Agnosticism / Atheism: What's Hot Now: Virgin of Guadalupe

Agnosticism / Atheism: What's Hot Now These articles that had the largest increase in popularity over the last week // via fulltextrssfeed.com

Virgin of Guadalupe Dec 17th 2011, 11:01 Virgin of Guadalupe Back to Last Page >     Glossary Index>  Related Terms • Virgin Mary   Definition: According to Christian legend, an image of the Virgin Mary appeared as a "sign" in 1531 to a skeptical bishop on the cape of a peasant named Juan Diego so as to convince him to build a shrine to her. Approximately ten million people visit this image every year. There is no actual evidence of a miraculous origin for the image on the cloth, but there are signs of fraud and human origins. There are standard artistic motifs, evidence of underdrawing, pigments, cracking and flaking, and more. The image was, however, very helpful in the conversion of the Aztecs of the region, which is the likely reason why it was created and promoted in the first place. The bishop in question, Bishop Zumarraga, not only never mentioned it but in fact spoke out against the continued existence of miracles in the world, writing that "The Redeemer of the world doesn't want any more miracles, because they are no longer necessary." Although the image was supposed to have appeared in 1531, the first recorded mentions of it don't appear until 1555 at the earliest. In 1556, Francisco de Bustamante wrote "The devotion that has been growing in a chapel dedicated to Our Lade, called of Gaudalupe, in this city is greatly harmful for the natives, because it makes them believe that the image painted by Marcos the Indian is in any way miraculous." Francisco de Bustamante was the head of the Franciscans in that region of Mexico. In 1569, viceroy Martin Enriquez denounced the cult around the Virgin of Guadalupe as worship of the Aztec goddess Tonantzin in disguise. It isn't even clear that Juan Deigo himself (who isn't mentioned in any of the stories until 1648) existed. In the 19th century, historian Joaquin Garcia Icazbalceta headed an inquest called by Bishop Labastida of Mexico City; Icazbalceta concluded in a confidential report that Diego may not have existed. After Diego was made a saint in July, 2002, Miguel Olimon launched another investigation. Olimon was a priest and historian at the Pontifical University of Mexico, but he also found that Juan Diego probably never existed - and he was censored for that. The Virgin of Guadalupe has been proclaimed as the patron of all of the Americas and, in 1988, her liturgical celebration was raised to the status of a feast for all diocese in the United States. As a figure, she is especially important for Latino Catholics because it represents a visit by the Mother of God to a poor peasant in a land of people otherwise oppressed by colonizers. She is, perhaps, their primary religious symbol and therefore of incredible significance - not only religiously, but also culturally and ethnically. Increasing the status of the Virgin in Latin America and in the Western Hemisphere occurs alongside a general increase in the status of Mary in the Catholic Church as a whole. The basilica built in honor of the Virigin of Guadalupe today attracts over 10 million visitors per year, making it the most visited Catholic church in the world after the Vatican. Also Known As: La Virgen de Guadalupe Alternate Spellings: none Common Misspellings: none Related Resources: What is Christianity? What are the various Christian groups, denominations, sects and heresies? What are some key concepts in Christian theology? What are some of the most important events in Christian history? All of this and more are covered in the Christianity FAQ. What is the Philosophy of Religion? Sometimes confused with theology, the Philosophy of Religion is the philosophical study of religious beliefs, religious doctrines, religious arguments and religious history. The line between theology and the philosophy of religion isn't always sharp, but the primary difference is that theology tends to be apologetical in nature, committed to the defense of particular religious positions, whereas Philosophy of Religion is committed to the investigation of religion itself, rather than the truth of any particular religion. What is Theism? What is the difference between monotheism and monolatry? Between pantheism and panentheism? How about between animism and shamanism? Or theism and deism? What the heck is henotheism? What is Religion? A system of human beliefs, ideals and practices which is harder to define than it may at first appear. Read more about how dictionaries, scholars and others have tried to define and explain religion. Back to Last Page >     Glossary Index>

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