medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
I think its rather obvious that relic veneration is an expression of faith - a connection to one's heros or loved ones. There are, however, examples of
miracles and relics being used to bolster faith, particularly with the less literate. It happens in every great religion, even today.
The most famous (or notorious) example in my mind are so-called "eucharistic miracles." There is a couple associated with certian television programs who
shall remain nameless who shamelessly hawk videos about such things as a means of bolstering faith (and, by corrolary, their bank account).
But at root, relics originate as expressions of faith in the same way I treasure my grandfather's cuff links (does anyone wear those things anymore?)
Pax
George the Less
On Wed, 26 Mar 2008 10:55:36 -0500, Theresa Gross-Diaz wrote:
>medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
>Curious - we seem to assume that relics are venerated to "bolster faith". Might they not rather be an *exression of * faith, rather than a prop? An
expression of enthusiasm and intimacy (physical contact with a beloved person) rather than something necessary *in order to* believe? As was pointed out
in an earlier posting, we WANT something belonging to or used by George Washington, because it makes us feel closer to him -- not because such a relic
strengthens our otherwise wobbly belief in his existence.
>TGD (interested in medieval pilgrimage)
>--Original Message Text---
>From: Revd Gordon Plumb
>Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2008 06:45:07 EDT
>medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
>I don't know if I am alone in this, but I am heartily sick of the Shroud of Turin - genuine or fake. The use of relics to bolster faith
>is a bit like attempts by some conservative Christians ( I will not use the "F" word!) to seize upon "evidence" from archaeology
>to "prove" the truth of the Bible. Faith like that seems to me to be built on rather shaky foundations!
>Gordon Plumb. ********************************************************************** To join the list, send the message: join medieval-
>religion YOUR NAME to: [log in to unmask] To send a message to the list, address it to: medieval-
>[log in to unmask] To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion to: [log in to unmask] In order to
>report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to: [log in to unmask] For further information, visit
>our web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html
>**********************************************************************
>To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME
>to: [log in to unmask]
>To send a message to the list, address it to:
>[log in to unmask]
>To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion
>to: [log in to unmask]
>In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to:
>[log in to unmask]
>For further information, visit our web site:
>http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html
**********************************************************************
To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME
to: [log in to unmask]
To send a message to the list, address it to:
[log in to unmask]
To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion
to: [log in to unmask]
In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to:
[log in to unmask]
For further information, visit our web site:
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html
|