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A Question of Faith... or Tidiness? (Christian Burials to be oriented to Mecca)
Nottingham Post ^ | 21 September 2006 | Chris Birkle

Posted on 09/22/2006 5:05:40 PM PDT by shrinkermd

A multi-faith cemetery will have all its graves aligned with Mecca, despite Christian burials traditionally facing east. CHRIS BIRKLE finds out how Christians and Muslims feel about the controversial council decision

In today's secular society you could be forgiven for not knowing which direction Christian graves face.

Ancient tradition shows they should look east in anticipation of the second coming of Jesus Christ.

But all headstones at the new £2.5m High Wood Cemetery in Bulwell will be plotted to face north-east, in line with Islamic faith.

Muslims believe the dead look over their shoulder towards Mecca, towards the south-east

(Excerpt) Read more at thisisnottingham.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: both; burials; christian; mecca; muslim; oriented; to
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To: shrinkermd

Are they aligning these grave sites along the "Great Circle" route or the "Rhumb Line"? Idiots!


21 posted on 09/22/2006 6:40:55 PM PDT by Don Corleone (Leave the gun..take the cannoli)
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To: shrinkermd

When I'm dead I don't care which direction my dead body faces cause I'm dead. My soul will be in heaven and my body will return to dust.


22 posted on 09/22/2006 6:42:28 PM PDT by encm(ss) (USN Ret.)
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To: shrinkermd

Feet at 1:30 and eyes at 4:30?


23 posted on 09/22/2006 6:52:32 PM PDT by Old Professer (The critic writes with rapier pen, dips it twice, and writes again.)
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To: I see my hands
Do you know why a great circle approach was chosen rather than an straight line through the Earth? As the worm tunnels is even more direct than as the crow flies.

Dunno. "Great Circle" is what they use though. That might be an "Ask the Imam" kind of question.

24 posted on 09/22/2006 6:53:46 PM PDT by FreedomCalls (It's the "Statue of Liberty," not the "Statue of Security.")
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To: shrinkermd

"Multifaith cemeteries" don't make sense to me in the first place. I'm not so surprized. Even militiary cemeteries have at least Chritian sections, etc.


25 posted on 09/22/2006 7:28:29 PM PDT by right-wingin_It
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To: muawiyah

Go look at some cemetaries sometimes. All I have ever been in you are lying on your back feet to the east. Waiting the coming of Christ. Everyone. I will be planted facing EAST not Mecca.


26 posted on 09/22/2006 8:51:12 PM PDT by therut
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To: therut
I've gone to hundreds of pioneer cemetaries. They have folks buried foot to foot, head to the North, head to the South, buried in circles around a central point (an all time favorite style among Swiss polygamists), and so forth.

I suspect this is strictly an European thing and probably applicable only to those from a Catholic or Orthodox tradition as a general rule.

In any case, many Protestants know that "Christ will come in the clouds", and, consequently know that you can't tell what direction that is.

27 posted on 09/23/2006 9:50:16 AM PDT by muawiyah
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