Teapot worshipper jailed

Joanna writes: A Sharia court jailed a woman in Malaysia for joining a 'teapot worshipping cult' The Daily Telegraph reports.
The Sky Cult Kingdom (pictured) was distroyed by the Malaysian government in 2005 for being "heretical".

"For the eccentric sect, which emphasised ecumenical dialogue between religions, the teapot symbolised the purity of water and 'love pouring from heaven'."

Kamariah Ali, 57, who was jailed yesterday, fell victim to the apostacy laws in the country which prevent people born as Muslims from converting. Followers of the Sky Kingdom cult believe their leader, Ayah Pin, to be Jesus Christ, the prophet Muhammad, Buddha, and Shiva. They also believe he will return as the imam Mahdi.
This site lists the symbolism of the objects in the Sky Kingdom.
"The Sky Kingdom is said to be a version of similar structures found in the sky. But the structures in the sky are apparently more aesthetically pleasing since they are decorated with diamonds, sapphires, and other gemstones."

    * Teapot - represents purity of water.
    * Vase - to accept water flowing from the teapot. The vase is said to have healing properties.
    * Well - it supplies water to the teapot.
    * Rumah Bulat - where Ayah Pin meets his guests.
    * Rumah Nasyid - where followers chant.
    * Dewan Perhimpunan (Assembly Hall) - where followers hold gathering and meet Ayah Pin on weekends.
    * Wakaf (Shelter) - place to rest and recuperate
    * Boat - it is said to be Bahtera Nabi Noh (Noah's Ark)
    * Pathway - to the assembly hall and graveyard
    * Graveyard of Mohamad Ya (Aug. 11, 1950 - Oct. 3, 2003). He was an apostate who conceptualised the design of the structures in the Sky Kingdom based on his "visit" to the Sky Kingdom in the sky. Ayah Pin later build the structures costing more than RM5mil [About $1.3 million].
    * Crescent - symbol for people who do not have any religion including Orang Asli and Orang Bunian.
    * Umbrella - a place for people to take shelter beneath God. It can also be associated with the nine planets in Hinduism"

Comments

[stoo]

Has Russel's Teapot descended from the heavens there?

[Alistair]

Why are the teapot worshippers labelled in the article as an "eccentric sect"?

Do you suppose they, or you, might consider others to be in the same vein - for example, might Catholics be an "eccentric sect" due to their belief in transubtantiation?

The conservative Protestant theologian Louis Berkhof, in his Systematic Theology, insisted that the Roman teaching on transubstantiation “. . . violates the human senses, where it asks us to believe that what tastes and looks like bread and wine, is really flesh and blood; and human reason, where it requires belief in the separation of a substance and its properties and in the presence of a material body in several places at the same time, both of which are contrary to reason.”

So if its contrary to human senses and reason, it is not apt to describe it as eccentric?

Isn't that just the problem of belief without evidence, that you can believe in whatever you like, even holy teapots? Are the Mormons eccentric because they believe in the Golden Plates and seer stones?

Intersting article, nevertheless, on the totalitarianism of religion, in the context of Kamariah's treatment and the treatment of alleged heretics.

[mark]

I guess an espresso/cappuccino maker symbol is out of the question?

[alan]

Seriously though, the teapot-faith is no more absurd than any other religion - for example, Catholicism with its high echoing halls, painted windows, music and chanting, candles, bells and incense to numb the brain and confuse the senses - plus miracles and saints and trinities, old men in long scarlet (or is it purple) robes, bread turning into human flesh which is then eaten, and wine turning into human blood which is then drunk.
I ask you, which is more ridiculous - this or the teapot?