What religious rituals could be modified to adjust to times?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What rituals in what religion do you feel could be modified in modern times
when there is so much science that shows that some practices can
be in some way disadvantageous to the very religious community
and the society as a whole?

One that I can think of is shaking hands in churches.
Another I can think of and I can never get over it is drinking wine
by the entire church gathering from one cup.
Another is spreading smelly incents in temples that
cause lung irritations..

God only knows, literally.. what are people spreading and how far.

When I went to a Christian church, we would dip our wafer/bread into the chalice of wine and not sip from the cup.

[Anonymous]

During high flu season years, our congregation elbow bumps instead of hugging.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of churches allow you to dip the wager into the wine instead of drinking directly from the cup. Also, alcohol sterilizes.

Does the priest or anyone who gives away the wafers do wear gloves? Just wondering?
Cause if they carry something, then the whole church can get it?

Also some people close their mouth just so that they come in contact with the fingers of the giver.

Why churches won't figure out some other way? Why people can not bring and hold their own
wafers and they can not be blessed comunaly and so they don't come in contact at no point?

our priest had a cloth that they would wipe across the cup between the sippers.

[Anonymous]

I think you mean Christian rituals, since that's really all you're talking about (the mention of incense notwithstanding).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you mean Christian rituals, since that's really all you're talking about (the mention of incense notwithstanding).

Yep, it’s another Christian-bashing thread. Doesn’t really bother me. I’m just curious whether OP is DCUM’s Jew-Who-Hates-Christians, the Muslim-Who-Hates-Christians, or one of the 2-3 aggressive Atheists-Who-Hate-Christians. Idle curiosity is all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Communion bread is leavened in some rites. That gives it a bit more substance and flavor. There's only so much one can do with unleavened bread made only of flour and water. At least in the Roman church any additives would render the bread invalid for consecration. The same with completely gluten free (as opposed to low gluten) "bread." No gluten, no bread, no consecration.

It is frankly astonishing that even congregation that presumably contain at least a significant percentage of people who would think it unbelievably disgusting to drink after someone else, folks line up to do just that when a chalice is involved. And alcohol, shmalcahol, nothing is getting sterilized in between. Even in the Middle Ages they knew enough to use precious metal straws.

One of the more interesting approaches is the one found in the Eastern/Orthodox churches, where the leavened bread is cut into cubes, soaked in the contents of the chalice and then carefully spoon-dropped into the mouths of the communicants. At least until somebody licks the spoon.

Eastern Orthodox here: they are putting the spoon in their mouths. Some priests/congregations are more diligent about it, but my parish in DMV area has some people who close their mouths over the spoon.

HOWEVER, I have no qualms participating in the Eucharist this way and have not gotten sick, even with all of the bread passed from hand-to-hand and kissing of icons! You all worry too much. How can you have a spiritual experience if you are all worked up about getting a cold the whole time?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you mean Christian rituals, since that's really all you're talking about (the mention of incense notwithstanding).

Yep, it’s another Christian-bashing thread. Doesn’t really bother me. I’m just curious whether OP is DCUM’s Jew-Who-Hates-Christians, the Muslim-Who-Hates-Christians, or one of the 2-3 aggressive Atheists-Who-Hate-Christians. Idle curiosity is all.

All of this stuff about “gold chalices” and HIV is so ignorant it would be laughable of it weren’t so spiteful and nasty. What’s wrong with some of you, at least educate yourselves before launching your hate bombs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok to gluten-free communion wafers bc the upcoming teen generation and many others want to be gluten-free. I believe you can ask for it at our church but my kid won't so just opts out.


But besides that, how about communion wafers that taste great? Our church's communion wafers taste like cardboard.

I think if you are getting "the bread of Life" or "the Body of Christ" it should be something to look forward to. It should hit all your senses: taste (salt and butter!) smell, texture, sight, maybe even a crunch! Or warm! I would love a little warm dinner roll. A donut hole.

I know this sounds amusing, but I'm actually serious. We should be looking forward to going to communion.

I went to a Catholic college, and people could sign up to make the communion hosts for the student mass. My roommate was a *great* baker, and frequently made the communion. Eventually she got yelled at by the priest, because she had adjusted the recipe and put in a ton more honey and stuff, and the communion tasted delicious! Evidently he didn't like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of churches allow you to dip the wager into the wine instead of drinking directly from the cup. Also, alcohol sterilizes.

Does the priest or anyone who gives away the wafers do wear gloves? Just wondering?
Cause if they carry something, then the whole church can get it?

Also some people close their mouth just so that they come in contact with the fingers of the giver.

Why churches won't figure out some other way? Why people can not bring and hold their own
wafers and they can not be blessed comunaly and so they don't come in contact at no point?

our priest had a cloth that they would wipe across the cup between the sippers.

I was a eucharistic minister for a while. The little cloth really isn't intended to get rid of germs (wouldn't do that effectively anyway) It's just there so that none of the body of Christ falls on the ground. (The cloths are cleaned using a special method, not just regular laundry.)

I remember during confirmation prep someone asking about germs during communion. The nun told us that it's the body and blood of Christ, so son't worry about it - God will take care of you. Which is an admirable strength of faith.

[Anonymous]

We could all be more welcoming of visitors from other faiths and dispense with any language that suggests God's grace is not for them.

We mere mortals can't possibly know that so we should be more humble.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of churches allow you to dip the wager into the wine instead of drinking directly from the cup. Also, alcohol sterilizes.

Does the priest or anyone who gives away the wafers do wear gloves? Just wondering?
Cause if they carry something, then the whole church can get it?

Also some people close their mouth just so that they come in contact with the fingers of the giver.

Why churches won't figure out some other way? Why people can not bring and hold their own
wafers and they can not be blessed comunaly and so they don't come in contact at no point?

our priest had a cloth that they would wipe across the cup between the sippers.

I was a eucharistic minister for a while. The little cloth really isn't intended to get rid of germs (wouldn't do that effectively anyway) It's just there so that none of the body of Christ falls on the ground. (The cloths are cleaned using a special method, not just regular laundry.)

I remember during confirmation prep someone asking about germs during communion. The nun told us that it's the body and blood of Christ, so son't worry about it - God will take care of you. Which is an admirable strength of faith.

And an invitation to disease.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We could all be more welcoming of visitors from other faiths and dispense with any language that suggests God's grace is not for them.

We mere mortals can't possibly know that so we should be more humble.

But the Catholic church DOES know, and has for centuries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of churches allow you to dip the wager into the wine instead of drinking directly from the cup. Also, alcohol sterilizes.

Does the priest or anyone who gives away the wafers do wear gloves? Just wondering?
Cause if they carry something, then the whole church can get it?

Also some people close their mouth just so that they come in contact with the fingers of the giver.

Why churches won't figure out some other way? Why people can not bring and hold their own
wafers and they can not be blessed comunaly and so they don't come in contact at no point?

our priest had a cloth that they would wipe across the cup between the sippers.

I was a eucharistic minister for a while. The little cloth really isn't intended to get rid of germs (wouldn't do that effectively anyway) It's just there so that none of the body of Christ falls on the ground. (The cloths are cleaned using a special method, not just regular laundry.)

If you read the links above, the CDC and a microbiologist say otherwise.

I remember during confirmation prep someone asking about germs during communion. The nun told us that it's the body and blood of Christ, so son't worry about it - God will take care of you. Which is an admirable strength of faith.

And an invitation to disease.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of churches allow you to dip the wager into the wine instead of drinking directly from the cup. Also, alcohol sterilizes.

Does the priest or anyone who gives away the wafers do wear gloves? Just wondering?
Cause if they carry something, then the whole church can get it?

Also some people close their mouth just so that they come in contact with the fingers of the giver.

Why churches won't figure out some other way? Why people can not bring and hold their own
wafers and they can not be blessed comunaly and so they don't come in contact at no point?

our priest had a cloth that they would wipe across the cup between the sippers.

I was a eucharistic minister for a while. The little cloth really isn't intended to get rid of germs (wouldn't do that effectively anyway) It's just there so that none of the body of Christ falls on the ground. (The cloths are cleaned using a special method, not just regular laundry.)

If you read the links above, the CDC and a microbiologist say otherwise.

I remember during confirmation prep someone asking about germs during communion. The nun told us that it's the body and blood of Christ, so son't worry about it - God will take care of you. Which is an admirable strength of faith.

And an invitation to disease.

If you read the links above, the CDC and a microbiologist say otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We could all be more welcoming of visitors from other faiths and dispense with any language that suggests God's grace is not for them.

We mere mortals can't possibly know that so we should be more humble.

But the Catholic church DOES know, and has for centuries.

Why the obsession with Catholics? Many religious have this problem. Some atheists also have a problem with humility.

Anyway, you know the Catholics here ignore you and you aren’t changing any minds, right? It’s only me, a non-Catholic, responding to you.