Harut Posted December 2, 2004 Report Share Posted December 2, 2004 What is the meaning of the candle in religion? what does it symbolize? how did it enter into many religions? is lighting a plastic candle with electric bulb the same as lighting a parafin candle with cotton fitil? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gamavor Posted December 2, 2004 Report Share Posted December 2, 2004 I guess there is no difference. Candle, lighting a candle is purely symbolic custom, which emphasizes the Light of Jesus. The only difference between the two - electric bulb candle and paraffin candle is that in the case of the former the Church budget would be severely affected. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MosJan Posted December 3, 2004 Report Share Posted December 3, 2004 inchqan djvar ban ka du petqa harstnes ??? hesa @enkerojs harstnem - nor siraharvats jamanak amen 2 or@ mek n@shanatsy het mom varelu eyin gnum eni kimana hastat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azat Posted December 3, 2004 Report Share Posted December 3, 2004 haaaa, hima dran usum en mom varel ha? ok haskanalie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MosJan Posted December 3, 2004 Report Share Posted December 3, 2004 haaaa, hima dran usum en mom varel ha? ok haskanalie. style_images/master/snapback.png Azat jan - nor zangetsy - inq@ ( enkers ) baghnikum er knoj@ harstri - chi el hishum te iranq mom en varel hesa et naglin loghana durs ga tes glxin inch sev mom em varelu asum enq qel vorsi gnanq asuam che n@shoyi het mom varelu enq gnalu hesa hla loghana ......... dzeritss chi prtsnelu Kazyol@ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormig Posted December 3, 2004 Report Share Posted December 3, 2004 What is the meaning of the candle in religion? what does it symbolize? how did it enter into many religions? is lighting a plastic candle with electric bulb the same as lighting a parafin candle with cotton fitil? style_images/master/snapback.png Fitil? According to the Vatican and various other denominations, it's OK to light an electric bulb in the shape of a candle. Thank goodness, could do with less soot on frescoes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azat Posted December 3, 2004 Report Share Posted December 3, 2004 Fitil? According to the Vatican and various other denominations, it's OK to light an electric bulb in the shape of a candle. Thank goodness, could do with less soot on frescoes. style_images/master/snapback.png Agree 10000% and all over Europe not you just put a coin in the candle place and a small bulb comes on for a minute instead of the candles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arpa Posted December 3, 2004 Report Share Posted December 3, 2004 (edited) What is the meaning of the candle in religion? what does it symbolize? how did it enter into many religions? is lighting a plastic candle with electric bulb the same as lighting a parafin candle with cotton fitil? style_images/master/snapback.png Fitil? Whatever happened to "patruyk"? Please go to Culture to see my not so serious response. Edited December 3, 2004 by Arpa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
el lince Posted December 24, 2004 Report Share Posted December 24, 2004 Originally the idea was to ask every believer to bring a candle with them to illuminate the church, then it became a symbol of faith. So I guess there is no difference between electric and "normal" candles. I know a lot of people who never light any candles and are however believers and very religious people. So it's a matter of mentality - you can just donate the money you were going to spend on candles and it will be much better, I think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gamavor Posted December 30, 2004 Report Share Posted December 30, 2004 I'm afraid that this is NOT the reason why candle lighting is so popular among Orthodox Christians. Overall it is a very beautiful custom, especially during Easter, when everybody after the Church service got their candle re-candled, usually from the person next to you in an open air in the churchyard and greeting each other. Later, everyone goes home with the flame and people are so concerned about their candle-well being that in severe weather they use coffee cups with little holes to protect the candle from the wind or rain. Then, they go home usually taking a long walk and the whole city is illuminated by thousands and thousands candle lights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggyhonents Posted December 31, 2004 Report Share Posted December 31, 2004 I'm afraid that this is NOT the reason why candle lighting is so popular among Orthodox Christians. Overall it is a very beautiful custom, especially during Easter, when everybody after the Church service got their candle re-candled, usually from the person next to you in an open air in the churchyard and greeting each other. Later, everyone goes home with the flame and people are so concerned about their candle-well being that in severe weather they use coffee cups with little holes to protect the candle from the wind or rain. Then, they go home usually taking a long walk and the whole city is illuminated by thousands and thousands candle lights. style_images/master/snapback.png Easter is actually a pagan fire festival, later incorporated (like Christmas) into Christian customs. So it is not surprising that fire, in the now tame form of candles, still plays such a prominant part. A lit candle, like any burning object, provides an intercession between the God (of whatever faith) and the supplicant. In Christianity the candle also symbolises the believer, so much so that the lit candle can be seen as a substitute for the actual believer having to be present - hence the numerous bequests and requests from deceased individuals asking for candles to be regularly lit on their behalf for all eternity. And also why a candle can be lit by one person on behalf of another. For all this a plastic candle with an electric bulb in it is certainly NOT acceptable. But since most Christians these days haven't a clue as to what they actually believe, it makes little difference to them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gamavor Posted January 1, 2005 Report Share Posted January 1, 2005 Primitive Western Protestants, never cease to amuse me!!! Working, eating, reading, having sex, family, studying science, and almost all human activities, including lighting a candle were known to human kind long before the Christian era. Shall we brand all these activities as pagan??? Oh, and I forgot... celebrating New Year was also known before Christ although it is his birthday that makes the year numerically 2005. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anonymouse Posted January 2, 2005 Report Share Posted January 2, 2005 The candle and its flame is an ancient symbol of transmutation, the transmutation of vital matter into light and heat through combustion. We all have experiences that have to do with the use of vibrations, in laymens terms, the natural energy and forces which surround us in the universe. The reason candles have been used and are still used in churches or temples or other places is because it gives light to symbols in ceremonies. The burning flame symbolizes fire as well as light demonstrating a great natural law. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggyhonents Posted January 3, 2005 Report Share Posted January 3, 2005 The reason candles have been used and are still used in churches or temples or other places is because it gives light to symbols in ceremonies. The burning flame symbolizes fire as well as light demonstrating a great natural law. style_images/master/snapback.png Not because it gives light to symbols, but because it is a symbol. In Christianity it is now mostly just a symbol. But originally it was more than just a symbol. You are tight to use the word transmutation but once it was not a symbol of transmutation, but an actual example of transmutation: the conversion of something of the earth transformed into something higher that can be accessed by, and noticed by, the gods. A burnt offering has the same effect. Some cultures still do this by releasing birds, so that they fly upwards. And in some cultures, including mine, the burning of written messages in fires, so that the message reaches the gods. And in the past - ceremonial buildings might be burnt (and constructed for the sole purpose to be burnt) to get the same effect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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