There is something called cultural relativism.  Its the theory that suggest that cultural rituals and practices vary so vastly across the globe that it is important for us to remain sensitive to those practices that might seem unexplained or weird to us.  That said I can’t wrap my brain around this one.

It looks like divinity students at a top religious college in Ethiopia are OUTRAGED because the school’s patriarch, Abune Paulos recently exchanged pleasantries with Beyonce prior to her concert last month in Addis Ababa.  In response to the “inappropriate” act the students have launched a school-wide hunger strike.  HUH?!  I actually had to read the story twice when it hit the AP because I felt like I missed the punchline initially.     

“She provoked the whole situation,” Daniel Techale, a 28-year-old alumnus said, accusing the patriarch of “practically a nonreligious act. It’s unacceptable, or inappropriate, to say the least.”

Authorities have been trying to persuade the students to end their hunger strike, which has so far sent about 30 students to the hospital.  Shouldn’t you be studying and praying?  This is crazy.