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holy water and incense

1. I have no proof that God exists, so I do not belong to any religion.

2. But if I were to choose one, it would definitely be Roman Catholic.

3. It is so reassuring:

a. Priests wear distinctive garb so that we can address them as "Father."
b, Nuns look like nuns (sadly, some now wear regular clothing).
c. Incense? Fine! Why not?
d. Holy water? Great! Maybe if you believe, it can help.
e. Saints? Wonderful role models.
f. Confession? We all feel better when we apologize for our mistakes.
 
There is nothing magical or supernatural about rituals. Rituals do however, serve to reinforce and enhance underlying relationships.

On the other hand, if the underlying relationship does not exist, the ritual is at best impotent and at worst deceptive. Think of the final scene in The Godfather.
 
TheParser said:
1. I have no proof that God exists, so I do not belong to any religion.

2. But if I were to choose one, it would definitely be Roman Catholic.

3. It is so reassuring:

a. Priests wear distinctive garb so that we can address them as "Father."
b, Nuns look like nuns (sadly, some now wear regular clothing).
c. Incense? Fine! Why not?
d. Holy water? Great! Maybe if you believe, it can help.
e. Saints? Wonderful role models.
f. Confession? We all feel better when we apologize for our mistakes.
Click to expand...

the RC was created under Constantine for his political purposes; being a pagan he mixed paganism with christianity and got a hybrid religion.

if you read the bible, you don't find this hybrid creation in there.

so what to do? find bible church this sunday, you know the rest right?

40 blessings.
 
Rumpel said:
what do you think of it?


is it pagan

or Christian?

or sth else?
Click to expand...
Sacred water(s) are part of religious traditions apart from Christianity that include pagans.

Incense can also be just aromatherapy. I have a thing for sandalwood and fired a potent stick up just a week ago. Incense makes walls smoky, though, so this morning I've put in an order for replacement plug-in fragrance bulbs known as Wallflowers. (For anybody who cares, they're $3.25/$6.50 for a 2-pack today only online.)
 
nota bene said:
Sacred water(s) are part of religious traditions apart from Christianity that include pagans.

Incense can also be just aromatherapy. I have a thing for sandalwood and fired a potent stick up just a week ago. Incense makes walls smoky, though, so this morning I've put in an order for replacement plug-in fragrance bulbs known as Wallflowers. (For anybody who cares, they're $3.25/$6.50 for a 2-pack today only online.)
Click to expand...
If the weather permits I will burn incense just outside an open window or door. The breeze will usually bring the scent in and it's not overpowering like it would be if you burned it indoors.

If the house has to stay closed up I go with an oil diffuser.
 
Lycanthrope said:
If the weather permits I will burn incense just outside an open window or door. The breeze will usually bring the scent in and it's not overpowering like it would be if you burned it indoors.

If the house has to stay closed up I go with an oil diffuser.
Click to expand...
Wallflower bulbs contain scented fragrance oils. I don't have/don't want the newer plug-ins that offer intermittent diffusing. I'm a full-blast person myself, so I'll burn more than one stick with one near the open front door. Wallflowers are great, though. I really enjoy going from room to room and experiencing a new scent. Almost as wonderful as stepping out on the porch and smelling my petunias or the geranium when I pull off a sick leaf.
 
I was a Catholic altar boy . the incense was cloying - very smoky too
Then you had to wash the priests hands with water and wine over the chalice

Funerals were the best duty -out of school to the graveyard. more prayers and incense
I had compassion for the family, but i also enjoyed the gig. sometimes even got a tip
 
anatta said:
I was a Catholic altar boy . the incense was cloying - very smoky too
Then you had to wash the priests hands with water and wine over the chalice

Funerals were the best duty -out of school to the graveyard. more prayers and incense
I had compassion for the family, but i also enjoyed the gig. sometimes even got a tip
Click to expand...
Huh - I didn't realize altar boys might be called to serve at gravesites. Interesting.
 
Lycanthrope said:
Huh - I didn't realize altar boys might be called to serve at gravesites. Interesting.
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you have to incense the casket t the funeral mask and the gravesite.
walk around the whole casket and swing the incense both places
and you always had to hold the sacred cannon for the priest to read.

There were at least 2 altar boys at every mass, but usually just one rode with the priest to the gravesite
It was ez duty
 
Rumpel said:
what do you think of it?


is it pagan

or Christian?

or sth else?
Click to expand...
I saw a report years ago that holy water samples from many churches contained varying amounts of feces. That fails cleanliness is next to Godliness, doesn't it?
 
Rumpel said:
what do you think of it?


is it pagan

or Christian?

or sth else?
Click to expand...
The incense the church uses stinks. The idea of holy water is silly to me.


It sounds a bit pagan to me, IMHO.
 
Rumpel said:
what do you think of it?


is it pagan

or Christian?

or sth else?
Click to expand...
The ritual of incense burning was discovered in India and Southern Asia as early as 3300 BC, long before Christianity was even thought of.
Used alongside worship and prayer, it was believed that burning incense could ward off evil spirits while purifying the surroundings.
The act of burning incense has been an important ritual since ancient times. Believed to have originated in Egypt in the time of the Old Kingdom, it was once used by priests for fumigating tombs. Incense has a long history of being used in conjunction with ceremonies, rituals, and spiritual and religious occasions.
 
element94 said:
I saw a report years ago that holy water samples from many churches contained varying amounts of feces. That fails cleanliness is next to Godliness, doesn't it?
Click to expand...
Unholy Water

A surgeon in Ireland was puzzled when a 72-year-old woman twice developed serious eye infections just prior to having cataract surgery. What caused the infections? “Holy” water from Lourdes that she had put on her face. “The problem,” says The Irish Times, “is that holy water is often contaminated by dangerous bacteria.” The woman might easily have been blinded by the infection if the surgery had been performed as scheduled. The Irish Times continues: “Blessing simply doesn’t kill germs. And the sprinkling of holy water that is meant to cure, may actually cause life-threatening infection in certain circumstances.” According to the report, well-meaning friends or relatives who sprinkle you with “holy” water when you are in the hospital may be “the greatest risk to your survival.”
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/101997208
 
Daisy said:
Unholy Water

A surgeon in Ireland was puzzled when a 72-year-old woman twice developed serious eye infections just prior to having cataract surgery. What caused the infections? “Holy” water from Lourdes that she had put on her face. “The problem,” says The Irish Times, “is that holy water is often contaminated by dangerous bacteria.” The woman might easily have been blinded by the infection if the surgery had been performed as scheduled. The Irish Times continues: “Blessing simply doesn’t kill germs. And the sprinkling of holy water that is meant to cure, may actually cause life-threatening infection in certain circumstances.” According to the report, well-meaning friends or relatives who sprinkle you with “holy” water when you are in the hospital may be “the greatest risk to your survival.”
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/101997208
Click to expand...

thank you Daisy.

there is no 'holy water' in the bible if memory serves; therefore there is no 'holy water'

this appears to be something of pagan origin dumped on the RC by the constantine bunch back in the day or perhaps a more recent innovation?


Edit, this is how holy water made and used; note there is nothing in this article regarding the bible. they kinda make it up as they go...

www.patheos.com

How Holy Water Is Made

In this installment of Religion Behind the Scenes, Fr. Richard Tomlinson tells us a bit about how Holy Water is made and how it is used in the Christian church.
www.patheos.com www.patheos.com
 
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I haven't heard much about pagan holy water. I think ancient Greece had something similar, I might be wrong. I often just hear about holy water in a Christian or Buddhist context.

Incense in religious traditions is very old, present in both ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia.
 
Revelation said:
thank you Daisy.

there is no 'holy water' in the bible if memory serves; therefore there is no 'holy water'
Click to expand...
There are no Jehovahs witnesses either
Revelation said:
this appears to be something of pagan origin dumped on the RC by the constantine bunch back in the day or perhaps a more recent innovation?


Edit, this is how holy water made and used; note there is nothing in this article regarding the bible. they kinda make it up as they go...

www.patheos.com

How Holy Water Is Made

In this installment of Religion Behind the Scenes, Fr. Richard Tomlinson tells us a bit about how Holy Water is made and how it is used in the Christian church.
www.patheos.com www.patheos.com
Click to expand...
Holy water is not "made", it is tap water that is blessed.
 
Daisy said:
Unholy Water

A surgeon in Ireland was puzzled when a 72-year-old woman twice developed serious eye infections just prior to having cataract surgery. What caused the infections? “Holy” water from Lourdes that she had put on her face. “The problem,” says The Irish Times, “is that holy water is often contaminated by dangerous bacteria.” The woman might easily have been blinded by the infection if the surgery had been performed as scheduled. The Irish Times continues: “Blessing simply doesn’t kill germs. And the sprinkling of holy water that is meant to cure, may actually cause life-threatening infection in certain circumstances.” According to the report, well-meaning friends or relatives who sprinkle you with “holy” water when you are in the hospital may be “the greatest risk to your survival.”
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/101997208
Click to expand...
I think we can stop calling it holy water.
 
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