Filipinos nailed to crosses in extreme display of devotion for Good Friday

the culture of deference · 29-03-2013 1:11pm #1

Ruben Enaje, 52, who is portraying Jesus Christ for the 27th time, screams as he hangs on a wooden cross during a Good Friday crucifixion re-enactment in San Pedro Cutud town, Pampanga province, north of Manila March 29, 2013.
TWO dozen Filipinos were nailed to crosses today in an extreme display of devotion that the Catholic church looks down upon as a form of folk religion but appears powerless to stop.

The re-enactment of the passion of Jesus Christ draws thousands of tourists to the Pampanga region, 80 km (50 miles) north of the capital, to watch barefoot penitents flagellate themselves and a series of crucifixions on an artificial hill.

The practice, which took hold in the province about 60 years ago as form of religious vow by poor people seeking forgiveness, a cure for illness and the fulfilment of other wishes. About 80 percent of its 96 million people are Catholic.

Archbishop Paciano Aniceto said the gory practice was a distortion of Christ's teachings of love and selfless service.

"I do not think it is right to close our doors to them just because they are more attracted to these folk practices than to our Roman liturgy which they may find too foreign or cerebral."

"We do this because of our faith not because we're paid," said Ruben Inaje, a house painter who has played the role of Christ for 27 years.

"Two years ago, I said it would be the last time I'd do it. But every time I say that, my wife gets sick. I guess God wants me to continue this sacrifice as a lifetime vow.

Souvenir and food vendors staked out the hill and people selling ice-cream and sodas wandered among the crowd.

newbie2013 · 29-03-2013 1:14pm

Jesus ****ing christ, the worlds gone mad. Religon is a ****ing joke lol

The Pheasant · 29-03-2013 1:17pm

Went to the Philipines in '04 and saw this live - pretty gruesome

The Big Red Button · 29-03-2013 1:17pm

Ah Jaysus, would ya be arsed, like!

Mental stuff.

Dades · 29-03-2013 1:20pm

the culture of deference wrote: »

"Two years ago, I said it would be the last time I'd do it. But every time I say that, my wife gets sick. I guess God wants me to continue this sacrifice as a lifetime vow."

I've read about God in the bible. That makes sense.

Pherekydes · 29-03-2013 2:34pm

the culture of deference wrote: »

... which they may find too foreign or cerebral."

How amusingly ironic!

I guess they skipped the part where they flogged him to within an inch of his life and at the end of the crucifixion the part where they rammed a spear into his side?

Sarky · 29-03-2013 2:38pm

This is where mtv got the idea for Jackass, right?

car.kar · 29-03-2013 3:11pm

There's a video of this somewhere on YouTube, it actually shows the nails being hammered in. Fairly barbaric stuff alright.

As for yer man... you'd think god would be a bit sound and stop making his wife sick after he's been nailed to a piece of wood so many times..

Nodin · 29-03-2013 3:13pm

Pubs must be closed there too....

GarIT · 29-03-2013 7:39pm

Any links to this? I'm getting a fair amount of aggression and abuse at home over trying to destroy the name of the good and one true faith.

Apparently only crazy people would do this, they didn't appreciate it when I said that I already told them it was the Christians.

gctest50 · 29-03-2013 7:42pm

Is that an Archos mp3 player he has ?

Solair · 29-03-2013 7:46pm

Nuts! Just completely and totally crazy.

Not only would that be extremely painful, it would also probably leave you permanently disabled and disfigured.

Your hands are an amazing and extremely complicated bit of evolutionary biology. To do something like that to them deliberately is just sick.

You'd end up causing serious damage to nerves, muscles, tendons, bones, blood vessels and lots of other things.

Not only would you have serious scars, but you'd probably never be able to use your hands properly again. You'd probably lose feeling in your fingers, be unable to bend them properly and you'd almost definitely develop arthritis and permanent pain afterwards too.

If you got an infection (quite likely give then circumstances) you'd risk even more damage and possibly loss of your hands if it was particular bad, blood poisoning and even death.

It's just so ridiculously stupid, I don't even know how you'd describe it!

MrPudding · 29-03-2013 7:49pm

Solair wrote: »

Nuts! Just completely and totally crazy.

Not only would that be extremely painful, it would also probably leave you permanently disabled and disfigured.

Your hands are an amazing and extremely complicated bit of evolutionary biology. To do something like that to them deliberately is just sick.

You'd end up causing serious damage to nerves, muscles, tendons, bones, blood vessels and lots of other things.

Not only would you have serious scars, but you'd probably never be able to use your hands properly again. You'd probably lose feeling in your fingers, be unable to bend them properly and you'd almost definitely develop arthritis and permanent pain afterwards too.

If you got an infection (quite likely give then circumstances) you'd risk even more damage and possibly loss of your hands if it was particular bad, blood poisoning and even death.

It's just so ridiculously stupid it's not even worth commenting on!

Is the fact that these people are still around a valid argument against natural selection?

MrP

Solair · 29-03-2013 7:52pm

MrPudding wrote: »

Is the fact that these people are still around a valid argument against natural selection?

MrP

Well, natural selection's a rather blunt instrument. It doesn't really care much once you've passed on your genes. Sometimes it's not really a very effective stupidity filter.

However, you'd really think that some of the christian organisations / churches etc would do a little more to condemn this.

It should be getting so much publicity in the media either. It's basically some kind of sadism on behalf of the participants and audience tbh.

wesf · 29-03-2013 7:55pm

idiots, nothing could justify that!

krudler · 29-03-2013 7:59pm

"Two years ago, I said it would be the last time I'd do it. But every time I say that, my wife gets sick. I guess God wants me to continue this sacrifice as a lifetime vow.

dafuqqqq?

Deank · 29-03-2013 8:03pm

What's Religion ??? :rolleyes:

Solair · 29-03-2013 8:07pm

Inflicting serious injury on someone for religious reasons (or tourism promotion reasons in this case I suspect too) is just deeply, deeply wrong on so many levels.

It just makes me sick even thinking about it. I mean, a hand is such an amazing thing, totally fundamental to everything about being human (using tools, manipulating your environment, physically connecting with other people, communicating, sensory organ) and incredibly sensitive.

It's scary what people will do when they get whipped up into that cult-like fervour.

3ndahalfof6 · 29-03-2013 8:11pm

I hope they were stainless steel, less chance of infection.

Lapin · 29-03-2013 8:13pm

MrPudding wrote: »

Is the fact that these people are still around a valid argument against natural selection?

MrP

The fact that they're still around at all proves they are doing it wrong.

Zillah · 29-03-2013 8:15pm

I don't have a problem with this.

Seriously. If a bunch of guys want to put nails through their hands then off you go, have fun, relish sharing in the agony of Jesus. You're not putting nails through the hands of your own children, or gay people, or members of other religions - let's not forget the main reason we're opposed to religion: They're wrong....lol, no; imposition of religious beliefs on others.

Deank · 29-03-2013 8:17pm

Solair wrote: »

Inflicting serious injury on someone for religious reasons (or tourism promotion reasons in this case I suspect too) is just deeply, deeply wrong on so many levels.

It just makes me sick even thinking about it. I mean, a hand is such an amazing thing, totally fundamental to everything about being human (using tools, manipulating your environment, physically connecting with other people, communicating, sensory organ) and incredibly sensitive.

It's scary what people will do when they get whipped up into that cult-like fervour.

And religions are ; dom dom dom, Cults end of, brain washing, money grabbing cults.

3ndahalfof6 · 29-03-2013 8:21pm

Is there any evidence of them moving on to the next stage and reappearing three days later, why would someone try to out do Jesus, after all he only did it once.

Nodin · 29-03-2013 9:31pm

Solair wrote: »

Nuts! Just completely and totally crazy.

Not only would that be extremely painful, it would also probably leave you permanently disabled and disfigured.

Your hands are an amazing and extremely complicated bit of evolutionary biology. To do something like that to them deliberately is just sick.

You'd end up causing serious damage to nerves, muscles, tendons, bones, blood vessels and lots of other things.

Not only would you have serious scars, but you'd probably never be able to use your hands properly again. You'd probably lose feeling in your fingers, be unable to bend them properly and you'd almost definitely develop arthritis and permanent pain afterwards too.

If you got an infection (quite likely give then circumstances) you'd risk even more damage and possibly loss of your hands if it was particular bad, blood poisoning and even death.

It's just so ridiculously stupid, I don't even know how you'd describe it!

No, they've got it down to a fine art. Still hurts like a bastard though, by all accounts.

Geomy · 30-03-2013 12:42am

Nodin wrote: »

No, they've got it down to a fine art. Still hurts like a bastard though, by all accounts.

Do ye have problems with people swinging from chains attached to piercings on their mickys and tits ?

And people paying to go and see it :S

Nodin · 30-03-2013 12:49am

Geomy wrote: »

Do ye have problems with people swinging from chains attached to piercings on their mickys and tits ?

Nope. Why?

3ndahalfof6 · 30-03-2013 8:56am

Geomy wrote: »

Do ye have problems with people swinging from chains attached to piercings on their mickys and tits ?

And people paying to go and see it :S

mickys tits? she wont let you away with this one.

the culture of deference · 30-03-2013 1:32pm

Solair wrote: »

Nuts! Just completely and totally crazy.

Not only would that be extremely painful, it would also probably leave you permanently disabled and disfigured.

It's just so ridiculously stupid, I don't even know how you'd describe it!

+1000

Well your man in the pic gets it done every year his wife is sick, I wonder what she thinks, I am sure the holes are permanent now.

Some church will make him a martyr when he dies. ****in nutjobs.

Not as bad as this idiot

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2133896/Actor-accidentally-hangs-stage-enacting-death-Judas-Iscariot-Easter-play.html

An actor in Brazil has died 17-days after being strangled by his own safety equipment during an Easter play.

Tiago Klimeck, 27, hanged himself while re-enacting the death of Judas Iscariot during the performance.

Geomy · 30-03-2013 3:21pm

3ndahalfof6 wrote: »

mickys tits? she wont let you away with this one.

Lol I know Micky catches small birds then puts rings around their legs,and gets a kick out of watching them hang upside down feeding from bird feeders....

Micky says looking at them through binoculars gives it the high definition look...

Nothing like a pair of blue tits at feeding time on a cold winters morning...
Brings warmth to the soul

sea_monkey · 30-03-2013 3:54pm

I always thought the nails went through the wrist not the hand? holds up better.

I'll email them.

Geomy · 30-03-2013 4:38pm

markfla · 30-03-2013 5:01pm

finally a level of stupidity is rewarded with an equivalent level of pain....

Hotblack Desiato · 30-03-2013 8:58pm

sea_monkey wrote: »

I always thought the nails went through the wrist not the hand? holds up better.

Yeah a real crucifixion would have to go through the wrist, even though paintings often depict nails going through the palm of the hand
You'll notice with these guys that there are lots of straps to take their weight so the nail going through the palm shouldn't have any weight on it.
With a careful aim it should do little enough damage...

Nodin · 30-03-2013 10:33pm

ninja900 wrote: »

Yeah a real crucifixion would have to go through the wrist, even though paintings often depict nails going through the palm of the hand
You'll notice with these guys that there are lots of straps to take their weight so the nail going through the palm shouldn't have any weight on it.
With a careful aim it should do little enough damage...

Bugger all. Seen it on some documentary. When it comes to nailing people up, they really know their nailin.

Kivaro · 30-03-2013 11:49pm

sea_monkey wrote: »

I always thought the nails went through the wrist not the hand? holds up better.

I'll email them.

You should enail them instead.

Kivaro · 30-03-2013 11:53pm

Anybody notice the subtle underpants endorsement?
Beckham will be mad that he didn't think of it.

bnt · 31-03-2013 12:04am

gctest50 wrote: »

Is that an Archos mp3 player he has ?

No, it's a wireless transmitter for the mike near his mouth. You know, so the people in the nosebleed seats get to hear his screams all the more clearly. I'm not exaggerating or being sarcastic.

Sarky · 31-03-2013 12:34am

Yeah, I kinda had to, didn't I?

P_1 · 31-03-2013 12:38am

If they're not hurting anyone else in their actions then who am I to stop them from doing it.

Sierra 117 · 31-03-2013 12:41am

Honestly, people like that need psychiatric help.

Nodin · 31-03-2013 1:24am

Sierra 117 wrote: »

Honestly, people like that need psychiatric help.

...its fairly standard RC thinking at work, tbh. Offer up suffering as atonement/for special request etc. It's just taken a bit farther than lough derg or going up croagh patrick in the bare feet. I think they have flagellants as well.

Sarky · 31-03-2013 1:29am

To be brutally honest I reckon the Church only disapproves because they didn't think of monetising it before it caught on, and now they can't do anything about it that won't lose them money or members.

Nodin · 31-03-2013 1:31am

Sarky wrote: »

To be brutally honest I reckon the Church only disapproves because they didn't think of monetising it before it caught on, and now they can't do anything about it that won't lose them money or members.

It's because it lacks priests in charge. This is always taken badly. The Church was greatly against the whole rosary thing originally for much the same reason, afaik.

Brian Shanahan · 31-03-2013 11:07am

the culture of deference wrote: »

"Two years ago, I said it would be the last time I'd do it. But every time I say that, my wife gets sick. I guess God wants me to continue this sacrifice as a lifetime vow.

Meanwhile at home the missus is talking to herself: "Why U no take me to doctor, husband? I very sick today."

Red Pepper · 31-03-2013 11:48am

Have they never heard of this product?

http://fun.marinov.net/show.php?id=1614&t=It's+A+Miracle+-+No+More+Nails

recedite · 01-04-2013 5:39pm

gctest50 wrote: »

Is that an Archos mp3 player he has ?

bnt wrote: »

No, it's a wireless transmitter for the mike near his mouth.

I reckon its an mp3 player continously repeating a track of Daniel 'O Donnell singing the Ave Maria. Just 'cos the crucifixion on its own wouldn't be painful enough.

joseph brand · 01-04-2013 6:54pm

the culture of deference wrote: »

Ruben Enaje, 52, who is portraying Jesus Christ for the 27th time, screams as he hangs on a wooden cross during a Good Friday crucifixion re-enactment in San Pedro Cutud town, Pampanga province, north of Manila March 29, 2013.
TWO dozen Filipinos were nailed to crosses today in an extreme display of devotion that the Catholic church looks down upon as a form of folk religion but appears powerless to stop.

'Catholic church' and 'powerless' are not words you see often in the same sentence. The Vatican understands that this is publicity.

"With great power comes great responsibility." Spiderman

the culture of deference · 02-04-2013 3:35pm

recedite wrote: »

I reckon its an mp3 player continously repeating a track of Daniel 'O Donnell singing the Ave Maria. Just 'cos the crucifixion on its own wouldn't be painful enough.

A drunk Daniel slurring the words...

thebiglad · 02-04-2013 3:42pm

Pherekydes wrote: »

How amusingly ironic!

I guess they skipped the part where they flogged him to within an inch of his life and at the end of the crucifixion the part where they rammed a spear into his side?

Don't forget part of crucifixion is to break the legs - saw it on Discivery Channel (gives inability to hold own body weight and crushes the lungs - causing suffication) - Jesus got away with the leg break cos he was already dead - this guy is shirking his responsibilities to reanactment...

Nodin · 02-04-2013 5:48pm

thebiglad wrote: »

Don't forget part of crucifixion is to break the legs - saw it on Discivery Channel (gives inability to hold own body weight and crushes the lungs - causing suffication) - Jesus got away with the leg break cos he was already dead - this guy is shirking his responsibilities to reanactment...

Not his fault. The wife told him if he went and got his legs broke, he wasn't to come running back to her.

[-0-] · 02-04-2013 7:49pm

This story comes up every year. I'm surprised people have not heard of this before.

Filipinos nailed to crosses in extreme display of devotion for Good Friday

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