Crucifixion
You know, I was thinking in the shower (because I tend to think of the weirdest things in the shower, instead of masturbating, singing, or doing anything else normal), how you don't hear much about crucifixions today. Like, crazy, religious people voluntarily crucifying themselves as a sacrifice to God or what have you.
Turns out, people still do it, but without the death part.
Crucifixion as a devotional practice
Since at least the mid-1800s, a group of Catholic flagellants in New Mexico called Hermanos de Luz ('Brothers of Light') have annually conducted reenactments of Jesus Christ's crucifixion during Holy Week, where a penitent is tied-but not nailed-to a cross. Some very devout Catholics are voluntarily, non-lethally crucified for a limited time on Good Friday, to imitate the suffering of Jesus Christ. A notable example is the ceremonial re-enactment that has been performed yearly in the town of Iztapalapa, on the outskirts of Mexico City, since 1833. [2]
Devotional crucifixions are also common in the Philippines, even driving nails through the hands (e.g. a man vowed to do it 15 times after a difficult childbirth). In San Pedro Cutad, devotee Ruben Enaje has been crucified 20 times, as of 2006, during Passion Week celebrations. [3] [4]
In many cases the person portraying Jesus is previously subjected to flagellation (e.g. flailing) and wears a crown of thorns. Sometimes there is a whole passion play, sometimes only the mortification of the flesh.
-Wikipedia.org (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crucifixion)
Like, props to the people who take it to that level and actually nail themselves to a cross, but I'd really like to see the truly devoted actually willingly die like this. If St. Peter asked to be crucified upside down instead of upright (as Jesus was, and being crucified upside down would take serious cojones), I'd like to see some every day people be crucified normally. Like, surely someone could do at least that.
Turns out, people still do it, but without the death part.
Crucifixion as a devotional practice
Since at least the mid-1800s, a group of Catholic flagellants in New Mexico called Hermanos de Luz ('Brothers of Light') have annually conducted reenactments of Jesus Christ's crucifixion during Holy Week, where a penitent is tied-but not nailed-to a cross. Some very devout Catholics are voluntarily, non-lethally crucified for a limited time on Good Friday, to imitate the suffering of Jesus Christ. A notable example is the ceremonial re-enactment that has been performed yearly in the town of Iztapalapa, on the outskirts of Mexico City, since 1833. [2]
Devotional crucifixions are also common in the Philippines, even driving nails through the hands (e.g. a man vowed to do it 15 times after a difficult childbirth). In San Pedro Cutad, devotee Ruben Enaje has been crucified 20 times, as of 2006, during Passion Week celebrations. [3] [4]
In many cases the person portraying Jesus is previously subjected to flagellation (e.g. flailing) and wears a crown of thorns. Sometimes there is a whole passion play, sometimes only the mortification of the flesh.
-Wikipedia.org (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crucifixion)
Like, props to the people who take it to that level and actually nail themselves to a cross, but I'd really like to see the truly devoted actually willingly die like this. If St. Peter asked to be crucified upside down instead of upright (as Jesus was, and being crucified upside down would take serious cojones), I'd like to see some every day people be crucified normally. Like, surely someone could do at least that.