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Myrna Nazzour - Miracle of Damascus

  • 25-08-2012 6:40pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 71 ✭✭


    Hi,

    I would like to ask people to take a look at this video. Its quite long but I think you should know what has happened in Damascus and what is still happening.

    I have two motives for posting this.

    Firstly I of course want to share the faith I have and help more people find faith but that is not the only reason.

    When I came across these videos I had faith already so I would like to get the opinions of Atheists on these videos. They are most certainly not Hollywood and can be at times hard to watch but I beg you to give them some time and then send me your feedback. If you don't make it to the very end I will let you know than some secular doctors and scientists were not able to give a medical or scientific reasoning behind her phenomenon. Please don't rule this out straight away, give it some time.


    http://www.catholicdigitalstudio.com/miracleofdamascus.htm

    -e


«1

Comments

  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 32,865 ✭✭✭✭MagicMarker


    You want us to watch approx 5 hours of youtube videos?

    Errrr, na.


  • Posts: 0 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Provide something more substantive than youtube videos and the same testimony a hundred different scams have used, then maybe we can talk.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 71 ✭✭the_eman


    What? video evidence is not enough? There is also a rigorous Catholic approval process that very few such occurrences actually get approved. This one has been approved and documented. I'm sure you probably don't put much weight behind the Catholic Church's approval process and like you say there are many scams but this one i trust you is not one and one I advise you to give some time. Many people have seen these Miracles first hand.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 98 ✭✭Rynox45


    If any scientist of doctor can't give an explanation, doesn't occam's razor suggest it's not really the case?
    Healing can be caused by a placebo effect, just like if a doctor were to give you sugar pills for a headache.

    The stigmata is examined fairly thoroughly here: http://garvarn.blogspot.ie/2008/07/holy-crap-or-myrna-nazzour-miracle.html

    It seems during the making of a Swedish documentary the wounds didn't appear until the production crew went out shopping and returned to find her wounded.


  • Posts: 0 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    the_eman wrote: »
    What? video evidence is not enough? There is also a rigorous Catholic approval process that very few such occurrences actually get approved. This one has been approved and documented. I'm sure you probably don't put much weight behind the Catholic Church's approval process and like you say there are many scams but this one i trust you is not one and one I advise you to give some time. Many people have seen these Miracles forst hand.

    No we don't put any weight behind the church's approval process.
    And no video evidence is not enough.

    How are you excluding the possibility that the so called miracles are not being faked?
    How do you know the magic olive oil is actually magic?

    How do we tell this is any different to the scams that other people have seen and fell for first hand?


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  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 32,865 ✭✭✭✭MagicMarker


    OP, at least link us the specific video that shows the stigmata occurring and tell us at what time in the video it happens, and I'll watch it, but I'm not trawling through 5 hours of videos.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,792 ✭✭✭Mark Hamill


    Rynox45 wrote: »
    If any scientist of doctor can't give an explanation, doesn't occam's razor suggest it's not really the case?
    Healing can be caused by a placebo effect, just like if a doctor were to give you sugar pills for a headache.

    The stigmata is examined fairly thoroughly here: http://garvarn.blogspot.ie/2008/07/holy-crap-or-myrna-nazzour-miracle.html

    It seems during the making of a Swedish documentary the wounds didn't appear until the production crew went out shopping and returned to find her wounded.

    Pretty sure the stigmata is in the wrong place in those pics too. AFAIK, Roman crucifictions had the nails through the wrists and the ankles (one nail, through both the ankles, resulting in the bone being split), rather than the palms of the hands or the tops of the feet.

    EDIT: Actually its one nail per ankle, with the ankles on each side of the upright.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,821 ✭✭✭18AD


    Not to stir (which I enjoy), but what is the relevance of this even if it is true?

    What is the significance of a miracle?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,247 ✭✭✭pauldla


    There's always some ne'er-do-well with a different take on the issue, isn't there? I bet this guy rots in hell. Or burns. Or rots and burns. And in the Ace of Bass room, too.

    http://garvarn.blogspot.com/2008/07/holy-crap-or-myrna-nazzour-miracle.html


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,992 ✭✭✭✭recedite


    the_eman wrote: »
    What? video evidence is not enough?
    Not when it is produced by "Catholic Digital Studios". Have you seen Avatar? Much better special effects.

    Something odd on the first page there, it says whatshername is a Catholic, but the miracle counts as Orthodox because her husband is Orthodox.
    So because he "owns" her, his religion has jurisdiction over any "fruits" forthcoming from this miracle??
    I suppose in reality, the various chief godmen involved will get together and cut a deal to split the proceeds.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,138 ✭✭✭Gregor Samsa


    the_eman wrote: »
    What? video evidence is not enough? There is also a rigorous Catholic approval process that very few such occurrences actually get approved. This one has been approved and documented. I'm sure you probably don't put much weight behind the Catholic Church's approval process and like you say there are many scams but this one i trust you is not one and one I advise you to give some time. Many people have seen these Miracles first hand.

    I would like to ask you to take a look at this video. Its less than seven minutes long but I think you should know what has happened in New Delhi and throughout the world.

    It's video evidence of a Hindu statue miraculously drinking milk. This phenomenon, which was replicated globally in 1995, defied explanation by many and stood up to the rigorous Hindu investigation process. It was documented by media organisations throughout the world. It began when an man in New Delhi had a dream that Lord Ganesha was thirsty for milk. He ran to his local Temple, and despite skepticism from the priest, fed milk to the statue. When word spread about this event, many people witnessed the miracle first hand at temples and statues throughout the world.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzhfPSxkdb4

    I trust this is enough to convince you of the existence of Lord Ganesha and the veracity of the Hindu Vedas.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 71 ✭✭the_eman


    No you are incorrect, Read some of the Scientific analysis done over 50 bears by Dr. Frederick Zugibe. Who is convinced the nails were through the palm.

    http://www.amazon.com/Crucifixion-Jesus-Completely-Revised-Expanded/dp/1590770706

    http://www.spirit-digest.com/Prayers/zugibe.htm


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,753 ✭✭✭fitz0


    the_eman wrote: »
    No you are incorrect, Read some of the Scientific analysis done over 50 bears by Dr. Frederick Zugibe. Who is convinced the nails were through the palm.

    http://www.amazon.com/Crucifixion-Jesus-Completely-Revised-Expanded/dp/1590770706

    http://www.spirit-digest.com/Prayers/zugibe.htm

    St Francis of Assisi's stigmata had wounds through his wrists. Padre Pio had them in his palms. They are the two most famous and widely accepted stigmata, but are at odds with each other. Which one was real?


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 32,865 ✭✭✭✭MagicMarker


    phutyle wrote: »
    I would like to ask you to take a look at this video. Its less than seven minutes long but I think you should know what has happened in New Delhi and throughout the world.

    It's video evidence of a Hindu statue miraculously drinking milk. This phenomenon, which was replicated globally in 1995, defied explanation by many and stood up to the rigorous Hindu investigation process. It was documented by media organisations throughout the world. It began when an man in New Delhi had a dream that Lord Ganesha was thirsty for milk. He ran to his local Temple, and despite skepticism from the priest, fed milk to the statue. When word spread about this event, many people witnessed the miracle first hand at temples and statues throughout the world.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzhfPSxkdb4

    I trust this is enough to convince you of the existence of Lord Ganesha and the veracity of the Hindu Vedas.

    I would like you to take a look at this video...



    I trust this is enough to convince you that people can levitate?


  • Posts: 0 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    the_eman wrote: »
    No you are incorrect, Read some of the Scientific analysis done over 50 bears by Dr. Frederick Zugibe. Who is convinced the nails were through the palm.

    http://www.amazon.com/Crucifixion-Jesus-Completely-Revised-Expanded/dp/1590770706

    http://www.spirit-digest.com/Prayers/zugibe.htm

    Lol this is the guy that was on Penn and Teller: bull**** who proved you could crucify someone through the palms.... if they also wore heavy reinforced gloves.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,737 ✭✭✭✭kylith


    phutyle wrote: »
    I would like to ask you to take a look at this video. Its less than seven minutes long but I think you should know what has happened in New Delhi and throughout the world.

    It's video evidence of a Hindu statue miraculously drinking milk. This phenomenon, which was replicated globally in 1995, defied explanation by many and stood up to the rigorous Hindu investigation process. It was documented by media organisations throughout the world. It began when an man in New Delhi had a dream that Lord Ganesha was thirsty for milk. He ran to his local Temple, and despite skepticism from the priest, fed milk to the statue. When word spread about this event, many people witnessed the miracle first hand at temples and statues throughout the world.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzhfPSxkdb4

    I trust this is enough to convince you of the existence of Lord Ganesha and the veracity of the Hindu Vedas.
    Pottery is porous, and porous materials are well known to be absorbent. This is what is happening with these statues; the porous material is soaking up the milk, give the impression that it is being drunk.

    This absorbency is obvious to anyone who has plants in terracotta pots; the soil in them dries up a lot faster than plastic ones.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 71 ✭✭the_eman


    18AD wrote: »
    Not to stir (which I enjoy), but what is the relevance of this even if it is true?

    What is the significance of a miracle?

    For the Church the significance is unity between the Latin Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. The miracles (Ecstasies, stigmata's and apparitions) all occurred on dates that both Churches share in their respective religious calendar. The messages imparted to Myrna mainly related to the unification of both Churches. Now I don't think that has a huge significance for Atheists. But I wanted to share this concrete evidence of the workings of Christ with people whom I believe need to see evidence before they believe.

    But I also wanted feedback and I thank you for your replies, I do not discount your thoughts, I know there are many wise logical thinkers in among you.

    -e


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 32,865 ✭✭✭✭MagicMarker


    You haven't shown us any concrete evidence, just like I haven't shown any concrete evidence for levitation.


  • Posts: 0 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    the_eman wrote: »
    For the Church the significance is unity between the Latin Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. The miracles (Ecstasies, stigmata's and apparitions) all occurred on dates that both Churches share in their respective religious calendar. The messages imparted to Myrna mainly related to the unification of both Churches. Now I don't think that has a huge significance for Atheists. But I wanted to share this concrete evidence of the workings of Christ with people whom I believe need to see evidence before they believe.

    But I also wanted feedback and I thank you for your replies, I do not discount your thoughts, I know there are many wise logical thinkers in among you.

    -Enda
    So you don't find it odd or illogical that instead of helping the people who really need it, Jesus instead uses his magic powers to cut a woman and making her leak olive oil?

    Couldn't he just help people? Or appear now and then?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 31,967 ✭✭✭✭Sarky


    Mysterious ways!
    <eldritch pose>
    WOOOoooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooo!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,246 ✭✭✭✭Dyr


    There is also a rigorous Catholic approval process that very few such occurrences actually get approved

    Well if its good enough for those witch doctors then it just has to be legit


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 71 ✭✭the_eman


    King Mob wrote: »
    So you don't find it odd or illogical that instead of helping the people who really need it, Jesus instead uses his magic powers to cut a woman and making her leak olive oil?

    Couldn't he just help people? Or appear now and then?

    Many people have testified to being cured of sickness and disabilities while in the presence of these miracles while they occurred and from using the oil. This is all in the documentary. There have been whole processions of people through Damascus, completely made up of people who have been cured many who have been disabled for life. So I do not agree, Jesus has helped many through these miracles. Not to mention the support this these miracles have given to many believers.


  • Posts: 0 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    the_eman wrote: »
    Many people have testified to being cured of sickness and disabilities while in the presence of these miracles while they occurred and from using the oil. This is all in the documentary. There have been whole processions of people through Damascus, completely made up of people who have been cured many who have been disabled for life. So I do not agree, Jesus has helped many through these miracles. Not to mention the support this these miracles have given to many believers.

    So he needed to do all of that through the torture and suffering of a woman because....?

    Never mind the fact that you've yet to show any evidence that a single person was magically cured.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,506 ✭✭✭shizz


    In any case, why would someone going through "stigmata" be considered a miracle? Sounds to me like Jesus being a bit pricky.

    "Buuuut Daaaaad (who is also me)! It's not fair that I had to go through it, shouldn't other people too?"


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 71 ✭✭the_eman


    You haven't shown us any concrete evidence, just like I haven't shown any concrete evidence for levitation.

    I don't need concrete evidence for levitation. I totally believe David Blalne is legit. Levitation has occurred in documented exorcisms. I don't discount the power that can be given through demonic ritual, do you think satanic rituals are just a fun game of medieval re-enactment or a new from of DnD for disgruntled ex-believers. Ok, i'm not claiming D Blaine is a satanist i'm making a comparison. But please let me not take you too far off topic. I think if you watch the documentary and read around it a bit there should be plenty of food for thought.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 32,865 ✭✭✭✭MagicMarker


    And on that note...

    129156.jpeg


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 71 ✭✭the_eman


    fitz0 wrote: »
    St Francis of Assisi's stigmata had wounds through his wrists. Padre Pio had them in his palms. They are the two most famous and widely accepted stigmata, but are at odds with each other. Which one was real?

    This is incorrect, St Francis of Assisi has stigmata on his hand as did Padre Pio as you do say.

    If your interested in Miracles examine the life of Padre Pio in more detail. This was quite recent.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,737 ✭✭✭✭kylith


    the_eman wrote: »
    I don't need concrete evidence for levitation. I totally believe David Blalne is legit. Levitation has occurred in documented exorcisms. I don't discount the power that can be given through demonic ritual, do you think satanic rituals are just a fun game of medieval re-enactment or a new from of DnD for disgruntled ex-believers. Ok, i'm not claiming D Blaine is a satanist i'm making a comparison. But please let me not take you too far off topic. I think if you watch the documentary and read around it a bit there should be plenty of food for thought.

    So, if you believe that David Blane is legit what about this video explaining how it's done?
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-AQSR2gUKc

    If David Blane, who you thought was legit, is using trickery and camera fakery to make it look like he's levitating when he isn't, isn't it possible that Myrna Nazzour is using trickery to make it look like she has stigmata when she doesn't?


  • Posts: 0 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    the_eman wrote: »
    I don't need concrete evidence for levitation. I totally believe David Blalne is legit. Levitation has occurred in documented exorcisms. I don't discount the power that can be given through demonic ritual, do you think satanic rituals are just a fun game of medieval re-enactment or a new from of DnD for disgruntled ex-believers. Ok, i'm not claiming D Blaine is a satanist i'm making a comparison. But please let me not take you too far off topic. I think if you watch the documentary and read around it a bit there should be plenty of food for thought.
    Behold the demonic powers!


    If you think that David Blaine is using real magic powers you are either a troll or just that stupid. Either way there's little point taking you or the "miracle" seriously.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 71 ✭✭the_eman


    kylith wrote: »
    So, if you believe that David Blane is legit what about this video explaining how it's done?
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-AQSR2gUKc

    If David Blane, who you thought was legit, is using trickery and camera fakery to make it look like he's levitating when he isn't, isn't it possible that Myrna Nazzour is using trickery to make it look like she has stigmata when she doesn't?

    The camera angle is different on David Blaine than on the very amateur video of the guy trying to show how its done. it's a very weak counter argument. Overall I think David Blaines trickery is a distraction from the topic we are discussing. Has anyone visited David Blaines house who had been in a wheelchair all their lives and left walking.

    Myrna Nazzour has had doctors examine her on all occasions. No trickery found.
    The icon that exudes sanctifying oil was once places in a seal glass jar, and it still produced the oil.
    The oil from the Icon and from Myrna has been tested and is pure olive oil.
    Olive oil has always been used for anointing in the Judeo-Christian tradition.
    Its all in the documentary.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 71 ✭✭the_eman


    On the David Blaine topic. Myrna Nazzour accepts no money for appearances she has made in variuos parts of the world. She sells no trinkets, books, icons, souvenirs does not make money from this. What about David Blaine?


  • Posts: 0 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    the_eman wrote: »
    On the David Blaine topic. Myrna Nazzour accepts no money for appearances she has made in variuos parts of the world. She sells no trinkets, books, icons, souvenirs does not make money from this. What about David Blaine?
    So how are they funding her trips around the various parts of the world?

    I'm pretty sure Sai Baba didn't charge either.

    Also, most people are rational enough to realise that David Blaine and other magicians aren't really magic.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 32,865 ✭✭✭✭MagicMarker


    Repeating yourself doesn't make it any truer.

    Youtube videos are not evidence, show us evidence, otherwise you're just talking shíte.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,105 ✭✭✭Kivaro


    Repeating yourself doesn't make it any truer.

    Youtube videos are not evidence, show us evidence, otherwise you're just talking shíte.

    You want proof.
    Here you go.
    Their offices is just down the street from me:

    tom-cheney-the-door-for-the-national-levitation-society-is-high-above-street-level-new-yorker-cartoon.jpg


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,247 ✭✭✭pauldla


    the eman, can I ask, what reaction did you expect from your post on the A&A forum? :confused:

    "Oh, my God, look at her! And it's on a video! On Youtube! It must be true! Back to the Church for me!"


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,718 ✭✭✭The Mad Hatter


    kylith wrote: »
    So, if you believe that David Blane is legit what about this video explaining how it's done?
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-AQSR2gUKc

    Aah, thanks! I've been wondering about this trick for years! I always figured it was something to do with having the camera behind him.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,188 ✭✭✭UDP


    the_eman wrote: »
    The camera angle is different on David Blaine than on the very amateur video of the guy trying to show how its done. it's a very weak counter argument. Overall I think David Blaines trickery is a distraction from the topic we are discussing.
    No it is very relevant. It is about applying critical thinking to extraordinary claims and how easy it is to create illusions in videos.

    Here is a better explanation of how it is done in the case of David Blaine as he does a higher "levitation":

    the_eman wrote: »
    Has anyone visited David Blaines house who had been in a wheelchair all their lives and left walking.
    If he said yes and if he had people to back up that claim in a video would you automatically believe it?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,821 ✭✭✭18AD


    Nocebo Max Strength™


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,537 ✭✭✭joseph brand


    You want us to watch approx 5 hours of lies in youtube videos?

    Errrr, na.

    FYP

    5 hours of christian videos? There is a hell! :eek:

    Is this 'evidence' more conclusive than the banana's ergonomic design?

    365oyr.jpg


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,138 ✭✭✭Gregor Samsa


    I would like you to take a look at this video...

    I trust this is enough to convince you that people can levitate?
    kylith wrote: »
    Pottery is porous, and porous materials are well known to be absorbent. This is what is happening with these statues; the porous material is soaking up the milk, give the impression that it is being drunk.

    Wow! It's almost as if YouTube videos and unverified first person accounts weren't real evidence, and that there are rational explanations for alleged miracles.

    (In fairness, I was putting it to the OP that if they believed the substandard evidence presented for the stigmata, then they would also have to believe the same level of substandard evidence for the drinking statues, if they had any pretence for consistency.)


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  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 24,428 Mod ✭✭✭✭robindch


    the_eman wrote: »
    Extra virgin olive oil, one assumes.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 71 ✭✭the_eman


    So your arguments were:

    Too long don't want to watch.
    The stigmata's were in the wrong place -- Incorrect
    Francis Of Assisi has a stigmata in the wrist not hand -- Incorrect
    David Blain can be disproved by a ridiculous imitation trick
    A finger trick anyone can do
    Funny picture of National levitation office - I like that
    Another guy doing levitation or is it a trick, unclear
    A victory banana

    Here is some evidence from a Psychiatric Department at the University of Lubin with references to Myrna Nazzour.

    http://www.google.ie/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=18&cad=rja&ved=0CEUQFjAHOAo&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wydawnictwo.umlub.pl%2Fpsychiatry%2Fpl%2Fartykul%2FpobierzPdf%2Fid%2F3347&ei=Op46UK-eGsaYhQfpm4GgBA&usg=AFQjCNHOFeuflHm3MV83hnVtaE92G1wtcg


    On excerpt

    "A Syrian lazarist (father Joseph Malouli), who was the only one present to have any knowledge of the phenomenon, called 8 doctors immediately and they held a scrupulous inspection of Myrna’s wounds. They opened in an inexplicable way and they were healed in the same way, without any traces or scars about 11 pm."


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 24,428 Mod ✭✭✭✭robindch


    the_eman wrote: »
    [...] Psychiatric Department at the University of Lubin with references to Myrna Nazzour. [...]
    One shouldn't trust the word of an academic when he/she's investigating a parlor conjurer -- you need another parlor conjurer, and presumably a better one.

    Her tricks, so far as I can see that there are any, are simplistic in the extreme. She'll never make a pro :)


  • Posts: 0 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    the_eman wrote: »
    So your arguments were:

    Too long don't want to watch.
    The stigmata's were in the wrong place -- Incorrect
    Francis Of Assisi has a stigmata in the wrist not hand -- Incorrect
    David Blain can be disproved by a ridiculous imitation trick
    A finger trick anyone can do
    Funny picture of National levitation office - I like that
    Another guy doing levitation or is it a trick, unclear
    A victory banana
    You need to read what we've written.
    We asked you to provide something more substantive than five hour long youtube videos.
    We need something more substantive than youtube videos because they can be used to "prove" something as silly as David Blaine actually being able to levitate.
    the_eman wrote: »
    Here is some evidence from a Psychiatric Department at the University of Lubin with references to Myrna Nazzour.

    http://www.google.ie/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=18&cad=rja&ved=0CEUQFjAHOAo&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wydawnictwo.umlub.pl%2Fpsychiatry%2Fpl%2Fartykul%2FpobierzPdf%2Fid%2F3347&ei=Op46UK-eGsaYhQfpm4GgBA&usg=AFQjCNHOFeuflHm3MV83hnVtaE92G1wtcg

    On excerpt

    "A Syrian lazarist (father Joseph Malouli), who was the only one present to have any knowledge of the phenomenon, called 8 doctors immediately and they held a scrupulous inspection of Myrna’s wounds. They opened in an inexplicable way and they were healed in the same way, without any traces or scars about 11 pm."
    So how do you know that's actually true? How do you know they aren't lying or weren't tricked? How do you know they aren't being misquoted?
    What about the explaination for her wounds that you've been supplied with?
    What about the fact that her wounds are not consistent with crucifixion either in location or position, but are consistent with her scratching herself?

    And what about the fact that none of it make sense in the first place.
    Why can god or jesus only do thier magic through the suffering of a person and in a manner that looks exactly like it was being faked?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,197 ✭✭✭housetypeb


    the_eman wrote: »
    ...... and they were healed in the same way, without any traces or scars about 11 pm."

    It's probably the drink, but that struck me as something that would not be out of place in a Monty Python sketch.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,594 ✭✭✭oldrnwisr


    the_eman wrote: »
    So your arguments were:

    Too long don't want to watch.
    The stigmata's were in the wrong place -- Incorrect
    Francis Of Assisi has a stigmata in the wrist not hand -- Incorrect
    David Blain can be disproved by a ridiculous imitation trick
    A finger trick anyone can do
    Funny picture of National levitation office - I like that
    Another guy doing levitation or is it a trick, unclear
    A victory banana

    My that horse of yours seems awfully high, what with your snide dismissal of people's arguments despite not having read any of them.

    As usually happens with religious coming in here thinking they have a bulletproof argument for Jesus, this one falls down in several respects.

    Just a couple of points regarding your "miracle"


    1. Myrna Nazzour & the phenomenon of stigmata

    The first problem with Ms. Nazzour is something shared by all stigmatics, they aren't solely restricted to Catholics or even Christians. Here for example is an infant in Pakistan suffering from dermatographic urticaria in the shape of Quranic scripture.

    6a00d8341c6d8553ef0120a66f8b3d970c-pi

    Similarly there are accounts of stigmata in Buddhism such as those described here:

    Essays into Vietnamese pasts

    This makes the argument that this is some kind of divine intervention really weak. It is further weakened by other miraculous "signs" from other religions such as the one posted by phutyle here.

    What makes Myrna Nazzour's claims any more authentic than a drinking Hindu statue?

    However, if you consider these "signs" from a psychological viewpoint the explanation becomes a bit more plausible. Even the link you provided states:

    "Their occurrence testifies to the existence of the source of their origin – the vital faith in the passion of Jesus Christ."


    We know that psychosomatism in general can cause the body to do all sorts of strange things and in the cases of these mentally unsound people, a psychosomatic cause may be the most reasonable explanation.

    However, in the case of Myrna Nazzour, deliberate fraud is far more likely. There are several problems with her claims not least of which are: a) the wounds are in the wrong places, b) the wounds are far more likely to caused by her crucifix than any other explanation and c) no test has yet been conducted whereby the possibility of cheating has been eliminated.

    Finally, the wounds of Ms. Nazzour brings up another problem for the divine origin theory, variation.

    PadrePioStigmata.jpg

    Summer_2005_159.jpg

    If these really are divine signs then why is there such variation in wound size, shape, location etc. The divine origin theory also runs into trouble when you consider that a) no documented cases of stigmata exist prior to the 12th century and b) there has been a shift in wound placement since the beginning of the 20th century with a large increase in the number of stigmatics exhibiting wounds in the wrists.


    2. St. Francis of Assisi & wound placement

    Regarding St. Francis, wounds in both hands and wrists were reported in the biography of St. Francis:

    "His wrists and feet seemed to be pierced by nails, with the heads of the nails appearing on his wrists and on the upper sides of his feet, the points appearing on the other side. The marks were round on the palm of each hand but elongated on the other side, and small pieces of flesh jutting out from the rest took on the appearance of the nail-ends, bent and driven back."


    The story of St. Francis actually raises some important questions about stigmata in general.

    Firstly, the debate over wound placement seems to have been theological rather than a debate about what the evidence actually pointed to, with the winning explanation being more to do with theological comfort than sound reasoning. This is exemplified in another passage from the biography of St. Francis:

    "Moreover, his right side had a large wound as if it had been pierced with a spear, and it often bled so that his tunic and trousers were soaked with his sacred blood."


    For the first thousand years of Christianity there was a schism between those who believed that the spear wound was on the left side or the right side. Triclavianism, for example is a belief that Jesus was crucified with three holy nails and pierced on the left side. This view was eventually declared as heresy by Pope Innocent III who declared that there were four nails and the wounds were on the right hand side. What is interesting though is the spear wound itself. The only reference to the spear wound is John's gospel which was the last to be written and the furthest removed from the events of Jesus' death (not that any of the gospels were eyewitness accounts of course).

    This is of course the overarching problem with stigmata, there are no eyewitness accounts of the crucifixion and significant amounts of contradictory evidence in the Bible surrounding the question of the crucifixion itself. What we have been able to establish however, is that, whatever has been shown by Fred Zugibe and others to be possible the archaeological evidence contradicts the traditional crucifixion position and with it the vast majority of stigmata.

    The CrucifiedM an fromG iv'at ha-Mivtar: A Reappraisal


    The evidence from the sole crucifixion victim that has been unearthed shows that the actual configuration of crucifixions at the time looked something like this:

    cross.gif

    Furthermore the configuration shown above is one shared by a Greek execution method of the time known as apotympanismos. This was a death mostly reserved for traitors but is one possible origin for the Roman crucifixion.

    Finally, there are a couple of questions that you might answer:

    Why was Jesus crucified at all? Why did the Sanhedrin not just stone Jesus to death for blasphemy? How is it that blasphemy was a punishment under Roman laws? Why would the Romans have any interest in executing a Jewish troublemaker when the Sanhedrin were such a thorn in their side anyway?

    Surely, as a believer you should be just as skeptical of these claims as any of us. Weeding out false claims from authentic ones (if there were any) should be an important act for believers.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,247 ✭✭✭pauldla


    oldrnwisr wrote: »
    Why was Jesus crucified at all? Why did the Sanhedrin not just stone Jesus to death for blasphemy?


    I was always led to believe that he was crucified so that the prophesy would be fulfilled i.e. not a bone of his body would be broken.

    Quite why the Romans and the Sanhedrin would be concerned about fulfilling that particular prophesy was never really explained, though.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,594 ✭✭✭oldrnwisr


    pauldla wrote: »
    I was always led to believe that he was crucified so that the prophesy would be fulfilled i.e. not a bone of his body would be broken.

    Quite why the Romans and the Sanhedrin would be concerned about fulfilling that particular prophesy was never really explained, though.

    Yeah, I've never really found the prophesy argument all that convincing. The one from Psalm 34 you mention is particularly weak since it refers to any righteous peron with no connection to Jesus or a messiah. It simply states that God will not allow righteous people to endure more suffering than they can bear.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 71 ✭✭the_eman


    oldrnwisr wrote: »
    However, in the case of Myrna Nazzour, deliberate fraud is far more likely. There are several problems with her claims not least of which are: a) the wounds are in the wrong places, b) the wounds are far more likely to caused by her crucifix than any other explanation and c) no test has yet been conducted whereby the possibility of cheating has been eliminated.

    I want to counter one point right now that is incorrect, many tests have been conducted to eliminate the possibility of cheating not alone that this has been witnessed my many thousands of people. Tests have been conducted on Myrna's body as per evidence I presented. Tests have been conducted on the oil produced from Myrna and from the Icons. Icons have been tested in sealed glass containers where oil has exuded.

    There are complete scientific journals written on this topic, here is an excerpt
    http://www.soufanieh.com/MEDICAL/HUILE/19900416.fra.eng.chromatography.oil.htm

    " Nevertheless, coming from a piece of paper, it is just as unexplainable that vegetal oil or cholesterol become the seat of emission "ex-nihilo", that is to say, without the contribution of natural substances. "

    There are many documented testimonies. From witnesses and people who have received cures in Myrna's presence.

    http://www.soufanieh.com/ENGLISH/mnoil.HTM

    I will argue the rest of the points when I return from a break.

    I apologize if I appeared snide, it is not my intention, I just wanted to Juxtapose some arguments.


  • Posts: 0 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    the_eman wrote: »
    I want to counter one point right now that is incorrect, many tests have been conducted to eliminate the possibility of cheating not alone that this has been witnessed my many thousands of people. Tests have been conducted on Myrna's body as per evidence I presented. Tests have been conducted on the oil produced from Myrna and from the Icons. Icons have been tested in sealed glass containers where oil has exuded.
    What tests? Who conducted them? When and how? What precautions where taken?
    the_eman wrote: »
    There are complete scientific journals written on this topic, here is an excerpt
    http://www.soufanieh.com/MEDICAL/HUILE/19900416.fra.eng.chromatography.oil.htm

    " Nevertheless, coming from a piece of paper, it is just as unexplainable that vegetal oil or cholesterol become the seat of emission "ex-nihilo", that is to say, without the contribution of natural substances. "
    So what does it matter is the stuff is "pure olive oil". How does that prove it's miraculous?

    And why is it olive oil? What possible reason would god have to make a person leak magic olive oil?
    the_eman wrote: »
    There are many documented testimonies. From witnesses and people who have received cures in Myrna's presence.
    And there's testimonies of people being healed by all manner of silly stuff.
    Testimonies are worthless as evidence.


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