 |
|
|
|
 A giant statue of Jesus Christ on Calvary Hill in the coastal town of Tanauan in the Philippines.
November 13th, 2013
09:31 AM ET
Jesus statue unscathed by Typhoon Haiyan(CNN) - A giant statue of Jesus apparently survived Typhoon Haiyan unscathed, even as the massive storm flattened many parts of Tanauan, a coastal town in the central Philippines. It's not the first time religious statues have survived natural disasters in the heavily Catholic Philippines, according to local reports. Two statues of the Virgin Mary withstood a devastating earthquake last month. Meanwhile, Haiyan has wiped entire towns off the map, and thousands are searching for family members, food and water. MORE ON CNN: Philippines aid pours in but survivors still going hungry So, what do you think, readers: Is the unscathed Jesus statue a miraculous sign of hope amid the ruins or just a random coincidence?
« Previous entryPope Francis won the Internet. Literally.
|
  About this blog
The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
|
|
|
I'm gald to say I cannot find one comment that supports the idea that this was a miracle. Cudos to commentors. CNN, take note that the story should have been about the silliness of suggesting this is a miracle it even a positive thing.
I do believe the unscathed statue of Jesus is a sign to us, and especially the Filipino people. 2,000 years ago, Saint Matthew, quoting the Prophet Isaiah, wrote, "Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means "God is with us." (Matthew 1:23) God is with us, in both good times and in bad. Jesus promised to never forsake us. St. Paul reminds us that God can make good come even out of devastation. Jesus calls us to love one another, so let us act. I invite all to join me in sending aid to the Philippines. God love you!
What a nice sign to send.
'Even though you're a very religious country, I'm going to massacre 10,000 of you guys just for sh!ts and giggles and I'm going to leave my smug face there for all to see'.
Nice deity you've got there.
any bible prophesies fulfilled is about the same as your daily horoscope being right. you predict enough things and give it 2,000 years and something will happen that you can twist to fit.
and bear in mind that many of the prophesies were added into the bible decades or centuries after the events had happened just to make it look like a prophesy was fulfilled.
centuries of fraud by power hungry, money hungry men!
Isaiah doesn't actually say it was supposed to be a "virgin", but that fits better with the myths that lent themselves to enhancing the Jesus story.
Kyle : Isaiah doesn't actually say it was supposed to be a "virgin"
What does it say? What is the meaning of the Hebrew word (in context)?
L4H – "Young Woman"
Not miraculous if their god chooses to spare a statue and lay waste to the rest of his flock's country.
"many children have been touched after Sunday mass". Awesome!! Thanks for that wonderful point.
Thank you Rambo!
No problem... I like to say inconvenient truths!
Is this a serious question? Are people who lost family supposed to be impressed that some large heavy statue survived? And if the statue was one of a buddah, would that mean that budahism is "true"? Are people that stupid?
"Are people that stupid?"
Yes, yes they are. Not all of us, but there's too many.
Richard Cranium, you are correct. To the far right of the statue stands a lone white pole. It's a Festivus miracle!!!
A white pole to the far-right? Is God a neo-Nazi?
A Festivus for the rest of us!
"Is the unscathed Jesus statue a miraculous sign of hope amid the ruins or just a random coincidence?"
I'd say neither. Perhaps it was sturdily constructed? What is it made of and how was it affixed to the ground?
I see A LOT of houses in the background that weren't touched either, so I believe you're looking a little too much into this.– Random coincidence, for sure.
Many children have been touched after Sunday mass..
When is the Vatican gonna stop to care more about statues, then about molested children?
Looks like John Lennon.
John Lennon was not as pale...
Both annoying hippies though who inexplicably shot to fame.
Instant Karma's gonna get you....lol
I'd better get out my crystals and realign my chakras.
Man you people are sick.
Have you spotted yourself?
Are you saying God saved his own inanimate object statue but let his children, people die? I don't think so.
Either that or he doesn't exist.
THAT IS ONE bad@$$ username
Thank you, it comes from my favorite film, Barry Lyndon.
I used to go under the username 'I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that' but I decided on a change but like the idea of using a quotation from a Kubrick film.
Just wait until a Seagull poops on Jesus' eye. They will go ape-shit with the shrine protocol.
After Fatima in Portugal the Vatican wants to make a new temple now in the Philippines... So people can go and leave their gold... What a big miracle it was...
I wonder if the religious people here would be as impressed by the survival of a statue of Darwin?
There was a statue of Darwin to the right of Jesus, actually. Where did it go?
It was smart enough to leave town before the storm struck.
Lol....
Many, probably most religious people accept evolution. This statue is a Catholic statue and the Catholic Church accepts evolution.
Father of the Big Bang = a Catholic priest
Very true.
So a large, concrete statue wasn't destroyed by wind and rain? Big whoop!
We're talking about people who build shrines around slices of burnt toast, which should tell you that they're really desperate for "signs" like this.
Of all the things god could have protected during this storm, he chose to protect a statue of himself? Even if your religious, it's gotta make you raise an eyebrow or two.
Look in the background of the picture.
The background is a mess... Looks like someone dropped a nuk there!
I see a lot of structures still standing. I've seen some pics that show total devastation, but this area does not look like it was hit as hard as others.
The other houses that are flattened are made out of bamboo these structures are brick and concrete, different structures!
He protected the statue... With the bodies of men, women and children. Whew! That was close.
most monuments are sucured to the ground better.
In 1996, a box was uncovered at the home of a parishioner of All Souls Unitarian Church in Washington D.C. In that box were nearly 50 colorful drawings made by children as thanks for gifts received from the church fifty years earlier.
http://www.hiroshimaschoolyard.com/about.html
Look at the statue... Then look at the scene behind the statue... The statue wasn't able to prevent destruction... And is not able to prevent %80 of the catholic population from committing thefts and run over other to get food and water...!
I believe the middle-eastern sky god from 6,000 thousand years ago that sent himself/his son down to die, has decided in 2013 to bless the Philippines and it's people loving unrelenting faith by preserving a caricature version of himself/his son that displays Jesus as he truly wanted to be: with fair skin, Caucasian features, and salvation for the rich white people in the early 21st century....I mean supernatural forces can send mixed signals (millions die in an earthquake but some old dusty statue of Mary is saved?) but I think its obvious God only loves ONLY those who look like a early 20th century white-wash rendering of Jesus, made to make Christianity more appealing to the West. Of course y'all.
Maybe it is my romantic whimsy but it looks like the zombie statue was orchestrating the destruction...
Like Moses calling down the plagues?