73 replies to this topic

[Vampchick21]

Ok, while watching Breakfast Television (a morning news show here in Toronto), one of the news items caught my attention.  Apparently, down in Texas, there is a picture of Jesus that is 'weeping' an oily substance from the eyes.  The woman who owns this painting claims that it began after she prayed for her grandchild who was born with his internal organs on the outside of his body.

So, Icons that weep various substances ALWAYS grab my attention.  I'm never quite certain what to make of each individual case.  What are your thoughts on these things?  Weeping paintings, weeping statues, etc, etc?

[MoonChild]

not too sure. some say there is a scientific explanation! but i have difficulty digesting it logically. But can;t attribute everything to paranormal either!

[anasuya]

I think that there are only a certain number of tests that can be performed on these things before you just have to resign yourself to the fact there IS not scientific explanation.

Also, what harm does it do to believe in these things, regardless of their validity? I mean, if I do a ritual and see a rainbow appear afterwards, I could read into that so much. It could be dumb luck or coincidence, but if it makes me feel connected to something greater, than I say let me believe it.

Ana

[Vampchick21]

That's a good way to look at it, particularly at the cases where no one is making money from it.  The woman in Texas that I mentioned is giving people bits of cloth soaked in the substance that the painting is weeping, but no mention of her charging for it, or anything at all for folks to just see it.

I've often considered somehow catalouging the instances of weeping icons and paintings.  I recall one story a couple of years ago where a Hindu statue of one of their Gods was drinking milk, and that one is so far my favourite

This stuff grabs me at such a deep level, and it's not just a Christian happening either.  Makes me wonder if I start looking, just how far back will I find occurances?  Did the statues of the Greek Gods in Ancient Greece weep?  Ancient Rome?  Egyptian?  

[anasuya]

I don't deny that these things happen. I think they are significant spiritual occurances. What I often wonder is what we are supposed to learn from it? Are these simply happening to bring us closer to the divine, or is there an underlying purpose that no one is grasping?

Ana

[Vampchick21]

Wow!  Good question!  That's one to ponder.  I suppose one would have to look at them cohesivly to even attempt to figure it out.

Here's another question...how many of these are straight up hoaxes, how many would perhaps be a non-divine spirit messing with people and how many would be an actual manifestation of the Deity that the Icon represents?

Ya know what?  Me gots a new hobby!  I'm going to start collecting these instances and create a webpage for them.....it's just such an incredibly fascinating thing!  

[aloha_spirit]

I'm afraid that the few known hoaxes will discourage people from believing in the unexplainable occurrances.

I've never personally see a statue cry or painting bleed, but I won't discount that as being impossible.  It may be impossible according to the laws in our plane of knowledge, but who knows about the higher laws?

[Vampchick21]

I think it's happened one to many times in the modern era alone for it to be discounted by one or two hoaxes.... But I know what you mean

[Gregory]

If anyone is interested in the article, it's here:

http://paranormal.ab...730/detail.html

It hasn't been scientifically tested, but at a glance, it looks fake: the tears are comming from the wrong part of the eye.

And not to sound insensitive, but what the hell sort of miracle is that, anyway?  "You had a hideously misformed baby, but look!  A crying painting!"  I guess everything is okay now, huh?

[anasuya]

Yeah, I'm not buying the picture in that article either. And, you make a good point Gregory. If my child were to suddenly die from some bizarre illness, I doubt that a crying statue or painting would make it all better. So, it does kind of make you wonder about the point of that kind of "sign". Who knows, though, maybe it is just to help us mere mortals feel closer to the divine.

Ana

[Willow]

I have always wondered the sincerity or miracle of the weeping/bleeding icons myself and as Aloha said, it only takes acouple of hoaxes to make me either highly skeptical or just disbelieve all together...I am also smitten with the hindu milk miracle, I just find it amazing that it not only happened in India but in Canada, Hong Kong, Indonesia and England... by chance has anyone found any hoax news on this phenomenon?

[flyingorb]

Olive oil and wax..........

[MoonChild]

VampChick, wow wow that is a fabulous avatar you got! Meowwww

[Vampchick21]

Thanks Moon, I got it from a website called http://www.mycathatesyou.com  Hilarious place.

What's Olive Oil and Wax flyingorb?  Was that the substance the Hindu icon was absorbing?  I'd be crushed if that one turned out to be a hoax...

[MoonChild]

nawww.... the hindu icons were DRINKING MILK lol! no idea why, but it happened!