Barry Duke, the Angry Atheist

Pointing and laughing at religious lunacy for more than half-a-century

Reasons not to pop Jesus crackers into one’s mouth: they lack flavour, and harbour bacteria

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THOSE of you with long memories will probably recall that atheist blogger PZ Myers had Catholics spitting tacks a few years back by inviting people to send him communions wafers, also called hosts, so he could desecrate what he referred to as “only crackers.”

His intention was to photograph the desecration, and post the images to his website.

I recalled the blazing row that followed when I learned today that members of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Morris, Indiania, were disappointd to learn that the red spots that appeared on a communion wafer was not the blood of Christ, but only “fungus and three different species of bacteria, all of which are commonly found on human hands.”

So, alas, no miracle there, but perhaps a warning that you should be wary of what Catholic priests pop into the mouths of the faithful, especially young boys.

No doubt Dutch theologian Hermann Witsius (1636-1708), would have also received death threats if the blogosphere existed in his day. He was no fan of Jesus crackers either, writing:

We can by no means approve of the small round things, made of meal, commonly called hosts or wafers, such as now the Romish church is pleased to make use of.

That quote appears in Purely Presbyterian, under the headline “Why Wafers are Inappropriate for Communion.” PB says bread is a far better alternative.

Communion wafers have the texture and flavor of Styrofoam packing peanuts. They lack the refreshing and hearty flavor and nourishment of common bread. They are so distasteful that even scavenging animals would cringe to eat them. Is this the sort of message intended to be sent in the sacrament of our Lord’s body and blood? No.

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