A question for Catholics . . .?

Do any Catholics take the concept of transubstantiation seriously? (For those that don't know, this is the belief that the bread and wine physically transform, through the power of God, into the flesh and blood of Jesus.)

If you do believe this, how do you argue against those who consider it cannibalism?

2011-03-05T16:55:42Z

Kevin - quite the contrary. I have many problems with the Biblical story . . . I could easily mock those who believe in a literal Noah's Ark, or the literal creation story, or Jonah and the Whale.

I just don't see many questions regarding transubstantiation, which is ridiculous as well. So, I figured I'd see how people felt about it.

2011-03-05T17:02:02Z

To everyone else - seems most of you are following the same line of thinking here, so I'll address you all at once.

And, frankly, it seems like you are just doing some mental gymnastics and wordplay. Cannibalism is simply the act of eating human flesh (or the flesh of that which is the same as you). So, the idea that it's not "really" cannibalism because you're consuming Christ's "substance" (whatever the hell that means) is ridiculous. Transubstantiation is the idea of a physical transformation of the bread into the flesh of Jesus. Who was a human. A "divine" human, supposedly, but a human nonetheless. So - I fail to see how it's not, to an extent, cannibalistic.

But, I suppose I should give you props for at least answering the question. I expected most to back away from transubstantiation. So - I was pleasantly surprised. Even if I think such ideas are absurd.

2011-03-08T00:30:10Z

I really do admire all of you for actually admitting to this . . . for some reason, I expected people to back away from this (I guess because I find it so incredibly ridiculous).

Tolstoyevsky2011-03-05T22:02:37Z

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I grew up protestant, and assumed Communion was symbolic. I was right. "Communion" is symbolic.

Having been exposed to Catholic teaching and discovering what the scripture says and how the Early Church believed, I wholeheartedly embrace Transubstantiation in the Eucharist. I am aware that others see it differently. I have made up my mind, and really don't care what they think.

James O2011-03-06T01:42:01Z

Yes, all believing catholics do
and all believing Orthodox do accept the real Presence in the Eucharist as did alltrinitarian Christians until the reformation ( and even then the Lutherans accepted Real Presence)

Transubstantiation does not teach the chemical change of the 'species' or the outer sign, rather the substance is what is changed
This is not at all cannibalism ( the accusation of the Christian belief in the Eucharist going back to the time of the early Roman persecutions)

Acorn2011-03-06T18:58:40Z

Take it seriously, believe it literally: yes.

Cannibalism: Whoever would claim that it is cannibalism shows a very limited understanding of what it means.

In transubstantiation, the essence of the substance (bread) is changed. Its core reality is no longer bread but the body of Christ. The appearance stays the same: breadish. Molecules are still those of bread, since molecules are part of a substance's appearance, not essence.

In order for it to be cannibalism, the molecules would have to be those of human flesh. The host at mass has molecules of bread, therefore isn't cannibalism.

happygael2011-03-06T00:51:31Z

This must be the latest rage topic among people.
John 6:53,
Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood you shall have no life in you.

The difference is quite simple. Cannibalism is an act of violence committed by human beings on other human beings. Communion (transubstantiation is a sacrifice. Christ offered himself up for us.

one thing i noticed is that all the people that do not believe in transubstantiation and compare it with cannibalism sing hymns like "Are you washed in the blood" And There's power in the blood". What are they inferring when they sing these hymns

Anonymous2011-03-06T03:22:16Z

Just wanted to explain the Jonah and the whale storie a bit. Jonah is on a ship, I think in the Bering sea. Back then they did not have radar and GPS so they travled by constilations. From the story a person familiar with ship travle back then would have been able to tell when and where the story was taking place. The Whale constilation would be the one directly over head if you are at sea during december. Jonah is thrown overboard and said to be in the belly of the whale. This refers to the ime of year the story takes place Dec. 21, the longest night of the year. Mariners at sea reffered to it as being in the belly of the whale because of the darkness and the location of the whale constilation directly overhead. He was lost at sea for 3 days and nights (in the belly of the whale) before reaching land.

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