Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Humanities/2010 April 29

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April 29

Utensils used for writing in the 1890's

Im trying to figure out what poor black tobacco workers would have used to write in a classroom setting in the 1890's in Tampa, Florida. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.86.191.110 (talk) 15:41, 29 April 2010 (UTC)

Probably a slate. --Mr.98 (talk) 16:00, 29 April 2010 (UTC)

More information about 19th Century school writing materials here[1]. Alansplodge (talk) 16:56, 29 April 2010 (UTC)

Attaining Siddi (or Siddhi)

What does this mean? There seem to be several levels of Siddi. Kittybrewster ☎ 16:13, 29 April 2010 (UTC)

I think the one you're after is Siddhi, rather than the one linked to in the title. --TammyMoet (talk) 19:09, 29 April 2010 (UTC)

In present day India it is an euphemism for someone dying. The word is mostly found in obituaries.--Sodabottle (talk) 10:54, 2 May 2010 (UTC)

Worship of the snake

The Yezedi sect is an ancient esoteric Kurdish religion whose beliefs can be traced to paganism, Zoroastrianism, Christianity and Islam. They believe that God created the world from the spot of the Sheik Adi shrine in AIN SIFNI, IRAQ which has a sculpted black snake next to the doorway they consider sacred. They say they have been recently threatened by militant Muslims who believe they worship the devil. What do these people worship or believe to be divine; the snake, the devil, the spot of the Shrine, since the snake is not mentioned in the article but clearly appears carved next to the doorway and is their belief the same as the belief of some Americans that the dog is divine? Plain vanilla with chocolate chips (talk) 18:21, 29 April 2010 (UTC)

I think this particular horse has been well flogged to death, no?--Jeanne Boleyn (talk) 18:45, 29 April 2010 (UTC)

(edit conflict)Americans don't believe the dog is devine. Please stop that. --Jayron32 18:46, 29 April 2010 (UTC)

Andy Devine? :) As for snakes, they make good eatin', especially if you like ribs. :) ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 18:49, 29 April 2010 (UTC)

Doesn't Yazidi#Religious_beliefs answer all the OP's questions? Apart from the dog part that is. Still haven't a clue where he gets that from. --TammyMoet (talk) 19:06, 29 April 2010 (UTC)

"That part" has two sources. The first is the factual and historical event of King George(?) throwing a pup at the colonists when they requested he give them a Bishop. The second is the amount of time, devotion and money spent on dogs in the US, including court cases to save dogs that have been arrested from being turned into part of the air they breath, turned into bio-char or dissolved in sodium hydroxide for biting the constable. Plain vanilla with chocolate chips (talk) 19:28, 29 April 2010 (UTC)

Do you really believe that the religion of the US is primarily determined by a monarch's smart-ass joke hundreds of years ago? A monarch against whom we waged a revolutionary war? -- Coneslayer (talk) 19:36, 29 April 2010 (UTC)

I have not until now considered that the King was being a "smart-ass" since the King did not thereafter provide the Colonies with a bishop other than the pup as I recollect. Plain vanilla with chocolate chips (talk) 23:25, 29 April 2010 (UTC)

Coneslayer, he's deliberately trying to elicit a response from you on this issue. At this point, WP:DENY is the only response he deserves. --Jayron32 19:41, 29 April 2010 (UTC)

I understand that some Muslims look down on Westerners because some are devoted to dogs as pets. Dogs are considered disgusting and unclean in many Muslim countries. Marco polo (talk) 20:11, 29 April 2010 (UTC)

Just so there's no doubt: No, I don't know of any Americans who literally worship their dogs in a religious sense. However, "worship" can also have the wider meaning of showing adoration of affection, in which case a minority of Americans could probably be said to "worship" their dogs (and a minority could be said to worship their cats, hamsters, spouses, etc.). The term Furbaby comes to mind: undoubtedly, some pets are spoiled, though I don't think it's exclusive to the United States. And I agree with Marco Polo: many Muslims may not agree with the amount of affection that some Americans give to their dogs. See Islam and animals#Dogs. This is an arbitrary break to separate my signature from my link. Buddy431 (talk) 20:21, 29 April 2010 (UTC)

At one time I got to the point in high school where I almost worshiped cars and I still meet people who worship animate and inanimate things in the sense of constant thought and attention and as a matter of fact the point of the question is to understand the difference in Holy and secular worship better. Plain vanilla with chocolate chips (talk) 23:32, 29 April 2010 (UTC)

I worship Scarlett Johansson. Is there someplace where I can go and prostrate myself before her? Woogee (talk) 23:40, 29 April 2010 (UTC)

You might first want to see "The Men Who Stare at Goats" Plain vanilla with chocolate chips (talk) 23:51, 29 April 2010 (UTC)

You might have just told us the point of the question at the outset. Have you read our article Worship and the sub-articles? (Granted, the article is about the religious aspect.) Comet Tuttle (talk) 03:09, 30 April 2010 (UTC)