Kialo requires JavaScript to work correctly.
Kialo requires cookies to work correctly.
Kialo
Should religious practices that incorporate self-harm be banned?
Perspective
All Votes
Loading Discussion
Self-harming rituals are integral to certain religions.
Pros
Cons
In some tribes in Africa, facial scarification is done to
mark
a tribe member's journey into adulthood.
The
Sadhu Babas
in India perform extreme self-abuse as an attempt to free their inner spirit.
In
Buddhist tradition
, self-immolation and hunger-striking employ the body as a means of resistance.
The
"Shia"
sect of Islam holds the practice of self flagellation as part of a mourning ritual to mark the death of the Prophet's grandson integral to its religious tradition.
Mortification of the flesh
has been prevalent in Christianity throughout history.
The legality of something is not decided by how integral it is to a religion.
Some integral rituals are being adapted in a way which continues tradition but avoids self-harm.
