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CrimsonThorn
Guest
My mother has a couple “evil eye” ornaments that she bought as souvenirs from Greece and just as decoration. Are these ok to have if only seen as decorations or should they be thrown out? Comments/suggestions?
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TheRealJuliane
Guest
They are superstitious, but harmless.
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ChibiViolet
Guest
I would ask a priest.
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Julia_Mae
Guest
I agree. Like hanging a horseshoe over the doorway.
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Reepicheep
Guest
The items might be harmless, but do you want to take a chance on encouraging superstition in others?
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roveau
Guest
I also think you should ask your priest. Personally, I wouldn’t have an ‘evil eye’ depiction, or a horse shoe used in that way.
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Nom_the_Wise
Guest
I have a key chain with an evil eye. It broke off the chain a week after I bought it and every time I try to fix it, it breaks off again like it’s trying to escape from me. I’ve felt weird about it ever since I got it.
I learned that the actual “evil eye” is jealousy–the kind of jealousy/envy that can kill (like the brothers of Joseph who sold him into slavery because he was their father’s favorite). Anyway this sort of jealousy is actually very common, if you think about it. And the thing is that there is no defeating it with a little glass eye. Only humility can defeat the evil eye. Virtue defeats sin. If you think the evil eye itself protects you, then you should avoid it.
I learned that the actual “evil eye” is jealousy–the kind of jealousy/envy that can kill (like the brothers of Joseph who sold him into slavery because he was their father’s favorite). Anyway this sort of jealousy is actually very common, if you think about it. And the thing is that there is no defeating it with a little glass eye. Only humility can defeat the evil eye. Virtue defeats sin. If you think the evil eye itself protects you, then you should avoid it.
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Elizium23
Guest
It can give scandal if other Catholics see them and take them for their superstitious meaning. The “evil eye” is not a Christian belief, although it may be held by those who are nominally Christian, and it seems to me that it comes from Satan or another evil spirit, being in itself evil. It is folk religion and also Islamic doctrine, and should be avoided by faithful Christians.
However, it appears that there is an exception. , while at the same time offering an ancient exorcism prayer against it,vaskania so it is almost a tacit approval of the belief but only in a “Christianized” context. If you are not a Greek Catholic then I would say that this exception does not apply to you, and you are not in Greece, so the former advice should be taken.
However, it appears that there is an exception. , while at the same time offering an ancient exorcism prayer against it,vaskania so it is almost a tacit approval of the belief but only in a “Christianized” context. If you are not a Greek Catholic then I would say that this exception does not apply to you, and you are not in Greece, so the former advice should be taken.
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Battleaxe
Guest
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Contra_Mundum_1
Guest
I’ve received a couple of them from people but I threw them out. Not because I believe that the actual object can harm me but because of what it represents: a superstitious belief that an object can protect me. I don’t want to have such things around me.
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LORELLA
Guest
When I first saw the evil eye beads… going through some Jewelry making with friends, I didn’t think of anything but to me, they look creepy until a friend told me what they were all about and then I shook my head saying…tsk tsk tsk! and people are believing in this stuff… we all had a good discussion about it and how important it is to focus on our Catholic images that will keep Satan away.
I also had watched a film that had a part in showing the evil eye in Greece and then I said,… it is everywhere…oh dear!
For me, they can sit in the garbage!!!
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CrimsonThorn
Guest
Yea Id rather err on the side of safety myself, but I do have mild ocd symptoms or what my psychiatrist cals “obsessional anxiety” so my mom may not take what i have to say too seriously.
She says she only looks to God for help and to keep negative thigs away and the “evil eye” things are just merely souvenirs from Greece, and I think she did buy them from a Greek Orthodox shop too (we’re Catholic though).
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TheRealJuliane
Guest
Yes, because WE don’t believe in the superstition. I meant that others believe in their power to keep away “the evil eye.”They can`t be superstitious AND harmless.
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So they are harmless to us.
We have a few, that DH’s mother has given to us. She has a background with that sort of thing. She’s Catholic though.
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