NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #31/NN_1992_31.iso/spool/rec/arts/books/23597

Internet Message Format | 1992-12-31 | 1.7 KB

Path: sparky!uunet!wupost!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!att!princeton!phsbbs!rachel
From: [e-mail] (Rachel M. Kadel)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.books
Subject: Re: Sacred mountains of the World by Edwin Bernbaum
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 92 22:06:06 EST
References: <[e-mail]>
Organization: Princeton High School, Princeton, New Jersey
Lines: 24

[e-mail] (Mike Vandeman) writes:

> >|> How can a mountain be sacred and be climbed at the same time?
> >
> > You have a very narrow definition of "sacred". Perhaps the climbing of the
> >mountain is itself a sacred act.
>
> Not by someone not party to that religion! Come on! This is like opening up
> Navaho sacred areas to Sierra Club hikes. Are you in favor of that, too???

In some religions, the climbing of a sacred mountain is viewed as a sort
of pilgrimage, and heartily encouraged.  For example, in Ireland, on a
certain day in July, it is a custom among devout Catholics (and those
that like an afternoon hike) to walk up Croagh Patrick, the mountain from
whence St. Patrick supposedly banished the snakes from Ireland.  If you
say the correct prayers, etc., it's supposed to get you out of Purgatory.
Point being that certain sacred places are supposed to be honored rather
than defiled by the presence of people.

                                       Rachel Meredith Kadel

There's an infinite number of monkeys at the door wanting to show us the
script to Hamlet they've worked out...The school won't even LISTEN to me
, much less let me speak for [e-mail]