so would we as children ...much to the chagrin of our alleged country cousins). I believe that St Francis Xavier and the Jesuits have been primarily responsible for the primary dismantling of the Indian caste system ...through education. That is the underlying reason why, RW revisionists (some who have benefited from Catholic/Jesuit education) hate SFX with a passion (their oft repeated quote notwithstanding). Education leveled the playing field. jc
