(October 25, 2010 at 12:25 pm)Rwandrall Wrote: "Holy Water" is purely a symbol for purity and renewal. You seem to think that this water just becomes "holy" and stays like this forever, like in vampire movies. This is nonsense. The water poured on a child's head for baptism is holy in the context, in the instant, because of what it represents. Same goes for the "holy water" that christians dip their fingers in and then make a cross on their foreheads with. It's symbolic, it represents an idea.
Just like a candle lit on the altar is not a holy candle, it is a symbol of life and light.
If you take an american flag, then paint it red, is it still an american flag ? No, because it is no longer a symbol.
For example, Lourdes, in France, is supposed to be a holy place where you can go to be cured. But it's not being at Lourdes that carries the significance, it's the journey, and that is where the whole notion of pilgrimage comes from.
The water stops being "holy" the moment it is no longer a symbol, that's it. I really don't see how this is an issue.
Your reply makes sense if Christians believe that "holy water" is merely symbolic. It's my understanding they truly believe that the water, once blessed, has magical properties such as healing powers. Am I wrong?
Science flies us to the moon and stars. Religion flies us into buildings.
God allowed 200,000 people to die in an earthquake. So what makes you think he cares about YOUR problems?
God allowed 200,000 people to die in an earthquake. So what makes you think he cares about YOUR problems?
