Theresa Neumann and Catholicism

The discussions we've had in class regarding Theresa Neumann and Twinkle have particularly piqued my interest because I had heard of these two individuals before, and have asked myself the very same questions we had been throwing back and forth in class. The most important and redundant of them all: Were they faking it? Or did it actually happen?

I was raised as a Catholic, and even though I'm not sure what religion I associate myself with now (if I even associate myself with any religion), I remember many of the thoughts, beliefs, and stories that I was told while growing up in my Catholic family and while at mass every Sunday. Everyone spoke of such odd and unexplainable instances as 'miracles' and 'works of God'. But I always wondered if it was ever important for Catholics to think outside of religion, and try to associate scientific meanings and factual proof to such situations as Theresa and Twinkle, instead of just readily accepting this odd rarity as a sign from the heavens.

With my personal experience with many Catholics (and I don't mean to generalize, and I especially don't mean to offend anyone. I am only stating my own personal experiences) is that they are very stubborn and self-righteous people who claim to be messengers of God and fully accepting of everyone, but in reality only try to stomp out the beliefs of others who think differently from their religion/way of life, and are the most critical of all people, even other Catholics. I have had numerous conversations with Catholics in which all I do is simply point out a flaw in their understanding or ideas, and I am immediately criticized for ;doubting God and his ways!!! You terrible, terrible, person!!!" If that doesn't just scream accepting and understanding, I don't know what does! (sarcasm)

I think the Cartesian in me loves to find solutions and logical answers to whatever questions and mysteries there are out there, and just because we might not know answers now, doesn't mean we can't find them in the future. However, Catholics (specifically my parents) who are wonderful people, don't get me wrong, I think find comfort in just assigning the unknown as God's work, and claiming things happen the way they do because "That's the way God wanted it to be." It's almost as though God is used as a cop-out...used to validate an argument, when they can't find real reasons or support in anything else. And instead of just 'agreeing to disagree,' they have to go to the lengths of badmouthing and bashing the opposition, for reasons and insecurities unknown to me.

Now, thinking as a Cartesian once more, Theresa apparently lived without food and water for many, many years. If this were the case, for one: it is impossible for her to have stayed alive this long without any substantial nutrition other than wine and the Eucharist, and two: by eating and drinking absolutely nothing else, she would be in such an emaciated condition (unless of course she pounded down the wine and shoveled in the Eucharist like it was Chex Mix). In the video, Theresa looks as though she hasn't missed a meal in her life. Maybe it really is a miracle, I am not completely opposed or disbelieving of the idea that that could be the actual explanation, but with such outrageous circumstances, the Cartesian in me finds it pretty hard to not call foul.