marian apparitions and weeping statues

[Agaliha]

Okay, well I've become fancinated by Mary lately. I asked for guidance many times now and in the past with my whole crisis of faith crap and was led back to her. Interesting, I think. Uh, don't know what that means (how if fits into my [non]theistic beliefs), I'm still trying to figure it out.
_inabox_

Anyway to get back on point, I was curious what eveyone thought about Marian apparitions (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marian_apparition)and weeping statues (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weeping_statue).
In my browsing of all things Mary I came across those articles and many sites.
Photographs of statues claimed to be weeping (http://www.visionsofjesuschrist.com/weepingstatuesandicons.htm) -- lots of pics

Real?
Fake (either by hoax or wishful thinking and imagination)?
Comments? Opinions? Personal experieces?

I honestly don't know what to think about them right now.
On one hand I can see the possiblity of them being real, but on the other some of the stories I've see and heard make me wonder.
Why would Mary just the same old method (blood/oil dripping from statues)?
I'd think she'd want to I don't know...do something else. :lol:

[ViolinGoddess]

To me personally, this falls under the category of "doesn't matter". What I mean by that is this (to me) is one of those things that it doesn't matter to me if it is true or not, it will not change the basis of my faith. So I basically let it go. Other things that fall under that category are Jonah and the Whale, how the the world was created, etc.

Violin Goddess

[Brightshores]

I think things like this are fascinating also. I don't know what these apparitions are, and I don't have an explanation for them, but I am always interested when I see or hear stories about them.

I'm sure some are wishful thinking, some are hoaxes, but some are likely unexplainable by such things. I do find it interesting that the Catholic church tends to be ambivalent at best about things like this.

Maybe this is one of the Goddess' ways of making sure She is not forgotten, even through all the centuries of patriarchial religious dominance.

As for the "same old method" thing - well, it works, doesn't it? If it ain't broke... :tongueout

I do, however, think the Jesus grilled cheese sandwiches and such are a bit over the top.

[Agaliha]

True in the end it doesn't really matter, but I do think it's interesting.

It's something that seems unique to Mary-- I never heard of a Demeter or any other goddesses statue crying blood or oil.

Anyway, thanks for the replies. :)

[David19]

True in the end it doesn't really matter, but I do think it's interesting.

It's something that seems unique to Mary-- I never heard of a Demeter or any other goddesses statue crying blood or oil.

Anyway, thanks for the replies. :)

I think it is unique to Mary, anyway, i've always found Mary a cool goddess, despite not being Catholic or Christian, she always seems like she cares, and i think there's more to her than people think (like i don't think she's a 'weak' person/being, afterall, i think the immaculate conception refers to Mary, so there's something supernatural about her).