Stigmata: Authentic or not?

[EDGE]

If you do not know what stigmata is, visit this link. http://www.crystalinks.com/stigmata.html

I was watching the History channel today and there was a special on Stigmata. So, I figured I would get you view on it. Do you think it's an authentic communication from GoD? Or just a silly self inflicted wound?

Padre Pio was diagnosed with Stigmata in the early 1900's. He was believed to have a number of powers. Some such as the gift of reading hearts, by-location (being in two places at once) and many more.

So, my question to you....Is Stigmata a true communication from God, or just a few self-inflicted wounds to get attention? You tell me.

IMO, I believe that Stigmata is an authentic communication from God.

[Dr. Bullet]

I go for self inflicted...it doesn't make sense to bleed like Jesus just to do great things... IMHO, it's a Catholic thing (no offense to you Catholics).

[Lakie]

self inflicted for attention. But i dont even believ in the bible so my view is somewhat biased.

[SilentTrigger]

Not sure, some might be desieases. And others are peobebly self inflicted wounds. Its not hard to make something like stigmata. And there are mental ways to "remove" pain. And same here don't belive in jesus and god etc (im not doubting that a man was put on a cross as that was a method at that time, but the rest is something I dont belive squat in.

[zza1pqx]

There is plenty of evidence that many incidence of stigmata are spontaneous.
Thats doesn't mena they are messages from God though.
An interesting study is looking at where wounds appear on people that suffer such things.
They usually correspond to where that person believes Christs wounds were at the time of crucifixion and so we see stigmata appearing on different parts of people bodies dependent on their culture and faith.
The evidence therefore is that stigmata is a man made phenomenon. In the cases of witnessed stigmata that has self infliction ruled out the suggestion is that the body does it to itself through the overwhelming power of mind over body.
A message from God? Maybe. More likley it is a manifestation of mans overwhelming faith in what he has been taught to believe, true or not.

[BADDOG]

This is a hard question to answer as it involves a persons own strongly held beliefs so I tend to agree with what ZZA has said.

Regards