It’s a Deeply-Held Religious Belief; Why Shouldn’t Naked Jain Monks Defecate in the Open?

by Guest Tue May 03, 2016 10:54 am

India is in the middle of a nationwide toilet construction campaign intended to eradicate open defecation by 2019. You’d think there’s nothing defensible about people who, you know, release the Kraken in the open when bathrooms are available, and that sanitary alternatives that don’t cause cholera and dysentery are preferable.
Here to prove us all wrong is (good guess!) our old friend religion.

Today it is my unhappy task to introduce you to the pooping monks of the Jain faith. Because tradition, they wish to be exempted from a law that forbids deuce-dropping in public, arguing that their divinely-inspired (non-)bathroom habits should trump public-health concerns. I wish I were making that up, but alas.

It’s a Deeply-Held Religious Belief; Why Shouldn’t Naked Jain Monks Defecate in the Open? Shutterstock_246256402

Digambara Jains, one of the two major Jain sects, have among their most ass-cetic adherents a number of holy practitioners whose deeply-held religious beliefs include not wearing clothes — as well as the right to whelp brown puppies in the open.

Via the Hindustan Times:

A group representing Digambara Jains has approached the Madhya Pradesh government seeking exemption for their monks to defecate in the open, which they say is the ascetics’ way of life. … The nomadic monks of the Digambara sect don’t wear clothes, and defecate in the open — a century-old practice which the group fears will run afoul of the Central government diktat to … penalize open defecators.
“We have asked the government to allow our monks and seers to attend nature’s call in the open as they never use toilets for doing so,” said Ravindra Jain, the acting president of the federation. “They follow a centuries-old strict lifestyle in which they only go in secluded or forested areas to attend nature’s call and that too once in a day.”

So screw everyone else; when it comes to doing number two, Jain monks are looking out for number one.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/05/02/its-a-deeply-held-religious-belief-why-shouldnt-naked-jain-monks-defecate-in-the-open/

by Major Tue May 03, 2016 11:00 am

They can carp all over India for me as long as they don't do it here along with their gobbing on pavements which incidentally I seen in Leicester last week..

by Victorismyhero Tue May 03, 2016 11:03 am

you mean JUST like all those EDL knuckle dragger types spitting all over the place It’s a Deeply-Held Religious Belief; Why Shouldn’t Naked Jain Monks Defecate in the Open? 2190311264

It’s a Deeply-Held Religious Belief; Why Shouldn’t Naked Jain Monks Defecate in the Open? 2190311264

by 'Wolfie Tue May 03, 2016 3:07 pm

HUNGER in India isn't quite the major and widespread problem that is in Africa, even though India is in the midst of a serious drought and some regions are in famine...

DISEASES are the #1 killer, while hygiene and clean water are the major issues holding their development back -- and along with their 'caste' system, keeping them in "Second World" status -- and keeping over 70% of their population living in abject poverty..

AND WITH contrary groups, like those monks, doing their best to maintain the status quo, it doesn't look like too much will be changing in the next few decades ? confused

by Ben Reilly Tue May 03, 2016 6:53 pm

When religious belief conflicts with public sanitation (and safety in general) it's the religion that must bend.

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It’s a Deeply-Held Religious Belief; Why Shouldn’t Naked Jain Monks Defecate in the Open?

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Re: It’s a Deeply-Held Religious Belief; Why Shouldn’t Naked Jain Monks Defecate in the Open?

Re: It’s a Deeply-Held Religious Belief; Why Shouldn’t Naked Jain Monks Defecate in the Open?