stigmata is it real?

Answer 1

Stigmata are bodily marks, sores, or sensations of pain in locations corresponding to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus Christ. An individual bearing stigmata is referred to as a stigmatic.

The causes of stigmata are well-recognized and documented by the Catholic Church but the subject of considerable debate outside of it. Some observe that they are miraculous, while others claim they are hoaxes or can be explained medically.

Stigmata are primarily associated with the Roman Catholic faith. Many reported stigmatics are members of Catholic religious orders. The majority of reported stigmatics are female

Skepticism

There have been historical stigmatics that were known to have faked wounds, such as Magdalena de la Cruz (1487–1560), who admitted the fraud.

Similarly self-inflicted wounds can be associated with certain mental illnesses. Some people who fake stigmata suffer from Munchausen syndrome which is characterised by an intense desire for attention. People with Munchausen hurt themselves or fake an illness hoping to end up in a hospital where they can be given attention and care.

People also fake stigmata knowing that some who had stigmata were declared holy by the Pope. In this way they try to gain recognition.

Skeptics also point out that stigmata have appeared on hands in some cases, wrists in others, and the lance wound has appeared on different sides of the body. This suggests some form of internally generated phenomena, based on the victim's own imagination and subjective in character, rather than something of external divine origin. It is unknown, either through the gospels or other historical accounts, whether crucifixion involved nails being driven through the hands, or wrists, or what side the lance pierced Christ's body, and this would appear to be reflected in the inconsistent placement of stigmatists' wounds. It has been proven in several studies that the hands would be unable to support the necessary weight, so many advocate the wrist theory; traditional art, however, often presents the opposite view. A new study and documentary called "Quest for Truth: The Crucifixion" on the National Geographic Channel have shown that a person can be suspended by the wrists, as the ankles are nailed to the side of the cross producing little strain on the wrists. However, the study also claims the palms are a likely place for the nails to be driven, as it would cause the maximum amount of pain and trauma, and the victim would be tied to the cross to support the weight. [6]

Similarly, no case of stigmata is known to have occurred before the thirteenth century, when the crucified Jesus became a standard icon of Christianity in the west.[7].

Some believe that the condition can be explained by 'frontier science' such as with the unexplained phenomena of the mind exerting physical effects on the body. There have been claims that non-religious people under deep hypnosis, when told that they had a crown of thorns on their heads cutting into their flesh (in the manner similar to Christ), have had bleeding welts appear on their foreheads even when nothing had come into contact with the skin. Thus if this is true, the effects have been inflicted by the mind onto the body. Other accounts of this strong mind-body connection have been observed and documented in experiments such as the case in which heart disease patients were administered a placebo pill, but told that it was a new 'super-medicine', and their conditions noticeably improved. It is thought by some that the deep trance-like state which deeply religious people claim to go into mimics this type of hypnosis, and the extremely strong and vivid impressions of the wounds and suffering are somehow transmitted from the mind to the body. This also fits with the fact that stigmata was first observed at around the time when graphic detail of the crucifixion started to appear in Christian art, making the wounds and suffering easier to comprehend and imagine in the minds of observers of the art.

Famous stigmatics

Saint Catherine of Siena
Saint John of God
Saint Marie of the Incarnation
Saint Pio of Pietrelcina
Brother Roque
Therese Neumann
Lilian Bernas
Saint Francis of Assisi
Saint Gemma Galgani

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stigmata#Famous_stigmatics

Answer 2

I think it is. I started getting that in my feet this past summer, I've still got the scars on the top of both feet. My girlfriend was a little freaked out by it and I didn't want Her to be upset so I made it stop. It made a real mess of my favorite pair of slippers and hurt like the dickens too. I couldn't figure out why it would happen to me because I'm an ex Catholic truly fallen from Grace in the context of the religion but I don't waste much time looking into these things and I certainly wouldn't waste any time consulting a Priest on the matter. So then, in my opinion it is real but serves no purpose that I can see. Take care.

Answer 3

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i have heard it is real but i think it is extremely rare for it to happen. i think most ppl take advantage of ppl's beliefs and use their 'stigmata' as a form to get money. i am not saying it is not real though, but i have never seen it. and like many ppl say, i need to see it to believe it.


for 90%chanses r there 2 b correct

Answer 4

I really don't know, but I'd like to believe it isn't. A couple years ago, I'd wake up with random "scratches" on my hands and feet. It was never anything violent like the actual movie 'Stigmata' depicted, but I did find it really unsettling. I could never find a reason to why this happened to me, but its gone away.

Answer 5

i have heard it is real but i think it is extremely rare for it to happen. i think most ppl take advantage of ppl's beliefs and use their 'stigmata' as a form to get money. i am not saying it is not real though, but i have never seen it. and like many ppl say, i need to see it to believe it.

Answer 6

doesn't matter at all.. What matter is whether you're happy or not.. stigmata will not make you happy.. focus on compassion, and becoming wise, these are the most important objectives in our life...

Answer 7

No. In the same category as so called possession. All conjured up in someone's vivid imagination. You can see whatever you want to see - just like the picture of the virgin mary on a piece of toast!!!

Answer 8

I've never seen it. No-one I know has ever seen it. Same applies to miracles.

I would suggest it's a question of belief.

Answer 9

sure if you believe in it

lol what is stigmata?

Answer 10

I believe yes. But don't get all hung up on it.
I Cr 13;8a
11-16-6