I agree with Toby; this is a well written and nuanced piece. Despite your personal opinions, you wrote something thoughtful and considered for all to consider. Well done!
We like to be led to believe! I remember avidly reading about The Bermuda Triangle theory in the 80’s or 90s! Also the Philadelphia Experiment, the Nazca Lines, Atlantis and a whole lot more theories that popped up around then along with secret doors in pyramids and when I read Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code, I SO wanted it to be true! You can’t sell me a load of s**t, but I like the earnestness of the authors behind the theories!
For me, I feel like it comes down to placebo effect. Life wasn’t easy. Some people probably needed something to believe in. And when that life is rooted in religion it’s not a leap to have faith in a relic. I am curious how many everyday people had access to these relics though. These big, opulent places where built to house them, were laymen able to see them or just know of them?
Wow! Relics have been on my mind a lot recently. I'd like to drum up some tourist business. On my way to Spain and Portugal, maybe I can find...or forge some. I'll give you a special price, as the traders say.
Wow- lots of thoughts swirling in my head at the moment. From the perspective of a lapsed Catholic, relics, in of themselves, do not allow us to become closer to God. They hold no value in terms of spirituality. If you truly belief, you need not have proof, and will not forgo belief even if you are provided proof against that belief. But if a person in possession of a 'relic' believes that this object brings them closer to God, than the person bestows the object that power through their belief. The power comes from within them. They could just as easily assign that power to the beauty of a flower, or one of many wonders of nature as well. It is the belief that fascinates me. And relics (and reproductions of) are an amazing historical account of the beliefs held by those in the past.
A very good thoughtful piece with reference to my favourite Canturbury Tales character! Took me back to my A level studies there. 😉 I always thought hum.. One day: I wonder if they will allow carbon dating on the 'One True Cross' Helen found. I also wonder if, as you say it is more the belief than the relic, why do writers of the time such as Chaucer show distain for the Pardoner and the selling of 'fake goods'?
A very good book on The Cult of Relics is 'Holy Bones, Holy dust' by Charles Freeman. He takes you through the start of the relic business all the way through. I found it a great book, even if at times as a irreligious dolt I didn't get some of the Philosophy!
It's really interesting. I would love to know more about its early provenance - when it was first described, and ascribed to Christ - and why someone created such an elaborate hoax. It's clearly very clever - is there anything comparable from the period? Any thoughts as to who the forger/s might have been?
Great post! Almost didn’t read this week because I’m hopelessly cynical about these things. I agree the relic business is a shameless racket- and obviously people (ahem- Rolfe) are still making $$ off of it.
But, it’s kind and true the way you wrapped it up. The belief is there- and if some con man decides to make a buck off it, it says more about the con than the believer.
There is a vast collection of reliquary in the Medici Chapel in Florence - interesting to see and imagine the thousands drawn to such sacred things. You have to squint to see the actual bone or tooth because the glass often had a warped or distorted effect. You couldn’t clearly see or identify body parts to satisfy one’s morbid curiosity. I mean that’s what drew the masses right? Well, at least that’s what I was squinting so hard to see 😝
My mum always believed this to be true. I remember her saying “no one could make this up, it’s to sacred of thing to lie about” I guess that it how the relics had so many believers.
Whenever the subject of relics comes up I can't help but think of the Templars loss of the "one true cross" in 1187 (Battle of Hattin) - an event that was nearly as devastating to Christians as perhaps the loss of Jerusalem itself. It always struck me as incredible that they were willing to risk the safety of this relic by carrying it into battle with them. As important as they thought it to be it just seems like it would have been better protected. Then there is the part of me that says having it as a symbol to the troops, especially when Saladin's forces were so much a threat, would have perhaps driven them to fight harder. Shows how powerful the belief is I guess.
I am fascinated by the Shroud and have watched various programmes over the years which posited this theory and that theory. It was many years ago that I first heard that the tests on the Shroud might have been done on threads used for repair. The church is not going to allow more tests to be done on it. Whatever it is, and however it was created, it is too fragile to allow more threads to be removed. If you want to believe in it, then believe. What does it matter and who are you hurting?
A thoughtful and well written post x
Dear Dan,
I agree with Toby; this is a well written and nuanced piece. Despite your personal opinions, you wrote something thoughtful and considered for all to consider. Well done!
We like to be led to believe! I remember avidly reading about The Bermuda Triangle theory in the 80’s or 90s! Also the Philadelphia Experiment, the Nazca Lines, Atlantis and a whole lot more theories that popped up around then along with secret doors in pyramids and when I read Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code, I SO wanted it to be true! You can’t sell me a load of s**t, but I like the earnestness of the authors behind the theories!
I visited Rennes le Chateau (The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail), on which Da Vinci Code is based. It was ...... thought provoking.
For me, I feel like it comes down to placebo effect. Life wasn’t easy. Some people probably needed something to believe in. And when that life is rooted in religion it’s not a leap to have faith in a relic. I am curious how many everyday people had access to these relics though. These big, opulent places where built to house them, were laymen able to see them or just know of them?
Wow! Relics have been on my mind a lot recently. I'd like to drum up some tourist business. On my way to Spain and Portugal, maybe I can find...or forge some. I'll give you a special price, as the traders say.
Wow- lots of thoughts swirling in my head at the moment. From the perspective of a lapsed Catholic, relics, in of themselves, do not allow us to become closer to God. They hold no value in terms of spirituality. If you truly belief, you need not have proof, and will not forgo belief even if you are provided proof against that belief. But if a person in possession of a 'relic' believes that this object brings them closer to God, than the person bestows the object that power through their belief. The power comes from within them. They could just as easily assign that power to the beauty of a flower, or one of many wonders of nature as well. It is the belief that fascinates me. And relics (and reproductions of) are an amazing historical account of the beliefs held by those in the past.
A very good thoughtful piece with reference to my favourite Canturbury Tales character! Took me back to my A level studies there. 😉 I always thought hum.. One day: I wonder if they will allow carbon dating on the 'One True Cross' Helen found. I also wonder if, as you say it is more the belief than the relic, why do writers of the time such as Chaucer show distain for the Pardoner and the selling of 'fake goods'?
A very good book on The Cult of Relics is 'Holy Bones, Holy dust' by Charles Freeman. He takes you through the start of the relic business all the way through. I found it a great book, even if at times as a irreligious dolt I didn't get some of the Philosophy!
It's really interesting. I would love to know more about its early provenance - when it was first described, and ascribed to Christ - and why someone created such an elaborate hoax. It's clearly very clever - is there anything comparable from the period? Any thoughts as to who the forger/s might have been?
1, Fakes are fakes regardless of who made it and those who believe it real.
We too today fall for scams juts as much as the people of the Mediaeval times. Aa Love Scam, a Phone Scam and a fake Prada Bag from Bali.
But at the end of the day, people will believe what ever they want or like>
Me, I'm Buddhist. And as such, I have a few strange things I believe which some people have already call INSANE...
So...........
2. hog’s turd. MUST GO A A MUG!!!!
Great post! Almost didn’t read this week because I’m hopelessly cynical about these things. I agree the relic business is a shameless racket- and obviously people (ahem- Rolfe) are still making $$ off of it.
But, it’s kind and true the way you wrapped it up. The belief is there- and if some con man decides to make a buck off it, it says more about the con than the believer.
Without Louis IX’s dope, dupe Crown of Thorns, we wouldn’t have Sainte-Chappelle. I’ll allow the dope, dupe this time. 😄
There is a vast collection of reliquary in the Medici Chapel in Florence - interesting to see and imagine the thousands drawn to such sacred things. You have to squint to see the actual bone or tooth because the glass often had a warped or distorted effect. You couldn’t clearly see or identify body parts to satisfy one’s morbid curiosity. I mean that’s what drew the masses right? Well, at least that’s what I was squinting so hard to see 😝
My mum always believed this to be true. I remember her saying “no one could make this up, it’s to sacred of thing to lie about” I guess that it how the relics had so many believers.
Whenever the subject of relics comes up I can't help but think of the Templars loss of the "one true cross" in 1187 (Battle of Hattin) - an event that was nearly as devastating to Christians as perhaps the loss of Jerusalem itself. It always struck me as incredible that they were willing to risk the safety of this relic by carrying it into battle with them. As important as they thought it to be it just seems like it would have been better protected. Then there is the part of me that says having it as a symbol to the troops, especially when Saladin's forces were so much a threat, would have perhaps driven them to fight harder. Shows how powerful the belief is I guess.
I am fascinated by the Shroud and have watched various programmes over the years which posited this theory and that theory. It was many years ago that I first heard that the tests on the Shroud might have been done on threads used for repair. The church is not going to allow more tests to be done on it. Whatever it is, and however it was created, it is too fragile to allow more threads to be removed. If you want to believe in it, then believe. What does it matter and who are you hurting?
I want to believe the Shroud is real, because, well, Jesus Christ! You have summed it up very well.
Loved Canterbury Tales, how we giggled at school thinking 'tosspot' meant something other than a tosser of pots.