453 dead in crush near Mecca during hajj pilgrimage

[Expat1 971]

Don't they get a fast track on the escalator to heaven?

Seem to remember a lot of comments after the Crane about how lucky the dead were?

Yeah, that's what they say. Kind of sucks for the wife or kids or parents left behind tho

[decocker 7,198]

people believe ridiculous things when it comes to the afterlife. for example, conservative christians believe that god gave them dominion over the earth and all inhabitants so it's perfectly okay not to worry with nonissues like overpopulation and natural resources or the future of the planet or humanity. all in god's hands.

also ridiculous, rich capitalist christians thinking that they're getting into heaven at all. i think material possessions were one thing jesus was pretty specific about when it comes to getting a ticket in.

[Expat1 971]

people believe ridiculous things when it comes to the afterlife. for example, conservative christians believe that god gave them dominion over the earth and all inhabitants so it's perfectly okay not to worry with nonissues like overpopulation and natural resources or the future of the planet or humanity. all in god's hands.

also ridiculous, rich capitalist christians thinking that they're getting into heaven at all. i think material possessions were one thing jesus was pretty specific about when it comes to getting a ticket in.

That only applies to members of the congregation, not the ministers.

Or so it appears.

Edited September 24, 2015 by Expat1

[decocker 7,198]

That only applies to members of the congregation, not the ministers.

Or so it appears.

misinterpretation, i'm sure.

16And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 19Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 20The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 21Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

23Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. 24And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 25When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? 26But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

27Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? 28And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. 30But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

besides being one of my favorite bruce springsteen lyrics, i think conservative christians are in for a rude awakening if their version of god/heaven is correct..

[eieio 1,594]

I thought only animals stampeded.

Maybe I read the story wrong?

[decocker 7,198]

I thought only animals stampeded.

Maybe I read the story wrong?

Human stampedes

Human stampedes most often occur during religious pilgrimages^[3] and professional sporting and music events, as these events tend to involve a large number of people. They also occur in times of panic (e.g. as a result of a fire or explosion) as people try to get away. However, more common causes are when the crowd are trying to get toward something as in the former examples, because the crowd is so big that those in the back continue pushing forward not knowing that those in the front are being crushed.^[4]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stampede

[X Factor 1,112]

If I was Muslim I would be very afraid to attend hajj.

[eieio 1,594]

Since they have this event every year in the same place….and every year they stampede…..maybe it is time to put up some electric fences? Maybe build a corral?

[Expat1 971]

If I was Muslim I would be very afraid to attend hajj.

A lot of them are

This particular point is a bottleneck. Had a friend tell me that when they went to Hajj they went through that section well after evening prayers, after 11 PM.

He said that's not the recommended time, but since he was with his family it was a lot quieter than going through during the day. The issue with it is that there is a traditional certain time of day to perform the ritual and everyone wants to go through the ritual at the same time.

This year it appears that 2 of the multiple paths through there were closed for some reason, which exasperated the bottleneck and limited the flow paths.

My friend said that it is more important to complete the rituals than to meet some certain time of day.

Edited September 25, 2015 by Expat1

[Expat1 971]

Since they have this event every year in the same place….and every year they stampede…..maybe it is time to put up some electric fences? Maybe build a corral?

That's actually not funny

[decocker 7,198]

That's actually not funny

come on, eieio wasn't even trying to be funny. from what i gather from his posts in this thread, he feels followers of islam are animals and deserve to be corralled and discarded as such.

[JohnR! 5,495]

Humans are animals.

Ergo, humans stampede.

I thought only animals stampeded.

Maybe I read the story wrong?

They did that in St. Peter's square. I'm sure the Vatican would sue them for plagiarism.

Since they have this event every year in the same place….and every year they stampede…..maybe it is time to put up some electric fences? Maybe build a corral?

It seems the other poster was reading from the christian book. Perhaps that's how the great leader does it in his home country.

come on, eieio wasn't even trying to be funny. from what i gather from his posts in this thread, he feels followers of islam are animals and deserve to be corralled and discarded as such.

Edited September 25, 2015 by JohnR!

[Boiler 46,336]

British imam and director of the Oxford Islamic Information Centre, Dr Hojjat Ramzy, said he wanted to “congratulate” those who lost their lives for “going straight to heaven without any question”, describing the tragic incident as a “great honour”.

[Jacque67 7,328]

How great of Dr Ramzy to give words of comfort and solace to the families left behind after this tragedy.

A true professional .

[Boiler 46,336]

He certainly is.