Pope's Self-Flagellation Rooted in Church History

[Existentialist1844]

http://www.aolnews.com/world/article/po ... y/19335759

[charlou]

Interesting topic, actually ...

There's more to say, but just wanted to make a quick comment on this part of the article:

The Flagellants were a 13th- and 14th-century group throughout Europe, whose devotees made whipping themselves a public spectacle. (Pope Clement VI officially condemned them in 1349, the peak of the Flagellants' popularity.) The tradition isn't unique to Christianity. To this day, many Shiite Muslims commemorate Ashura, which marks the death of the Prophet Mohammed's grandson, by a public procession in which they cut and beat their heads.

(my bold)

Not just their own heads, but the heads of their children (spoilered unpleasant images) ...

Trigger Warning!!!1! :

[JacksSmirkingRevenge]