Freethought & Rationalism Archive

KnitWit · 10-11-2003, 02:56 PM

My mother and I had a talk yesterday. Among other things, she mentioned that her church was having a "Blessing of Animals" event today.....she wished she could bring her dog, as she did last year...but since she left it here with me when she gave up her car, that wasn't possible.

I asked her what was the point of blessing animals, since they don't sin and can't go to heaven...she said, "Oh, I don't know what the point is..it's just neat."

GRRRRRRR it is so hard for me not to choke my mom sometimes...shake her head up a bit.

Apparently they will bless ANY pet...including lizards and tarantulas..

WTF? Is this another messed-up Catholic thing? Anyone ever heard of this?

sakrilege · 10-11-2003, 03:08 PM

A coworker of mine mentioned having her dog blessed. All I could think of was 2.5 million people die of Aids in Africa each year. That's over 250 an hour. And god is going to bless a dog. :banghead: :banghead:

Heathen Dawn · 10-11-2003, 04:16 PM

Why not? Non-human animals are just as important. I think it’s cute. Of course, I don’t believe blessing works on any creature, but it’s good to see those anthropocentric theists considering other animals...

Sarpedon · 10-11-2003, 04:46 PM

I used to be an Episcopal (anglican). We did silly things like that, too. Its a known fact that people will just step over a human being, but get all teary eyed over an animal. When I was in Russia, there were several beggars who had trained dogs to sit with a bucket in their mouth for hours on end. I'll bet this generated a lot.

GaryP · 10-12-2003, 08:40 AM

There's a Methodist church in my town that makes this tyoe of thing an annual event.

Marduk · 10-12-2003, 03:25 PM

I agree with Heathen Dawn, since I am a big fat hypocrite who just took his dog in to be blessed last week at a local Episcopal Church next to the city park. It was fun, a nice autumn day, an outside service, treats for the critters and cookies and donuts for the people. Three cops were there with their police dogs, a kid had a guinea pig in a blanket and a few cats (mostly dogs) I like St. Francis, whom this tradition honors, he was a character, used to preach to the animals (he is the patron Saint of animals & gardens)
So shoot me, an agnostic takes his dog in for something he wouldn�t do for himself. I like that.

Marduk · 10-12-2003, 03:29 PM

"When I was in Russia, there were several beggars who had trained dogs to sit with a bucket in their mouth for hours on end. I'll bet this generated a lot"

We have them here to , saw a homeless guy in Boston with his dog begging on the bridge, he must have done OK, the dog looked very healthy and well groomed, much better than his owner.

10-11-2003, 02:56 PM	#1
KnitWit Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 53	Blessing animals???? My mother and I had a talk yesterday. Among other things, she mentioned that her church was having a "Blessing of Animals" event today.....she wished she could bring her dog, as she did last year...but since she left it here with me when she gave up her car, that wasn't possible. I asked her what was the point of blessing animals, since they don't sin and can't go to heaven...she said, "Oh, I don't know what the point is..it's just neat." GRRRRRRR it is so hard for me not to choke my mom sometimes...shake her head up a bit. Apparently they will bless ANY pet...including lizards and tarantulas.. WTF? Is this another messed-up Catholic thing? Anyone ever heard of this?

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10-11-2003, 03:08 PM	#2
sakrilege Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Cleveland, OH, USA Folding@Home Godless Team Posts: 6,211	A coworker of mine mentioned having her dog blessed. All I could think of was 2.5 million people die of Aids in Africa each year. That's over 250 an hour. And god is going to bless a dog. :banghead: :banghead:

10-11-2003, 04:16 PM	#3
Heathen Dawn Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 4,656	Why not? Non-human animals are just as important. I think it’s cute. Of course, I don’t believe blessing works on any creature, but it’s good to see those anthropocentric theists considering other animals...

10-11-2003, 04:46 PM	#4
Sarpedon Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Minnesota, the least controversial state in the le Posts: 8,446	I used to be an Episcopal (anglican). We did silly things like that, too. Its a known fact that people will just step over a human being, but get all teary eyed over an animal. When I was in Russia, there were several beggars who had trained dogs to sit with a bucket in their mouth for hours on end. I'll bet this generated a lot.

10-12-2003, 08:40 AM	#5
GaryP Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Lancaster, OH Posts: 1,792	There's a Methodist church in my town that makes this tyoe of thing an annual event.

10-12-2003, 03:25 PM	#6
Marduk Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: the 10th planet Posts: 5,065	I agree with Heathen Dawn, since I am a big fat hypocrite who just took his dog in to be blessed last week at a local Episcopal Church next to the city park. It was fun, a nice autumn day, an outside service, treats for the critters and cookies and donuts for the people. Three cops were there with their police dogs, a kid had a guinea pig in a blanket and a few cats (mostly dogs) I like St. Francis, whom this tradition honors, he was a character, used to preach to the animals (he is the patron Saint of animals & gardens) So shoot me, an agnostic takes his dog in for something he wouldn�t do for himself. I like that.

10-12-2003, 03:29 PM	#7
Marduk Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: the 10th planet Posts: 5,065	"When I was in Russia, there were several beggars who had trained dogs to sit with a bucket in their mouth for hours on end. I'll bet this generated a lot" We have them here to , saw a homeless guy in Boston with his dog begging on the bridge, he must have done OK, the dog looked very healthy and well groomed, much better than his owner.

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