Atheist Revolution: Virgin Mary Appears in Alabama...Well, Sort Of

Tuesday, July 07, 2009

Virgin Mary Appears in Alabama...Well, Sort Of

Image by mermay19 via Flickr

It is often said that nothing is wrong with talking to gods as long as they do not talk back. When gods talk back, one is likely psychotic. Of course, a great many people claim that gods speak to them. Some are undoubtedly suffering from serious mental illness, but the majority are either lying to manipulate others or deluding themselves in a way that would not result in a psychiatric diagnosis. This sort of self-delusion is not only socially acceptable but is sometimes met with incredible praise and admiration.

Take the case of Marija Lunetti in Shelby County, Alabama. A reader, BamaGal, sent me an article from the Birmingham News about Ms. Lunetti, and it is a great example of why someone might claim to converse with gods.

Over 2,000 people have traveled from all over the U.S. to rural Alabama simply because Ms. Lunetti claims to have daily visions of the Virgin Mary. According to the article, these "pilgrims" make the journey "hoping to feel the presence of the mother of Jesus."

One would think that rural Alabama would have plenty of folks who think they are in communication with spirits, but Ms. Lunetti came all the way from the former Yugoslavia to have her "visions" promoted.

Marija Lunetti, whose reports of daily visions of the Virgin Mary have drawn millions of pilgrims to Medjugorje in Bosnia-Herzegovina, has spent the past week in Shelby County. She continues to have her daily visions, including Thursday and Friday at 10:30 p.m.

How nice that her "visions" occur on a consistent schedule. Why, one could probably sell tickets!