I just want to ask a question without getting everyone all worked up...ok?

Question

some christians believe that they really eat the flesh and drink the blood of christ.
So, if one day the priest hands you a bloody hunk of flesh, you wouldn't really eat it, would you?
Even if it could be verified that some miracle had sent it to just you and your church, you wouldn't really eat it...right?
That is so nasty.

I don't think it is symbolic for millions of christians. I think they believe in a real transformation in the eucherist.

Answer 1

It's all symbolic, OK, but I feel that this question is going to get bashed, owing to you rather salty web name.

Answer 2

I'm not worked up, just a little amazed that so many people can get this so wrong when speaking of what Catholics believe about the presence of Christ in Holy Communion, even when one answerer (Meg) provided an authoritative source link.

I will not presume to answer for other denominations, but for Catholics it is NOT merely symbolic. And it's not as horrifying as you make it sound.

I'll make this easy. There's a Wikipedia link below. While it's not "official", It illustrates sufficiently for the purpose here what Catholics, Lutherans, and a bunch of others believe about the real presence of Christ under the appearance of bread and wine in Holy Communion. Just in case anyone wants to know, rather than guess.

Answer 3

I went to Lutheran school and that used to freak me out.

We used to sing this song "Sons of God, hear his holy word, gather round the table of the Lord, eat his body, drink his blood, and we'll sing a song of love, alleluh, alleluh, alleluh, alleluijah."

I didn't really mind the symbolism of it, but some people would argue that the Eucharist and wine really transformed to flesh and blood. I thought that was pretty weird, I couldn't imagine how someone could say that; I was just a kid. It made me wonder if I really wanted to be a Christian.

As a boy, I was really into monster movies and comics and so on, and my mother usually left me alone about that, but sometimes she gave me the message that it was bad. It seemed oddly contradictory that in church we talked about eating somebody's flesh and drinking his blood, which reminded of things I saw in the movies and read in the comic books.

Answer 4

Yes, it is rather gross, and against the Law of Moses to eat human flesh. Unfortunately my Roman Catholic bretheren had introduced themselves to a religion where eating the flesh of their God predated Christianity by many, many centuries. Such were the habits of the Roman Empire which adopted the ceremonies and gods of the nations they conquered.

But what I am amazed at is the tendency of them to misinterpret John 6, where Jesus tells people to eat his flesh and drink his blood-- which offended those faithless people who he shook off at Tiberias. They were amongst the 5000 who ate the bread and fish that were miraculously provided to them. All they wanted, and it is extremely clear; was to do the same for themselves. They were not interested in the message of eternal life, but only wanted to feed themselves whenever they wanted to.

So what Jesus did is talk about communion in such a way, as to offend their sensibilities, and did it without lying. He was of course talking about the symbolic thing without mentioning it. The reaction they had was what he was really after.

Answer 5

Ummm...Communion is symbolic...not literal.

At the first Communion with the Disciples in the Upper Room, Jesus did not slice off hunks of His flesh and feed it to them
Nor did He slit His wrist and poor His blood into a cup to be passed around and drank from.

Christians are called "the body & blood of Christ". It means we are His earthly messengers/representatives.

Christians have Communion in remembrance of Jesus Christ, as He said, "Do this in remembrance of Me." We do it to remind us what sacrifices Jesus made for us.

We use what Jesus used, unleavened bread as symbolic of Christ's body; wine as symbolic of Christ's blood.

Just remember Jesus and God Almighty do not change.
Neither have or would do so.

Answer 6

The Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of the Eucharist: Basic Questions and Answers
http://www.usccb.org/dpp/realpresence.htm

Answer 7

It isn't literal, it is symbolic. And it doesn't matter what you think as you attempt to speak on behalf of millions of Christians, it IS symbolic. Somehow, I think you do know that and your question is an attempt to be rude. Rather, it comes off as arrogant and ignorant.

Answer 8

The eucharist is a misunderstood dogma of the RCC. The body and blood of christ specified is actually the 'gospels or teachings' of christ and his 'suffering' symbolised. Believers simply have to partake of both to ensure salvation. That is why the literal 'transubstantiation' devised by the RCC is a farce. For if they 'genuinely' take to heart Christ's teachings, and join in Christ's suffering, there would be no catholic soul basking in their material wealth; no catholic owning household slaves; no street children running around; no catholic lawyers; no catholic girls on porn sites... etc..etc.

Answer 9

Communion has nothing to do with eating Jesus' actual flesh and drinking his blood. It is just a reminder to us believers how Jesus suffered and died for us... giving his body and bleeding for us. It's a reminder for us about what it took for our Saviour to save us.... taking communion will not save us, it just reminds us what happened in order for us to be saved.

Answer 10

in a way, i think the point has been missed...maybe the concept of communion - the sharing of the bread and the wine is a symbolic gesture to acknowledge the wisdom of the Christ...i don't necessarily have my mind finished on the question of his Deity, but i definitely acknowledge his contribution to the way of thought....The Christ held the position that we should treat one another as we would like to be treated...that can't be a wrong thing...I've been trying to live my life accordingly and i have to admit sometimes its hard not to revert to primitave urges - anger, stubbornness, etc....good luck on your journey to figure things out...my take is thats it is not easy out here.....

Answer 11

I have heard of those who believe that it becomes that. personally I see it as symbolic. "do this in remembrance of me"
I would also like to say even if it was a crazy answer Paul you made me laugh!