Category:
Religion

Kayser the Spy

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The Reverend Kayser sounds like a real piece of work. German propagandist, adulterer, real-estate conman, and possible saboteur. A man accumulates a lot of possible murderers with that resume.

Bonus points for being named "Kayser" during World War I.

Posted By: Paul - Thu Aug 23, 2012 - Comments (7)
Category: Death, Real Estate, Religion, Sexuality, War, Weird Names, 1910s

The Brick Testament

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The Bible as a series of Lego dioramas.

Home page.

Further info.

Thanks to pal Denny Lien.

Posted By: Paul - Fri Aug 17, 2012 - Comments (5)
Category: Eccentrics, Education, Religion, Toys, Outsider Art

The Prayer Duel

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LAYDEEZ 'N' GENNELMEN! On yer left, John Alexander Dowie, weighing in at 162 pounds with robes!

On yer right, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, a trim 158 with turban wrapped tight!

Watch them in a prayer duel to the death! Mixed Martial Arts ain't got nuthin' on them!

As Dowie was an enemy of all religions but his own, it is not surprising he had no use for Islam — although the extent of his animus remains a point of controversy among various Muslim sects even today.

In the summer of 1903, this brought a well-publicized challenge to an Islamic prayer duel to the death, or Mubahila, from the Indian subcontinent: "Whether the God of Muhammadans or the God of Dowie is the true God, may be settled...he should choose me as his opponent and pray to God that of us two, whoever is the liar may perish first.... I am an old man of 66 years and Dr. Dowie is eleven years younger; therefore on grounds of age he need not have any apprehension.... If the self-made deity of Dr. Dowie has any power, he shall certainly allow him to appear against me and procure my destruction in his lifetime." Dowie's Punjabi challenger, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, was a remarkably well-matched opponent: he too had founded his own sect, Ahmadiyya, and believed himself a reincarnated prophet — in his case, Hazrat Eisa Ibne Maryam (a.k.a. Jesus Christ).

Whether the Almighty took any interest in their contest, its rules leave no doubt about the winner: in short order Dowie was deposed (amid rumors of sexual and financial malfeasance); suffered a stroke; and, in 1907, died — a year before Ahmad.

Posted By: Paul - Thu May 24, 2012 - Comments (11)
Category: Death, Eccentrics, Frauds, Cons and Scams, Religion, 1900s

Satanic Shaving

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After our "homicidal barber pole" some weeks back, we find further proof that certain tonsorial accessories are affiliated with the netherworld.

Gaze upon these evil shave-cream dispensers tending to their Satanic master!

Original ad here.

Posted By: Paul - Sat Mar 31, 2012 - Comments (3)
Category: Anthropomorphism, Evil, Religion, 1930s, Hair and Hairstyling, Fictional Monsters

Puerto Rican St. Pat’s Day

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Do they still celebrate St. Patrick's Day with special fervor in Puerto Rico, thanking the saint for freedom from worms and ants? A charming thing, if they do.

Original article here.

Posted By: Paul - Thu Mar 15, 2012 - Comments (6)
Category: Holidays, Insects and Spiders, Religion, Rituals and Superstitions, 1920s, Caribbean

Snake-Handling Sect

This photo feature ran in a lot of newspapers back in July 1953. But the Woodside Community Mission church seems to have disappeared soon after. I can't imagine why.

Posted By: Alex - Mon Jan 23, 2012 - Comments (6)
Category: Daredevils, Stuntpeople and Thrillseekers, Religion, 1950s

Church of Aphrodite

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How far back do the roots of New Age wackiness go? Probably all the way to the 1800s, when spiritualism first broke.

But surely one of the 20th century landmarks is the establishment of the Church of Aphrodite in 1939.

Original news here.

Wikipedia info here.

Posted By: Paul - Mon Dec 19, 2011 - Comments (4)
Category: Eccentrics, New Age, Religion, 1930s

Bone Houses

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A perfect weird book for Halloween, judging from the pages shown here!

Anyone in LA might be interested in this signing:

Paul Koudounaris signs and discusses his book, The Empire of Death
Thursday, October 27, 7 p.m.

The Brand Library
1601 West Mountain Street
Glendale, CA 91201-1209
(818) 548-2051




Posted By: Paul - Tue Oct 25, 2011 - Comments (2)
Category: Body, Customs, Death, Religion, Books

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Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes.

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