What do you think of these "sightings'? What about the ones in Fatima, Lourdes, Medjugorje, etc.? Do you see a difference?

The one in Lourdes, France is the one that the movie The Song of Bernadette was based on. Fatima, Portugal is the one that the vision gave the children 3 messages. The second was that the pope would be killed.

I will concede that something strange might have happened in those instances, because the visions appeared out of thin air, they looked like a person, they spoke and they vanished into thin air, and there is no logical, rational explanation for them, but these recent ones are absurd.

'Id like to point out one thing. Most of the people who go nuts over these sightings of Mary...are Catholics. The Catholic church holds Mary in high regard and puts her at the top of the list...right next to the Big Guy himself. '

Not quite sure what you're saying here, ZS. You're skeptical, but is this just because it is (supposedly) an image of Mary? ie. Would you be more likely to believe in it if it was perceived as being a picture of Moses, John the Baptist or Jesus? The questions that come to my mind are rather different; eg. Why on earth would God pick an expressway underpass in which to perform such a miracle, and not, say, Jupiter or Mount Rushmore?

Personally, I think these phenomena tell us far more about those who believe them than they do about the mind of God. That said, while I agree with Iconoclast that they are 'gullible' and 'naive', it seems to me just a little uncharitable to refer to them as 'morons'. Other than perhaps causing a little traffic congestion, they don't sound as though they're doing any real harm.

'but its hard to explain when a whole bunch of people see stuff.'

Careful though, ZS ... remember 'lies, damned lies and statistics'. Don't forget that 25 million Americans think that Elvis is still alive. That may be an impressive figure, but it doesn't make it true!

'I think of Mary as a woman who had a virgin birth ...'
I may be wrong, ZS, but isn't that a specifically Catholic attribution?

"Not quite sure what you're saying here, ZS. You're skeptical, but is this just because it is (supposedly) an image of Mary? ie. Would you be more likely to believe in it if it was perceived as being a picture of Moses, John the Baptist or Jesus? The questions that come to my mind are rather different; eg. Why on earth would God pick an expressway underpass in which to perform such a miracle, and not, say, Jupiter or Mount Rushmore? "

Actually...what I was pointing out was that Catholics are the only branch of Christianity to worship people other than Jesus. I say worship in a light way. They pray to Mary..but more often pray to her than Jesus. They have special saints for various parts of life (travel...pets....etc). From a Christian and Biblical perspective...there is no point in this...Jesus is the one that is going to save you...not Saint Roberto. God didnt pick anything...its a water stain. If water flows through anything...its going to soak into whatever is around it to a extent and leave a stain (depending on the stuff in the water).

"Personally, I think these phenomena tell us far more about those who believe them than they do about the mind of God. That said, while I agree with Iconoclast that they are 'gullible' and 'naive', it seems to me just a little uncharitable to refer to them as 'morons'. Other than perhaps causing a little traffic congestion, they don't sound as though they're doing any real harm."

I didnt call them morons. Nowhere in the Bible...which is for most Christian religions the starting point and foundation of their religion...does it say to pray to mary or any one else other than Jesus. Twisting the words of God to make it fit your mold is what is happening here.

"Careful though, ZS ... remember 'lies, damned lies and statistics'. Don't forget that 25 million Americans think that Elvis is still alive. That may be an impressive figure, but it doesn't make it true!"

Thats based on the fact that people either think its a conspiracy...he faked his own death, they actually know he is dead but want to say he is alive like everyone else.

"I may be wrong, ZS, but isn't that a specifically Catholic attribution?"
Nope..Bible says it.