tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8465887551310827456.post1867655841322709145..comments2023-09-02T07:09:34.264-04:00Comments on Digging Out From Our Mess: A Religious Question....sort ofMystihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17496508600320205581noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8465887551310827456.post-73905964606345704902015-03-22T15:45:19.816-04:002015-03-22T15:45:19.816-04:00What a really fascinating post! I'm not Cathol...What a really fascinating post! I'm not Catholic buy my dad's family is. My Grandma gave me a book of prayers to the Saints once when I was little and she told me she'd pay me a certain amount of money for each prayer I memorized. As a kid, raised Christian (which I am to this day), I knew you were not supposed to pray to people, only to God so I asked my mom if I was allowed to memorize the prayers, just to get the money from my Grandma. She told me to do what I thought was right.<br /><br />I really wanted the money but I did not memorize the prayers because to me that would have been wrong.<br /><br />Again, what a neat post!rivulethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11352395562904461909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8465887551310827456.post-85233654870975899432015-03-22T15:42:50.948-04:002015-03-22T15:42:50.948-04:00This is a pretty great comment. The dream catcher ...This is a pretty great comment. The dream catcher analogy is great for this scenario! (I'm not Catholic but that's a great analogy)rivulethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11352395562904461909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8465887551310827456.post-83673917797991470902015-03-20T02:37:22.378-04:002015-03-20T02:37:22.378-04:00I'm Catholic and have never heard of this trad...I'm Catholic and have never heard of this tradition, it's not common in Australia (to my knowledge.) But of course we have plenty of other traditions with Saints - Catholics see it as an intercession, not idolatry. I thought your post was lovely because it was so sensitive to the fact that it might cause offence but also so realistic about what the commenter above called, "bastardisation" of many cultures and religions. I highly doubt the burying of the statue etc. is actually condoned by the Catholic Church and to my knowledge, it's not part of our canon of beliefs! It's more a folk practice than doctrine. It does seem crazy but many would argue that it is the faith behind it that matters.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8465887551310827456.post-10932122836520127572015-03-19T12:42:38.964-04:002015-03-19T12:42:38.964-04:00True story....a family member bought his deceased ...True story....a family member bought his deceased wife's urn on amazon...they have it all. I was never baptized in to a specific religion and truth be told I am happy with that as I feel I can practice how I want. Being Latina I grew up with praying to Spirits, Saints, & God. We did Novena's and rituals. I still do them. I light candles, I burn sage, and I pray to God. Based on certain things you have posted (and I do apologize if I am completely wrong...no disrespect meant) I have an idea what you practice/believe and there is a Sage smudging ceremony that I have heard a few friends use and one just recently sold her place in a matter of days after doing it. Hopefully with some nice weather coming more ppl will be out and your buyer will come along.Jesse R.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10858758776135918589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8465887551310827456.post-84215005176723566162015-03-17T23:38:58.403-04:002015-03-17T23:38:58.403-04:00We used one once, our house sold but I suspect it ...We used one once, our house sold but I suspect it was the price drop vs the prayer. Our neighbors dug him back up and accidentally beheaded Joseph. They sent him, head and body, to us in a ziplock...our next move we couldn't bury a beheaded statue and our house didn't sell forever....and we eventually lost money. Catholic karma... If we move again I'm using a new version! Daybydayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16325205965401555711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8465887551310827456.post-33816019013137531862015-03-17T23:25:11.467-04:002015-03-17T23:25:11.467-04:00Noooooo! I'm catholic that's all bs!! LolNoooooo! I'm catholic that's all bs!! LolHS @ Our Debt Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15832696189497002591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8465887551310827456.post-64812945590990182942015-03-17T20:56:35.714-04:002015-03-17T20:56:35.714-04:00I was raised Catholic. My parents were very involv...I was raised Catholic. My parents were very involved with church, my mom worked at the church as the accountant, weekly services, Sunday school, and I went to Catholic School through high school. If your pet was sick of lost people would pray to St Francis of Assisi, can't find your find an item pray to St. Anthony, if you car was having troubles you pray to St Francis...etc. <br /><br />I am not a practicing a Catholic anymore but I still find myself saying a small prayer to St. Anthony when I can't find my car keys and I am in a rush. If the prayer is actually why I soon found my keys in the couch, who knows, ;-)<br /><br />In my experience I don't think anyone would take offense if you tried. If it worked and shared the story any Catholics would nod and give a knowing smile. If it didn't, know harm in trying. I find it no different than blowing on dice and crossing your fingers for luck. When I am in a hard spot, I send a silent message to any god or goddess who will listen... lol. Carmelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07601760478944607025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8465887551310827456.post-62299673006703941862015-03-17T20:13:26.993-04:002015-03-17T20:13:26.993-04:00No one should be surprised that Amazon sells them....No one should be surprised that Amazon sells them. One Amazon sells everything. Two, from a purely commercial perspective, Amazon has the wherewithal to move goods easily for small companies - so on that level, it also makes sense.<br /><br />It's not crazy. It's not idolatry. And it's not superstitious. It's a tradition followed by many but not all Catholics. (Every religion or religious people have traditions that others may find odd.) <br /><br />I have known people who have done this. While I am not sure if I would personally do this (currently live in an apartment so no dirt near me...), there is nothing wrong with doing it. Except if you don't believe in it which as you have mentioned, you don't. Ultimately, it's not the act of placing a statue in the ground that makes it work. It's the belief, and the timing and the purchase price, etc. etc.<br /><br />Mysti it's clear from your blog that you are a very strong and capable woman/wife/mother. But (as others have mentioned) you need to have the faith and belief that your house will sell and that your family will be reunited. (That is really all that the focus on the statue is doing...) This is no different than "the secret." It is essentially putting positive energy out into the universe to try to garner a positive result. There is no harm in doing this and no statue needed. Baroness Prudent Spendinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12549172230068008580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8465887551310827456.post-17353045008538202152015-03-17T15:17:15.012-04:002015-03-17T15:17:15.012-04:00I don't have a problem with the sale of the st...I don't have a problem with the sale of the statue....I was just surprised that Amazon sold them.Mystihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17496508600320205581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8465887551310827456.post-57192637156375207832015-03-17T15:13:00.741-04:002015-03-17T15:13:00.741-04:00Belief and faith....not something I am good at!Belief and faith....not something I am good at!Mystihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17496508600320205581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8465887551310827456.post-62416005573591212382015-03-17T15:10:42.932-04:002015-03-17T15:10:42.932-04:00Ritual...that I understand.....Ritual...that I understand.....Mystihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17496508600320205581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8465887551310827456.post-20412051338312130682015-03-17T15:09:40.412-04:002015-03-17T15:09:40.412-04:00But if I am just asking for help...why go through ...But if I am just asking for help...why go through the formal act? Just curious.Mystihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17496508600320205581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8465887551310827456.post-30140254576910028662015-03-17T15:08:14.048-04:002015-03-17T15:08:14.048-04:00I think they are well meaning too. ;)I think they are well meaning too. ;)Mystihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17496508600320205581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8465887551310827456.post-1364269190576602322015-03-17T15:07:22.118-04:002015-03-17T15:07:22.118-04:00Hopefully the spring will bring a more inviting en...Hopefully the spring will bring a more inviting entrance!! But we have cleared all the clutter, removed furniture, etc. Thanks!Mystihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17496508600320205581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8465887551310827456.post-36267339630541576082015-03-17T15:05:50.461-04:002015-03-17T15:05:50.461-04:00No one has said a word about the price. But we ha...No one has said a word about the price. But we have to get a certain amount to clear the mortgage plus all the realtor fees. If the price was an issue, I would think that someone would either say so, or they would make an offer at a price that they felt was more appropriate.Mystihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17496508600320205581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8465887551310827456.post-25829935727830865392015-03-17T15:04:12.856-04:002015-03-17T15:04:12.856-04:00But did it work for them because they believed it ...But did it work for them because they believed it would?Mystihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17496508600320205581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8465887551310827456.post-55517446092997997682015-03-17T15:03:27.008-04:002015-03-17T15:03:27.008-04:00Exactly. This isn't my belief system....so to...Exactly. This isn't my belief system....so to me it seems disrespectful to try it. Mystihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17496508600320205581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8465887551310827456.post-89724831812584606382015-03-17T15:01:44.185-04:002015-03-17T15:01:44.185-04:00I didn't say that Catholicism isn't valid....I didn't say that Catholicism isn't valid....I just said that that is not my personal belief system. <br /><br />As for the "offended" part...I was not referring to the act of of burying the statue. I was referring to the general discussion that I posted, and the chance that someone could get offended if their idiology was called into question.<br /><br />I think a belief system is just that...a belief. If you believe something will work, then to you....if/when something happens, you will associate it. If you believe that burying a statue will help sell a house, and then the house sells...then it is associated with the statue.<br /><br />I stated that I don't follow this faith, and if this wasn't clearn...and that for me, burying this statue would be more or less pointless. I don't believe in this faith, so why would this act be helpful? Furthermore, it seems disrespectful to those who do follow it.<br /><br />For faithful followers...I am sure it does work. Just like I fully believe that Karma is real, and that a series of negative or positive actions will come back to you. So for those who believe, I am sure it did help.<br /><br />I do not...not even a little...feel bad that I don't have the "proper faith" for this act to work. I have no idea if you have to be Catholic for it to work, if that is indeed how it works. I have no idea how it works, if it works. If for some reason I did change my mind....such as someone said something that really "spoke" to me....and I did it...and it happened to work (say, the house sold 2 weeks later)....I would still have no idea if my action helped or if this was just the way the hand was going to unfold. But as a respect gesture...just in case it was a higher power at work....I would make a donation to a charity. Karma....<br /><br />As for Amazon, I was just surprised that they sold religious items. I have no idea if they sell items from all religions, or if they are just willing to sell whatever anyone brings forth. I have no problem with them selling it...just that I was surprised.<br /><br />This wasn't that confusing....I am not sure why you took it that way. <br />Mystihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17496508600320205581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8465887551310827456.post-78612971723065262642015-03-17T14:44:25.116-04:002015-03-17T14:44:25.116-04:00I would pray and ask God for help in selling your ...I would pray and ask God for help in selling your house and reuniting your family. I'm not Catholic but my husband is and I think that Catholics are the best about making money. They've figured out a way to sell these and make money at it. That said, they use the money to spread Catholicism and promote life so I don't have an issue with it. Nd.chichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09918828872616125907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8465887551310827456.post-32776423047871819422015-03-17T13:28:34.833-04:002015-03-17T13:28:34.833-04:00I grew up Catholic, but now consider myself more o...I grew up Catholic, but now consider myself more of a non-denominational Christian (I still pray, follow certain customers, believe with my whole heart, but didn't like the guilt-trip of the Catholic church), and I've never heard of this. That being said, since you don't believe in this type of thing, I can't really say that it would work for you, since the whole purpose of the statue is that you must believe in it. I absolutely believe that we get the saints on our side by doing certain things, making certain concessions, and that prayer answers requests (even though it may not always be in the way we would like the answer to be), however, if you don't believe in things like that, then what's the point right? I don't think anyone would be offended by you doing it, but I also don't see any harm in trying if you really want to sell your house. If it bothers you, you should ask a Catholic friend who really does believe if she would do it on your behalf (ie place the statue in your yard), and then I still think it would be noble to make a donation to the catholic church if your house does sell. I know then when I prayed for my husband to get his job, I promised the church I would donate 10% of his first paycheck to the church. He got hired, and I did. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06904232416425764887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8465887551310827456.post-35699168255704122342015-03-17T13:23:32.043-04:002015-03-17T13:23:32.043-04:00My family is Catholic, I don't practice anymor...My family is Catholic, I don't practice anymore. Lots of people do this. Lots of people think it's silly. Lots of them do it anyways. I think it works the way anything works, they believe it helps and so it does. Not offended or surprised he's on Amazon. Everything is on Amazon. For Catholics, this isn't idolatry because they are not worshiping something other than God. Catholics believe that Saints act like messengers and can intervene as well on a lesser level. So instead of bothering the big guy directly about things like selling a house or finding a lost item, they pray to a saint to help them out. Having a statue or an image of a saint is just an aid in prayer. <br /><br />Lots of cultures have rituals. Even capitalism has its own rituals. There are secular and non-secular "tricks" to selling a house. I think it has more to do with positive thinking than anything else. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8465887551310827456.post-69132951776136857462015-03-17T11:14:59.260-04:002015-03-17T11:14:59.260-04:00I am a practicing Catholic, and yes I did do this ...I am a practicing Catholic, and yes I did do this when I couldn't sell a home years ago. If you wanted to do this go to a religious book store and they have them. Follow the directions on the box and I kept mine till someone else needed it. Did it work, yes it did. I sold my home soon after following the prayer that was with the St. Joseph statute. All you are asking for is help, whether a Catholic, Christian, or not. Just my thoughts and maybe the house gets sold soon. CherylCherylhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03532160415343676858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8465887551310827456.post-25144487661986586872015-03-17T11:09:48.923-04:002015-03-17T11:09:48.923-04:00As you know I am Morman we are Christians, but my ...As you know I am Morman we are Christians, but my background is Catholic/Jewish so I guess very tolerant of what ever one seems to think will make them feel better. I think these friends are well meaning.Out My windowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13456481267171643227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8465887551310827456.post-25580958912627671162015-03-17T10:52:19.594-04:002015-03-17T10:52:19.594-04:00I agree with everyone, it's not going to work ...I agree with everyone, it's not going to work if you are unsure about it. I'm an atheist , former Buddhist, but I think what might help is to use some basic feng shui techniques. Very simple, just like staging a house.<br />Be sure there aren't a lot of 'personal' things out. Remove at least 50% of what you have out. Be absolutely sure the front entry is clean open and inviting. <br />Just a few basic things to use.<br />I see feng shui just as a tool, not religious at all. Look at it as clearing any clutter, and maximize your layout!!tahoegirl.bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02018956654761369565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8465887551310827456.post-56141258844704306482015-03-17T10:38:57.759-04:002015-03-17T10:38:57.759-04:00It's not idolatry to Catholics. It is to some...It's not idolatry to Catholics. It is to some other Christians. Since you're neither, what does it matter to you what others believe about it?<br /><br />If you don't consider the religion to which this is connected to be valid, then what would your concern be about "offending" others? (I mean, who would be offended if, presumably, no one would find out?) And if you think the religion is not valid, why do you think this may work?<br /><br />Your post is confusing, because you mention the possibility of changing your mind, the possibility that it may work (and then you would make a donation to the associated religion, to show some sort of gratitude or respect or something?), but then you also say you're definitely not going to do this, and then you also said you're sure that when others have done this, it did "work." (Did you mean you think it was more than just coincidence that their house sold - that the buried-upside-down statue actually did have supernatural influence? And if so, what is it about that religion that you don't believe in?)<br /><br />I'm just curious because some of the ideas expressed seem contradictory. It just seems like a strange confluence that you would entertain the notion that the ritual might exert supernatural power, but then that you should feel bad for not having the proper faith that you believe is required before being sanctioned to engage in that ritual.<br /><br />Also, what's strange about the statue being offered through Amazon? Do you believe that a Christian supply company would be appropriate, while Amazon should be non-sectarian?444https://www.blogger.com/profile/18317761558076527630noreply@blogger.com