What is the silliest religious/cult/tribal ritual you have heard of?

I know a group of Discordians who held an entire elaborate ritual - complete with torches and everything - to sacrifice an eclair. (Don't get me wrong, there was a clear purpose to it, message. And it was - as all their rituals are - designed to be FUN!)

How about the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster? They call themselves Pastafarians.
http://www.venganza.org/

In Australia more than 75,000 people follow the Jedi religion. That is pretty ridiculous. Well, I guess it is just like every other religion.

I find practising any religion or believing in a higher power/supreme being to be quite a ridiculous ritual.

Scientology.

Why? The guy who created it wrote a book on making money and that making up a religion would be the best way to make your cash, so, he created scientology.
I dont know much about it but im sitting here in my philosophy lesson wondering why you would create a religion if your not really devoted to that beleif.
he also created that in scientology you have to pay money to the curch of scientology or else you will be followed by some evil alien spirit or something ridiculous. hmm im kind of talking out of somthing i dont know much about but if anyone has any answers or querys i would be happy to hear

Probably my own cult, the 'I Love Josh' cult. I have 7 members, and we just sort of did it to scare this emo boy called Josh. It's very funny! but not very religious

Not exactly silly, but definitely insane: Clitoridectomy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Female_genital_cutting

E-meter readings.

I watched a TV programme called Tribe, in which the presenter went and lived with different tribes for a while all over the world and learned their customs, and lived as they did. There was a tribe who pushed their penises (peni?) inside their bodies so that just the skin hung down, but he tried and couldn't do it, as he felt sick trying. I felt queasy watching it myself....

Not laughing. Ever.
Reading quotes by "the 44 saints" every dinner.
Eating with their feet flat on the floor (it was a rule).
"Put a tiny pebble in your shoe. Use inconspicuous voluntary suffering. Also, carry a book with you that you are not interested in and that you are not going to read."
Urinating from a side of the toilet and referring to yourself as "it".

I heard some people actually worship JFK.

Believing in imaginary beings, people rising from the dead, shrubbery that talks and the like.

Praying. Can you imagine the idea of going on your knees and begging an invisible fat guy up in the sky to grant your wishes?

Mutilating genitals ... both male and female circumcision.
http://nocirc.org/

evangelical christian.

Obama worship.

Most of them are equally silly.

I don't know the name of the religion/culture, but I know its a big one, and its absolutely ridiculous. The praying to a certain direction and a certain time of day. What country? I don't know but I've seen them in AIR PORTS haah. just suddenly they drop to the floor and face the east of whatever the direction is and just bow there bodies to the floor and pray haha. monks? who knows. its stupid. I think religion is a waste of time. engergy. emotion and existence. LIVE YOUR LIFE

Wiccans.

Edit: Actually on re-reading the question I see that I read it wrong. I dont have any interest in any religion other than Christian, so I dont know what kind of rituals they do, but if it isnt Christian then I think it is for naught. I am no different than a member of any other religion. I think the Christian religion is the only right religion. They think
theirs is the only right religion. Good, if they are a member of another religon, they should believe in it enough that they think it is best. Therefore, if it isnt a religion that teaches that God is the one true God, Jesus Christ is His Holy Son,and that he died on the cross to atone for our sins, then I dont believe it. I dont mean to sound arrogant, but I respect each persons right to beleive what they want. And I believe that there is only one right religion. I also believe that each person should decide for themselves which religion they are going to follow and they should follow it fervently. When I state that I believe a certain religion is wrong, I am not saying that to put anyone down or disrespect their beliefs, I am just stating mine. So, I said all that to say this, I didnt say Wiccans to be hateful, I said it because I think it is silly from things I have seen Wiccans write about it. That is not to say I think YOU are silly. I am trying to be honest here and not offend anyone. But I am not sure that is possible.

I seen a show with a tribe that during their becoming a man ceremony. They take sticks and repeatly poke their tongues with it causing it to bleed. This was to remove the blood from his mother received from birth and breast feeding.

here in the phillipines there is a religios group called them self IGLESIA NI CRISTO (CHURCH OF CHRIST) founder felix manalo year 1913 and now lead by his grand son , Eduardo Manalo... the stange and silliest about it,Is that, in thier congregation, they Gathered thier " santa cena " (means> "HOLLY SUFFER" in english) in 9:00 in the morning.. how can they make suffer in the morning.... they practice that retual until now..

http://www.evilbible.com/Murder.htm

The Jedi Church....but so what if it looks silly to me. My little opinion is not that important. I believe in 'Live and let live" so I don't have a personal issue with it. In fact I think its great. If it fulfills a human need in them, makes them happy, enriches their lives, makes them better people, does not kill or harm anyone or oppress or abuse some of their members - I say...by all means ... May the force be with them! ;~)

Catholic mass.

Its like a miracle in my mouth and everyone's invited.

Boy bands!
;-)

THIS IS NOT DEFINITELY SILLY. BEWARE THE CURSE OF LUCIFER
THE WAY TO PRACTICE SATANISM. THE FIVE DISTINCT STEPS FOR THE SATAN RITUAL:

1. In a room with dark curtains and no electrical light system with no electrical equipments running, no mirrors and no chairs or any place to sit, only the ground on a leather or hide of a buffalo or sheep (like the skin hides you use for your living room). Bring generous quantities of cheese (preferably Chevre or Chaumes or Limburger) for a latter use. Bring a freshly cut whole sheep or lamb or goat which is cleaned up completely inside (no intestines or viscera, just like for barbecue) by the butcher but deskinned. Position it on a platform or a rectangular wooden table where it can reach your chest level while you kneel down. Cover the head of the sheep with a Red square cotton cloth (7O X 50cms). When you are completely naked, light two king size candles on both sides. If you have a partner or partners ask them to do the same, remove clothes and let the girls be on your left and the guys on your right with you on the front of the middle of the table. Nobody should use anything artificial on their bodies like jewellery, wrist watch, hair clips, perfumes, hair gels, after shaves, or deos for at least 2 days, no use of soaps or shower gels for 2 days, chains, rings, shoes, socks, etc. (Except a video camera if you want an initial recording to show and learn from the mistakes in the beginning as the process is a bit complicated).
2. Take molten lard in a big container, 5 litres; everybody should have a Copper/Brass container for themselves, about the size of a coffee mug and half filled with the liquid lard. Each one of you apply the lard on the body of the sheep or lamb starting from you with the lard from your individual mugs one by one and then sit in the ground. Concentrate on Satan as an entity which is similar to you, that is everybody should concentrate on himself/herself. Remeber this is to remove the biasedness of Satan as a male form!
3. Once everybody is concentrated and silently praying to Satan in his mind, each one of you should go one by one, if it is a mixed crowd, a lady and a man should go and hug the carcass of the sheep together and kiss the body of the sheep 7 times. Once everybody has finished, everybody should be silent and touch their knees with their palms facing down on it and say "Lucifer here I come" in a whisper. After that, each one of you should randomly select a partner and go as a couple near the body of the sheep. Put each of your palms on the lard covering the sheep extervnal body and then press it on each others chest and rub three times in concentric circular movements, the ladies right to left and the guys left to right, repeating the prayer, "Let Satan enter you heart" repeatedly for three times. Then remove both hands from the respective chests and then apply the remaining lard on each others cheeks. The ritual is completed by kissing each other.
4. Everybody should then sit in their respective positions, close their eyes, start chanting the name of Satan with the image of themselves. Slowly they will realize that the form of Satan as a all powerful force is emanating in the deep recesses of their brain making them stimulated and full of life energy. Let everybody rise after the first movement of getting up by any participant. Let everybody hold hands in a circle and start circling the body of the sheep slowly. Chant the following message as you keep rotating. "Herein lie the master of the dark matter of the universe, the matter which is manifest the most within the tangible, the most powerful amongst the known and the unknown matter, the dark matter which is all powerful and omnipotent within the universes of time. Hail Lucifer. Hail Satan."
5. After this let everybody sit in the places, now the girls to your right and the guys to your left. You get up as the head priest and take a butcher's knife. Cut a piece of meat and place it on the red cloth covering the head with a silent prayer to Satan keeping eyes closed. as everybody to come one by one to you with their respective mugs. Cut a piece of meat the size of a steak and drop it into the mug. When everybody has got their part, let everybody sit. You also take your part. Put a bit of the cheese which was mentioned earlier and marinade the meat with it. Relish the dish as a food for Satan and take his blessings. After completing and emptying the mug, spit on it three times and everybody place their mugs around the carcass of the remaining body of the sheep, the girls' mugs on the left and the guys' on the right. Then pray to Satan one final time in your mind repeating his name 666 times. Then, slowly rise and go and collect the mugs randomly, the girls from the guys' side and vice versa. Take the residue in the mug and apply on your face as a lotion.
The meeting is adjourned and let everybody mingle and talk freely about the experience. Full secrecy should be maintained and only take people who are motivated on their own free will. The remaining carcass can then be barbecued for a feast after that. This ritual is advised usually on every fullmoon night and participants should be only contacted by word of mouth and without any writing or phone call or any other means.

Courtesy:
The Book of Lucifer (from the original Armaic), 50BC.
The Code of Love (early Roman period, 300BC)
Black Sky (an ancient Greek poetic representation, 250BC)

THE WAY TO PRACTICE SATANISM. THE FIVE DISTINCT STEPS FOR THE SATAN RITUAL:

1. In a room with dark curtains and no electrical light system with no electrical equipments running, no mirrors and no chairs or any place to sit, only the ground on a leather or hide of a buffalo or sheep (like the skin hides you use for your living room). Bring generous quantities of cheese (preferably Chevre or Chaumes or Limburger) for a latter use. Bring a freshly cut whole sheep or lamb or goat which is cleaned up completely inside (no intestines or viscera, just like for barbecue) by the butcher but deskinned. Position it on a platform or a rectangular wooden table where it can reach your chest level while you kneel down. Cover the head of the sheep with a Red square cotton cloth (7O X 50cms). When you are completely naked, light two king size candles on both sides. If you have a partner or partners ask them to do the same, remove clothes and let the girls be on your left and the guys on your right with you on the front of the middle of the table. Nobody should use anything artificial on their bodies like jewellery, wrist watch, hair clips, perfumes, hair gels, after shaves, or deos for at least 2 days, no use of soaps or shower gels for 2 days, chains, rings, shoes, socks, etc. (Except a video camera if you want an initial recording to show and learn from the mistakes in the beginning as the process is a bit complicated).
2. Take molten lard in a big container, 5 litres; everybody should have a Copper/Brass container for themselves, about the size of a coffee mug and half filled with the liquid lard. Each one of you apply the lard on the body of the sheep or lamb starting from you with the lard from your individual mugs one by one and then sit in the ground. Concentrate on Satan as an entity which is similar to you, that is everybody should concentrate on himself/herself. Remeber this is to remove the biasedness of Satan as a male form!
3. Once everybody is concentrated and silently praying to Satan in his mind, each one of you should go one by one, if it is a mixed crowd, a lady and a man should go and hug the carcass of the sheep together and kiss the body of the sheep 7 times. Once everybody has finished, everybody should be silent and touch their knees with their palms facing down on it and say "Lucifer here I come" in a whisper. After that, each one of you should randomly select a partner and go as a couple near the body of the sheep. Put each of your palms on the lard covering the sheep extervnal body and then press it on each others chest and rub three times in concentric circular movements, the ladies right to left and the guys left to right, repeating the prayer, "Let Satan enter you heart" repeatedly for three times. Then remove both hands from the respective chests and then apply the remaining lard on each others cheeks. The ritual is completed by kissing each other.
4. Everybody should then sit in their respective positions, close their eyes, start chanting the name of Satan with the image of themselves. Slowly they will realize that the form of Satan as a all powerful force is emanating in the deep recesses of their brain making them stimulated and full of life energy. Let everybody rise after the first movement of getting up by any participant. Let everybody hold hands in a circle and start circling the body of the sheep slowly. Chant the following message as you keep rotating. "Herein lie the master of the dark matter of the universe, the matter which is manifest the most within the tangible, the most powerful amongst the known and the unknown matter, the dark matter which is all powerful and omnipotent within the universes of time. Hail Lucifer. Hail Satan."
5. After this let everybody sit in the places, now the girls to your right and the guys to your left. You get up as the head priest and take a butcher's knife. Cut a piece of meat and place it on the red cloth covering the head with a silent prayer to Satan keeping eyes closed. as everybody to come one by one to you with their respective mugs. Cut a piece of meat the size of a steak and drop it into the mug. When everybody has got their part, let everybody sit. You also take your part. Put a bit of the cheese which was mentioned earlier and marinade the meat with it. Relish the dish as a food for Satan and take his blessings. After completing and emptying the mug, spit on it three times and everybody place their mugs around the carcass of the remaining body of the sheep, the girls' mugs on the left and the guys' on the right. Then pray to Satan one final time in your mind repeating his name 666 times. Then, slowly rise and go and collect the mugs randomly, the girls from the guys' side and vice versa. Take the residue in the mug and apply on your face as a lotion.
The meeting is adjourned and let everybody mingle and talk freely about the experience. Full secrecy should be maintained and only take people who are motivated on their own free will. The remaining carcass can then be barbecued for a feast after that. This ritual is advised usually on every fullmoon night and participants should be only contacted by word of mouth and without any writing or phone call or any other means.

Courtesy:
The Book of Lucifer (from the original Armaic), 50BC.
The Code of Love (early Roman period, 300BC)
Black Sky (an ancient Greek poetic representation, 250BC)