Filipinos Celebrate Good Friday with Nails, Blood

[no_to_war_economy]

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=8003241

"I feel lighter after I have been nailed to the cross. But my cross was really heavy," said Ruben Enage, who started 19 years ago after his mother was cured of tuberculosis.

"It takes a lot of courage to get up there," said Matthew James, an American in the Philippines on business. "A lot of faith there."

In the nearby town of San Simon, about 100 men -- old and young -- whipped their backs with bundles of sticks as relatives helped keep the blood flowing with razor blades and water.

"This is just a little pain compared to my sins," said Ruben Arriola, a house painter.

[wschalle]

1. yaaaaaAAAAAY masochism...

reminds me of that south park episode poking fun at mel gibson

[PunkPop]

2. Great! I was looking for something to do today

Just need to build the cross and find someone to wield the hammer.

Good to know religious wacko-ness is not confined to the Good Ole USA.

[Rose Siding]

3. Good times, good times

[sniffa]

4. hang in there baby!

she's just Like tom deLay. :cry:

[thebigidea]

5. what a shame this practice doesn't spread to America

can you imagine the hysterical coverage Fox News would do? Quality entertainment.

[plasticsundance]

6. Marquis de Sade would have a field day with this ...

:smoke:

[MissMarple]

12. Actually there is a form of that here, the Penitente Brotherhood.

There are still remnants of it in northern New Mexico. They have similar ceremonies that involve flagellation and carrying the cross. I'm not sure about being nailed to across, though. They may have done that in the 1800's. The tradition has been linked to Spain and may have connections with Sephardic Jews who converted under pressure from the Inquisition. There is a Penitente Canyon in the San Luis Valley of Colorado where there is rumored to be a Penitente cemetery. :-)

[Randi_Listener]

7. I thought the fucking nails go through the wrist.

They'll tear the flesh and sinue of the hand and shit if you hand your body weight from them.

You have to nail that shit through your wrist bone for the best hanging strength.

[ProudToBeLiberal]

13. you're scaring me

:scared:

[Randi_Listener]

14. If they're going to go this far, they should get the shit right.

http://www.frugalsites.net/jesus/crucifixion.htm

[Megahurtz]

8. Ouch!

I mean is this really necessary?

[Hand]

9. WOOO HOOO! PAR-TAY!!! nt

[despairing optimist]

10. Why wasn't this in Mel Gibson's gift catalog?

He must have left it out. Maybe next year.

[ChrisK]

11. This one statement sort of got me..

"This is just a little pain compared to my sins," said Ruben Arriola, a house painter."

Can I ask...what sins did this fella committed that are SO bad he thinks being nailed to a cross is just a cake-walk in comparison?

[Randi_Listener]

15. If it's one nail per goddam sin, I should look like this fucking guy.