By Matt Slick
The stigmata is supposed to be
the spontaneous appearance of the crucifixion wounds of Jesus on a person’s
body.
The wounds are alleged to be
the same as those that occurred on Jesus’ body, including the wounds in the hands,
feet, side, scalp (crown of thorns), the back (from being whipped), and face
(being beaten).
The person who has the stigmata
may have only one or all of the wounds.
Typically,
the stigmata happen with Roman Catholics near Catholic holidays dealing with
the person of Jesus, i.e., his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, crucifixion
date, resurrection, etc.
But, the Roman Catholic Church
has reported stigmata at different times of the year on different people.
Are the stigmata effects
real?
There is no doubt that
different people have spontaneously manifested the wounds that would have
appeared in the body of Christ due to his crucifixion.
But whether or not these are
signs from God, demonic manifestations, or psychological manifestations from
the person is hotly debated.
Since
the stigmata happen within the Roman Catholic context most of all (I've not
heard of it occurring with non-Roman Catholics) and since Roman Catholicism is
an apostate religion, it is doubtful that the stigmata are legitimate occurrences
from God.
Furthermore, in the real
crucifixion of Christ the nails in the hands were not in the palms but the
wrists since they considered the wrists to be part of the hand.
But we see in the stigmata
manifested in Roman Catholics that the wounds occur in the palms and not
in the wrists.
If the stigmata were real, then
they should manifest real physical locations that correspond to the actual
wounds of Christ.
Finally,
since Roman Catholicism is so filled with superstition, it is probable that the
majority of the stigmata that occur with Roman Catholics are the result of
self-induced psychological fervor.
The human brain is very
powerful, and there are numerous accounts throughout the medical field of
physical manifestations in the body due to emotional excitement and
belief.
So, it's with great reservation
that anyone should consider the stigmata to be legitimate.
Matt
Slick is the President and Founder of the
Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry.
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