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(Continued ...)

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Another barbaric practice of Christianity is the celebration of Mass (Holy Communion in the Anglican church). The host (wafers) and wine are believed to be miraculously “transubstantiated” (transformed) into the flesh and blood of Jesus (2,000 years old !) when the priest pronounces the magic words (called the “verba” or “words of institution” or “words of consecration” of a prayer called the Anaphora or Eucharistic Prayer).

The priest then distributes the raw flesh and blood separately to each member of the congregation who eat and drink them (raw !) in a barbaric act of cannibalism - though some Anglican denominations see the host and wine as the “spiritual” body and blood of Jesus (therefore, presumably, not as his “physical” body and blood).

Perhaps the consumption of the “spiritual” body and blood of a human being is a slightly lesser barbaric act of cannibalism than the consumption of the human being's physical body and blood.

The concept of “spirit possession” (as this "spiritual" consumption is called) exists in many religions, including Christianity, Buddhism, Haitian Voodoo, Wicca, Hinduism, Islam and Southeast Asian and African traditions (cf. "Spirit possession" in Wikipedia).

Spirit possession is mentioned by Saul of Tarsus’ assistant and disciple, Luke, in the New Testament - Luke 8:30 King James Version (KJV) :

« And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him »

Mark’s gospel (slightly posterior to Luke’s) gives this version - Mark 5:9 King James Version (KJV) :

« And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many »

Personally, I think the Eucharist ( Mass or Holy Communion) should be celebrated by Christianity as a special feast once a year on whatever day of the year Jesus shared the Last Supper with his Apostles, in fond memory of that particular occasion - not every day or several times a day, as at present.

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(Continued ...)

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... and I think it would be much better to serve just a few light refreshments including, perhaps, a little cooked meat (ham, for example) mineral water, fruit juice and perhaps some light wine (not too expensive) for that special day, but, of course ... without all that pretended magic and invocation of the spirits and other paraphernalia.

If Jesus is still around ... somewhere ... I'm sure he'd be quite happy with that and, who knows, he might even decide to join in the celebrations without saying a word, but ... better leave it to him. He'll know what's best. No need to force the issue !

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(Continued …)

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Of the four gospels in the New Testament, Luke’s is the only to indicate that Jesus tells his disciples to repeat the ritual of bread and wine. None of the other three even mention it.

It is all the more odd because it has been established that the gospels of Mathew, Mark and Luke are so strikingly similar, not only in content but even the language used, that it is generally agreed by scholars that they have drawn upon common source material. For this reason they are called the “synoptic” gospels.

It is difficult to imagine that Mathew and Mark had not known about such an important commandment of Jesus if, indeed, he gave it.

John’s was the last gospel to be written. It differs completely from the others in its overall presentation and content, focussing much more on private conversations and only relating a few selected miracles. It is therefore less surprising that John makes no mention of the commandment that Luke is the only one to relate.

An additional factor of doubt about Luke’s narrative is that it is a disputed text which does not appear in some of the early manuscripts of his gospel. Some manuscripts omit, in whole or in part the incriminated verses :

« Luke 22:19-20 21st Century King James Version (KJ21)

19 And He took bread, and gave thanks and broke it and gave it unto them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.”

20 Likewise also He took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you »

Some scholars consider that it is an interpolation, a passage that was not written by Luke but added later by somebody else. It could be a falsification.

The sole justification of the Eucharist ( Mass or Holy Communion) is this controversial text :

Here is my main source :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_Supper

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Also, apparently, “the Church” already celebrates the anniversary of the Last Supper :

http://www.ibtimes.com/last-supper-was-wednesday-not-thursday-challenges-cambridge-professor-colin-humphreys-280407

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(Continued …)

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Well, I doubt that “the Church” will change the date of the celebration of the Last Supper from Maundy Thursday (the Thursday before Easter, preceded by Holy Wednesday and followed by Good Friday) even though Sir Colin J. Humphreys, a physicist from Cambridge University, dates it scientifically to Wednesday, April 1, 33AD on the basis of the narratives of the four gospels.

Prof. Humphreys published his findings five years ago now and “the Church” hasn’t said a word. Nothing has changed.

At least “the Church” is consistent in privileging faith over facts, or should I say faith over science, whenever they oppose each other. Maundy Thursday is Maundy Thursday even if it was a Wednesday.

I don’t know if superstition has anything to do with it but it could be that “the Church” already feels a bit uneasy with the thought that Jesus and his friends were 13 seated around the table at the Last Supper. The fact that the meal has now been found to have taken place on April fool’s day only make matters worse. It’s beginning to look like a practical joke.

It’s no wonder Peter, the “rock” on which Jesus planned to build “the Church” turned traitor and denied knowing him, three times, the very next day, even though neither of them had had time to finish digesting the meal they had shared together the previous evening, the original Eucharist ( Mass or Holy Communion).

The so-called “rock” had crumbled to dust and failed miserably to pass the first three tests. That did not augur well for the future of “the Church”.

Some of Peter’s successors have since shown signs of weakness, as the following advocacy in defence of “the Church” illustrates :

http://www.holynameofmaryparish.com/documents/Bad%20Popes.pdf
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Looking to the future, Prof. Riaz Hassan, Director of the International Centre for Muslim and non-Muslim Understanding at the University of South Australia pointed out that by the year 2070, Islam will be the world’s largest religion. Many countries will no longer be predominantly Christian because future generations of present day Christians will not practise religion.

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Dear Peter/Sells,

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You wrote (page 9 of this thread) :

« Why do I get the feeling that I could as well publish a page from the telephone directory and I would get the same discussion driven by the same people on this thread? »
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I hope that the 14 comments that I have posted here (including this one) will bring joy to your heart during this festive season. I think you will find that I have, as always, done my best to focus on the theme of your article.

Naturally, I could do no more than post my own, personal, comments. I alone could not post the “discussion” you would have liked to have seen. For that, I should have had somebody to dialogue with – yourself, perhaps.

As I have not heard from you, I presume you are happy with my comments. To quote that well known Latin proverbe :

« Qui tacet consentire videtur, ubi loqui debuit ac potuit »

Unless, of course, I hear from you to the contrary !

Wishing you and yours all the very best of health, success, peace and happiness in 2016,

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