Modern Relics?
Ok, I know there is loads I could write about today such as the horrific accident on the M5 (so sad and so worrying), the stuff going on with Theresa May and immigration (oh sweet justice) and of course the Greek bail out. I thought I would take a different route.
Over the weekend a rather unusual item went on sale and made over $31,000 at auction. This item was a tooth of John Lennon. This may seem strange to us today, but really this is something that has been happening for hundreds of years in the form of relics.
In prime locations for certain saints pilgrims would flock to the cathedrals and abbeys in order to feel closer to their sain and God. This was a prime target for peddlers of holy relics. There were cases of peddlers having something like 50 toe bones for sale from one saint. This was apparently possible due to God's intervention and apparently people brought it.
The main point though is not whether or not these grotesque items were real, but rather the fact that people wanted them in the first place. People wanted them to feel close to their saint. It gave them peace of mind and they felt that the relic would help in times of trial and tribulation. It was also a way of showing allegiance to a saint and a public display of your devotion.
If we translate that to modern times there are cases in the past of famous people having a hair cut and the hair was collected and sold to the legions of fans. There was one case of the Beatles staying in a hotel in America and after their one night stay the towels and bedsheets were cut up and sold off. Is this really any different to the idea of owning a relic? It seems insane behaviour to want these things, but at the end of the day it again shows devotion and allegiance.
Perhaps the sale of the tooth is like that of a modern day relic. After all the dentist (who else?) who bought it is going to display it and parade it around schools and other dental practices. This is just like parading your bit of the true cross or the toe bone of the local saint isn't it?
Over the weekend a rather unusual item went on sale and made over $31,000 at auction. This item was a tooth of John Lennon. This may seem strange to us today, but really this is something that has been happening for hundreds of years in the form of relics.
In prime locations for certain saints pilgrims would flock to the cathedrals and abbeys in order to feel closer to their sain and God. This was a prime target for peddlers of holy relics. There were cases of peddlers having something like 50 toe bones for sale from one saint. This was apparently possible due to God's intervention and apparently people brought it.
The main point though is not whether or not these grotesque items were real, but rather the fact that people wanted them in the first place. People wanted them to feel close to their saint. It gave them peace of mind and they felt that the relic would help in times of trial and tribulation. It was also a way of showing allegiance to a saint and a public display of your devotion.
If we translate that to modern times there are cases in the past of famous people having a hair cut and the hair was collected and sold to the legions of fans. There was one case of the Beatles staying in a hotel in America and after their one night stay the towels and bedsheets were cut up and sold off. Is this really any different to the idea of owning a relic? It seems insane behaviour to want these things, but at the end of the day it again shows devotion and allegiance.
Perhaps the sale of the tooth is like that of a modern day relic. After all the dentist (who else?) who bought it is going to display it and parade it around schools and other dental practices. This is just like parading your bit of the true cross or the toe bone of the local saint isn't it?
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