Death by airborne flip flop?

[ploughman]

Millions of pilgrims are on their way to Mecca to take part in the Saudi Hajj ceremonies. Why do hundreds die every year when they throw stones and footwear at a lump of stone they believe is the devil?

[Whickerman]

'Cos they get in the way???

[ploughman]

Sadly, an holistic ideology embraced by millions of devoutly religious peoples throughout the civilised world, cannot be explained by your dismissive reply 'cos they get in the way', Whickerman'!

[dotjhawkes]

You answered your own question really ploughman, if millions of pilgrims went to the outer hebrides to throw their manolos at a loan sheep, several thousand would be killed in the crush. it ain't the concept it's the quantity.

[ploughman]

Ah Dot! You have been provoked out of your silence! By the way did you know your nickname is reminiscent of an early American jet fighter? What is a loan sheep? Dont those crofters have to buy their own in the Hebrides? I take your point about the quantity, but many flip flops employ a type or aircell foam, very light in weight, which is unlikely to inflict a fatal blow, even when thrown in large numbers at point blank range.

[dotjhawkes]

scuse me but this ain't my nickname, i am really Dot J Hawkes! That is my real name! And if you mean the Hawk, that is the trainer jet for the Red Arrows, i know, cos i was there.

[ploughman]

OK Dot Ill believe you, thousands wouldnt! So do you fly in formation with other Hawkes, or are you mainly a solitary aviator?

[johnlambert]

To answer the original question ploughman, to show the soles of ones feet to a follower of Islam is considered an insult, therefor throwing footwear to a pillar of stones reckoned to be satan is in effect showing him (the evil one) utter contempt.

You may remember when Baghdad fell in 2003 the crowd of jubilant Iraqi's standing on, and smacking the face of saddam with shoes, thus showing their hatred of the deposed leader

[ploughman]

wow, soles of the feet are an insult to an Iraqui? Presumably then mooning at an Iraqui is aok!

[waimarie]

This is rather a spooky question in light of recent events.

[pugwashjw]

This is tradition. In Christianity, the bible warns against tradition. It can limit people to stale thinking. Matthew 15; 3-6 "3 In reply he said to them: �Why is it YOU also overstep the commandment of God because of YOUR tradition? 4 For example, God said, �Honor your father and your mother�; and, �Let him that reviles father or mother end up in death.� 5 But YOU say, �Whoever says to his father or mother: �Whatever I have by which you might get benefit from me is a gift dedicated to God,� 6 he must not honor his father at all.� And so YOU have made the word of God invalid because of YOUR tradition.

And Colossians 2;8 Look out: perhaps there may be someone who will carry YOU off as his prey through the philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary things of the world and not according to Christ;