bosk
hagiographic studies indicate god accomodates to iconographic perceptions of the stigmatist so if [most unlikely!] I was given the stigmata the wounds would be in the wrist since I happen to follow a 19th century scientific view that Christ was nailed through the wrists
re your 'auto-suggestion' argument, the stigmatist and 20th century saint padre pio[died 1969] was badgered constantly by excessively curious 'gawkers' and eager secular scientists. To one who proposed 'auto-suggestion' at play the then exassperated padre suggested he go to the paddock and stare most intently at the monastery cow then try suggesting two horns on his head and come back and show him the 'miracle'. Of course a second 'miracle' would be needed to remove the offending horns or if not then a couple of surgical removals 'in theatre' at the nearby hospital could be arranged--saints do tend to have this 'no-humbug' sense of humour in their 'make up'

bosk

i forgot to mention that the scientist[in my last posting] never returned![probably still in the paddock eating grass]. I once completed some studies and practicum in clinical hypnotherapy out of sheer curiosity I induced somnabulism [a very deep level of self-hypnosis] of very heightened suggestibility and then suggested 'the stigmata'
of course it was as useless as the 'COW EXPERIMENT'[see previous posting] with nothing doing! I will have to wait upon Divine Intervention--a most unlikely scenario in my instance however I have physical symptomatology of 'stroke paralysis'--does that count?

bosk
a clarificaton-the stroke symptoms[mentioned in last posting] are totally unrelated to my 'stigmata experiment'--though someimes i suspect diabolical intervention behind the stroke--who knows?-[mustnt blame devil for all misfortunes] though his 'fingerprints' are all over it!!

I long ago shook the dust of the Catholic Church off my feet. Despite this, I have good memories of many delightful adherents both clerical and lay of that insitution. What worries me about Father George is that he seems to be some sort of parody of a catholic priest. He seems entirely to lack any charity in his posts; so uncharacteristc of the people I used to know and care for when I was a Catholic.

As a doctor I understand and accept the dis-inhibiting effects of a stroke...a bit like having to much to drink. As a matter of clinical interest, was the lesion frontal or thalamic? Do you have a tendency to cry easily? Do you tend to make innapropriate suggestions to others; are you actions implulsive?

Doug,
Was your choice to leave the Church due to

1)you just had enough of it all
or
2)you came to the conclusion that the Church is erroneous

(Maybe a combination)
If the second has significance, what's your reply to my previous post? (Bosk hasn't posted yet)