gstafleu

On the GRD forum there is a thread about a company that bottles and sells holy water. Where did holy water come from, any biblical references for that? Or did Tertullian perhaps mention it first ?

Gerard Stafleu

jakejonesiv

Oh sure, it is good for inducing an abortion. Numbers 5:17 ff.

Jake Jones IV

gstafleu

A few verses later it is called "bitter water," so I wonder if it is holy water in the current sense. And does it really induce abortion? "May this water that brings a curse enter your body so that your abdomen swells and your thigh wastes away." It sounds like making her sick, not causing an abortion. Perhaps it was water with some sort of noxious chemical, hence the "bitter"? Anyway, it sounds like a witch-trial to me: burn her and if she was innocent God will save her.

Gerard Stafleu

gstafleu

Of course we also have Mark 1:8 "I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." The idea here is to contrast the exoteric with the esoteric, but then the Catholic church, being catholic, decided to turn that into an all-in-one combo deal, sort of like the trinity but with the holy ghost drowned in a water baptism.

Gerard Stafleu

Toto

From a Protestant source: What does the Bible say about holy water?

mountainman

Water was, is and will always be "holy" in the very real
sense that it is an element of nature that is fundamental
and necessary for the survival of all life, including man.

Water is understandably "holy" for every single "religious"
or "philosophical" order of thought of man, and occupies
probably the same place in all the kingdoms and environments
of life. Water is an element of nature; and an element of
survival. It is beyond all religions and perceptions of man.

It is part of the great mystery.
[Science cannot predict it ]


The Importance of Rain


Verse 11

It is the unfailing fall of rain that sustains the world.
Therefore, look upon rain as the nectar of life.

Verse 12

Rain produces man's wholesome food;
And rain itself forms part of his food besides.

Verse 13

Though oceanic waters surround it, the world will be deluged
By hunger's hardships if the billowing clouds betray us.

Verse 14

When clouds withhold their watery wealth,
Farmers cease to pull their ploughs.

Verse 15

It is rain that ruins, and it is rain again
That raises up those it has ruined.

Verse 16

Unless raindrops fall from the sky,
Not a blade of green grass will rise from the earth.

Verse 17

The very nature of oceans, though vast, would diminish,
If clouds ceased to take up water and give back rain's gifts.

Verse 18

Should the heavens dry up, worship here of the heavenly ones
In festivals and daily rites would wither.

Verse 19

Unless the heavens grant their gifts, neither the giver's generosity
Nor the ascetic's aloofness will grace this wide world.

Verse 20

No life on earth can exist without water,
And the ceaseless flow of that water cannot exist without rain.

Chili

Holy water is to reinforce baptism so we can be reborn from water and spirit. This has to be Catholic water, of course, since the mystery of faith includes the rebirth of both water and spirit. This is clear with John the baptist 'paving the way' for a successful purgation period that is to last no longer than 40 months instead of 40 years and still die nonetheless.

arricchio

I want to be the first distributer of holy water towelettes.

Chili

In fact, we are given a white Baptism candle that we are to keep until we see and recognize the white candle in our Advent wreath to be our very own baptism candle to announce the advent of our new life.

SectarianTurmoil

When he's under water does he get wet? Or does the water get him instead?