What do you think about stigmata?

[marions ghost]

Last night there was a documentary about stigmata, just in time for Easter. When I think about Jesus, I'd prefer not to dwell on the wounds, but National Geographic thought it timely. There were several gruesome images of people who had nailholes or crosses in blood on them. One researcher thought it involved people going into some kind of altered state of religious fervor and multilating themselves. Others thought it more mystical than that, that the person's thoughts induced the stigmata. I'm open to any theory about it.

But over and over as the show progressed we saw the same stigmata appearing again and again. Retinal stimulation in the same vein as Monica's beret, the Towers falling, Dubya descending from his helicopter and waving, over and over. So if one watches the images of stigmata appearing too many times, will you be in danger of becoming a stigmatist? Can you get stigmata by watching TV? I woke up in a cold sweat this morning and checked in the mirror just to be sure.

[leftofthedial]

1. nails and a spear would work quicker than watching TV