Worshipper rips out both eyes in Mass

[Iris]

Churchgoers were left stunned after a man tore out both his eyeballs in the middle of a priest's sermon at Sunday Mass in a scene that resembled a horror film.

Parishioners in Viareggio, near Pisa, in northern Italy, could only watch as one of their number calmly stood up and carried out the horrific self-mutilation in front of them.

Aldo Bianchini, 46, who was born in Britain but has lived in Italy most of his life, is believed to have suffered from voices.

He collapsed to the floor in a pool of blood as his mother frantically tried to help him while the local priest father Lorenzo Tanganelli rushed out to alert emergency services.

The drama happened at the Sant'Andrea church and last night surgeons at the local hospital said that after several hours surgery they had been unable to save his sight and he would remain blind.

Doctors said that before the surgery Bianchini had told them he had 'heard voices' telling him to tear out his eyes and Dr Gino Barbacci said: 'In all my 26 years of service I have never seen anything like this before.

'He was in a great deal of agony and he was covered in blood. He said that he had used his bare hands to gouge out his eye balls after hearing voices telling him to do so - to do something like that requires super human strength.

'We tried to operate and save his sight by reinserting the eye balls in both sockets but there was nothing we could do and he will now remain blind.'

Last night Father Tanganelli said: 'I had just started to read the sermon when all of a sudden there was a great commotion.

'This man at the back of the knave started tearing at his face and I realised he was gouging out his eyes.

'I called for assistance and the paramedics were quickly at the scene and he was taken away and then I carried on celebrating Mass but a lot of people had left because they were so shocked by what they had seen.

'There must have been 300 people at Mass to begin with and we were lucky that at first one of the closest people to him was an off duty paramedic who was the first to help him but I have never seen as much blood as I saw today.'

In the Bible a passage from the Gospel of St Matthew, Jesus tells his disciples: 'If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away.
'It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.'

Source. (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2044605/Horrific-scenes-British-born-worshipper-tears-eyes-Mass-BARE-HANDS.html)

:eek:

[Sage]

Where is your god now?

[Scarface]

Where is your god now?

Oh, he'll show up eventually, just give "it" "time" or he must not have time for this issue at the moment and he got the voicemail. :P

There's nothing that can be done to someone that chose to do this to themselves.

[Suicune]

My eyes feel weird now.

[Vonn]

Hopefully those voices are satisfied with this guy's sacrifice.

He said that he had used his bare hands to gouge out his eye balls after hearing voices telling him to do so - to do something like that requires super human strength.

Eyeballs are that strong, huh?

[Genghis Khan]

Well, I guess he uh, saw the light.

-badumpbumtsst-

[Maxxie]

Damn, Sage! I was going to say the same thing.

[SosbanFach]

That is horrific. That guy should get help.

[music is my soul]

Wtf?!?!?!?!?! Ill leave it at that

[Efflorescence]

Where is your god now?

Oh man come on now. Seriously? The man has problems that go beyond religious issues. He just used religion as a way to fuel his obsession/condition.

[Suicune]

Eyeballs are that strong, huh?

Yes actually. The eyes and the sockets are very muscular. Your eyes don't fall out because of the muscles.

[Sage]

Oh man come on now. Seriously? The man has problems that go beyond religious issues. He just used religion as a way to fuel his obsession/condition.

I was just pointing out that God evidently doesn't seem to care about the well-being of his followers in his own house.

[Efflorescence]

I was just pointing out that God evidently doesn't seem to care about the well-being of his followers in his own house.

I think that God can do his job through people at times, through people who give a damn about the well-being of others.
And anyway, what was God supposed to do according to you? Physically restrain the guy from tearing his eyes out so that everyone would believe?
It will never be as easy as that I think.

[Angel Androgynous]

I think that God can do his job through people at times, through people who give a damn about the well-being of others.
And anyway, what was God supposed to do according to you? Physically restrain the guy from tearing his eyes out so that everyone would believe?
It will never be as easy as that I think.

Then he isn't omnipotent, eh?

[Blind]

wow wtf? this is just a little weird

[Sage]

And anyway, what was God supposed to do according to you? Physically restrain the guy from tearing his eyes out

That would've been swell, yeah.

[Efflorescence]

Then he isn't omnipotent, eh?

When I said that 'it will never be as easy as that' I meant that WE'll never have it that easy. I didn't mean that it's not easy for God to do that or that He' s not omnipotent.

That would've been swell, yeah.

Yeah and life would be very simple and we will all live happily ever after. The end.

[Sage]

I didn't mean that it's not easy for God to do that or that He' s not omnipotent.

I don't see any reason why God (assuming he exists) would allow one of his followers to act in such a self-harmful manner inside a church. That's all I'm saying.

[Angel Androgynous]

When I said that 'it will never be as easy as that' I meant that WE'll never have it that easy. I didn't mean that it's not easy for God to do that or that He' s not omnipotent.

So......

He's able but not willing?

Okey dokey then...:rolleyes:

[Efflorescence]

I don't see any reason why God (assuming he exists) would allow one of his followers to act in such a self-harmful manner inside a church. That's all I'm saying.

I do understand your point and I'm not attacking you or something. Yes, one can say that if God is omnipotent one would expect Him to do something.

But it's like that episode where Jesus was crucified and people said “Are you not the Messiah? Then save yourself and us!" and He didn't.

Because I think that if God keeps interceding in every freakin bad event that happens, then it would be too simple, everyone would believe in Him and we would live a happy life dancing the lambada and eating cookies. I wouldn't want a life like that. It would be pointless to me That's what I'm saying.

[Vonn]

Because I think that if God keeps interceding in every freakin bad event that happens, then it would be too simple, everyone would believe in Him and we would live a happy life dancing the lambada and eating cookies. I wouldn't want a life like that. It would be pointless to me That's what I'm saying.

Maybe God actually enjoys tossing most of his holy creations into hell. Otherwise, why bother acknowledging hell at all? There's more than one way to punish someone.

I wonder what color the guy's eyes were. /totally on topic

[Efflorescence]

Maybe God actually enjoys tossing most of his holy creations into hell. Otherwise, why bother acknowledging hell at all? There's more than one way to punish someone.

I wonder what color the guy's eyes were. /totally on topic

Yes, your last sentence is on topic as opposed to the first part. I'm finding it very hard to find the link between what I've said and what you've said. In other words: What the hell does hell have to do with anything?

[Angel Androgynous]

Yes, your last sentence is on topic as opposed to the first part. I'm finding it very hard to find the link between what I've said and what you've said. In other words: What the hell does hell have to do with anything?

The fact that the bible states that if you do not believe in and worship God, then you will go to hell... but... why would I worship a God that won't even prevent me from tearing my eyeballs out? :(

In other words:
Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?
~ Epicurus

Har har har.

[Maxxie]

So......

He's able but not willing?

Okey dokey then...:rolleyes:

.... Then he is malevolent.

I love Epicurus. :D

[Sugaree]

And you shall see the Lord your Go-oh I'm sorry.

[embers]

Because I think that if God keeps interceding in every freakin bad event that happens, then it would be too simple, everyone would believe in Him and we would live a happy life dancing the lambada and eating cookies. I wouldn't want a life like that. It would be pointless to me That's what I'm saying.

And yet there are billions of people living in poverty, unstable/terrible conditions, with diseases, or victims of war. So yeah, fine, 'God' may not want to intervene in the daily self-mutilation of a few followers. It'd be too easy. But why is mass suffering accepted?

On a more relevant note, there are crazy things delusional people do. This guy clearly needs help.

[Vonn]

I'm finding it very hard to find the link between what I've said and what you've said. In other words: What the hell does hell have to do with anything?

God is an attention whore. If someone doesn't believe in him, it's an instant ticket to hell. If you want someone to believe in you, you prove yourself to be worth believing in. If God's going to let people decide for themselves whether or not to believe in him, then he has to accept that by human logic, a lot of people are going to decide he does not exist.

Because I think that if God keeps interceding in every freakin bad event that happens, then it would be too simple, everyone would believe in Him and we would live a happy life dancing the lambada and eating cookies. I wouldn't want a life like that. It would be pointless to me That's what I'm saying.

I wouldn't mind God stepping from behind the scenes and cleaning up a bit. Shouldn't be much of an inconvenience for him, seeing as he's infinity and forever and limitless and blah blah blah. Since he hasn't done that yet, I assume he's having too much fun with his little post-mortem bonfire.

Then again, the Bible depicts him as being pretty damn scary, so maybe he should stay wherever the hell he is.

[Iris]

Because I think that if God keeps interceding in every freakin bad event that happens, then it would be too simple, everyone would believe in Him and we would live a happy life dancing the lambada and eating cookies. I wouldn't want a life like that.

I'm pretty sure that this clearly schizophrenic man who is now blind wouldn't mind a life like that. It's easy for you to say that; you probably live in a nice democratic country with all your basic needs fulfilled, and don't have to worry about your family being murdered because you're stuck in the middle of civil war, or that you might watch your kids die of starvation. Having a happy life doesn't seem so bad when you look at it from that perspective.

[Spook]

What. The. Fuck.

That's all I have to say.

[sammy1996]

I do understand your point and I'm not attacking you or something. Yes, one can say that if God is omnipotent one would expect Him to do something.

But it's like that episode where Jesus was crucified and people said “Are you not the Messiah? Then save yourself and us!" and He didn't.

Because I think that if God keeps interceding in every freakin bad event that happens, then it would be too simple, everyone would believe in Him and we would live a happy life dancing the lambada and eating cookies. I wouldn't want a life like that. It would be pointless to me That's what I'm saying.

i believe he wasnt The Messiah and there never was one.... personally i think they are all fables made out of fear.

[Efflorescence]

The fact that the bible states that if you do not believe in and worship God, then you will go to hell... but... why would I worship a God that won't even prevent me from tearing my eyeballs out? :(

In other words:

~ Epicurus

Har har har.

Epicurus is not the be-all and end-all. If you have decided to tear your eyeballs out, you cannot blame God for not tampering with your brain and stopping you from carrying out your OWN FREE DECISION.

And yet there are billions of people living in poverty, unstable/terrible conditions, with diseases, or victims of war. So yeah, fine, 'God' may not want to intervene in the daily self-mutilation of a few followers. It'd be too easy. But why is mass suffering accepted?

I'm pretty sure that this clearly schizophrenic man who is now blind wouldn't mind a life like that. It's easy for you to say that; you probably live in a nice democratic country with all your basic needs fulfilled, and don't have to worry about your family being murdered because you're stuck in the middle of civil war, or that you might watch your kids die of starvation. Having a happy life doesn't seem so bad when you look at it from that perspective.

I think that God can do his job through people. Let's take the example of a missionary. Instead of sitting on his bum and whining about how many poor people there are in this fucked up world, he goes and helps them. God is working through him. In fact, that's what I did about 1 year ago, I went with a group of people to help children who needed assistance and that's what I plan to do for the rest of my life. Instead of whining and expecting divine intervention, I did something about it.

God is an attention whore.

I wouldn't mind God stepping from behind the scenes and cleaning up a bit.

This is a typical example of a contradictory post. You claim that God is an 'attention whore' and then you say that 'you wouldn't mind God stepping from behind the scenes'. Um, is HE an attention whore or a God who spends his entire time behind the scenes? You seem undecided.

On-topic: The worshipper had serious mental problems that go beyond religious issues or God. I'm sorry for all that has happened to him.

[Vonn]

I think that God can do his job through people. Let's take the example of a missionary. Instead of sitting on his bum and whining about how many poor people there are in this fucked up world, he goes and helps them. God is working through him. In fact, that's what I did about 1 year ago, I went with a group of people to help children who needed assistance and that's what I plan to do for the rest of my life. Instead of whining and expecting divine intervention, I did something about it.


God working through people . . . doesn't that technically count as divine intervention? So now people do good things because God's turned off their autopilot, not because they want to.

This is a typical example of a contradictory post. You claim that God is an 'attention whore' and then you say that 'you wouldn't mind God stepping from behind the scenes'. Um, is HE an attention whore or a God who spends his entire time behind the scenes? You seem undecided.

It seems he's both. He wants people to believe in him and punishes those who don't based on faith (which isn't very fair with your eternal soul on the line); while at the same time he refuses to step down from his overworld for a few minutes to set some things straight.

You can't really expect much from [-]humans[/-] a being who wrote a book full of contradictions. It's very unprofessional.

On-topic: The worshipper had serious mental problems that go beyond religious issues or God. I'm sorry for all that has happened to him.

I wonder what those voices will command him to do next.

[embers]

I think that God can do his job through people. Let's take the example of a missionary. Instead of sitting on his bum and whining about how many poor people there are in this fucked up world, he goes and helps them. God is working through him. In fact, that's what I did about 1 year ago, I went with a group of people to help children who needed assistance and that's what I plan to do for the rest of my life. Instead of whining and expecting divine intervention, I did something about it.

Yeah, that knocks a few hundred from a few million. God's really doing his work there. Why is it such a taboo to expect divine intervention, something that seemed to happen almost on a daily basis back in the day?

[Vonn]

Why is it such a taboo to expect divine intervention, something that seemed to happen almost on a daily basis back in the day?

This, too. For some reason, he prefers to work backstage now.

[sammy1996]

there is no proof god/jesus or anything even exists, i just had a convo with my friends about this thread and we were all discussing is the bible/koran etc even real and it was 90% "its fake" one naive person said "its proven because its written in the bible", i could write a whole book and claim i turned some bread into enough to feed 500 and in 2000 years its all proclaimed as real and im worshipped by millions? i hope not. magicians exist today, if one does a trick NO-one knows about does that mean in 2000 years people will think he/she are the messiah? i hope not.
Disclaimer: that was just my opinion dont flame me :P
this worshiper is just a total nut case, religion or not voices arent in your head.... especially telling you that kind of thing.

[Skyhawk]

I'm pretty sure that this clearly schizophrenic man who is now blind wouldn't mind a life like that.

Having first-hand experience with a schizophrenic for most of my life, I can agree with your post as being totally plausible. :)

[huginnmuninn]

well obviously god thought this dude was straying from the righteous path so he told him to tear his eyeballs out as a test of his faith...duh! This guy is a hero and should be worshipped as the next great holy man. All hail The Man Esspecially Super Special Intringingly Awesomely Holy or to be known as The M.E.S.S.I.A.H. Or crazy weirdo whichever you want to call him.

[Iris]

Or crazy weirdo

Schizophrenia is a mental illness. Don't insult the sufferers of this illness. He is a victim here.

[Spi_vey]

I like how the priest carried on the sermon. There was at least one kid who thought the man tearing out his own eyeballs would allow him to go home early but it seems not.

[huginnmuninn]

Schizophrenia is a mental illness. Don't insult the sufferers of this illness. He is a victim here.

or maybe he just wanted to tear his eyeballs out maybe hes making up the voices so that people wont think hes a crazy weirdo just a schizophrenia suffering man... ever think of that

[Iris]

or maybe he just wanted to tear his eyeballs out maybe hes making up the voices so that people wont think hes a crazy weirdo just a schizophrenia suffering man... ever think of that

Oh yeah, because people just love ripping their eyes out.

[Sage]

or maybe he just wanted to tear his eyeballs out maybe hes making up the voices so that people wont think hes a crazy weirdo just a schizophrenia suffering man... ever think of that

It would take an immensely strong willpower to rip out your own eyes with a completely clear state of mind.

[Bath]

I'm still cringing, oh my god.
Reminds me of the ending of Oedipus Rex.

[Origami]

Why must every religion topic turn into a debate?
Do the Agnostic/Atheist members have nothing better to do than to resent someone's beliefs?
Do the Christians/Other faiths have nothing better than to shove religion around?

You're like a bunch of school children bickering at each other every time the words: church, God, Jesus, or faith ever come to fruition. Just shut up for once in your meaningless lives.


On another note; I don't believe in "voices," so as far as I assume, the guy is a nut. Plain and simple.

[Bath]

Why must every religion topic turn into a debate?
Do the Agnostic/Atheist members have nothing better to do than to resent someone's beliefs?
Do the Christians/Other faiths have nothing better than to shove religion around?

You're like a bunch of school children bickering at each other every time the words: church, God, Jesus, or faith ever come to fruition. Just shut up for once in your meaningless lives.


On another note; I don't believe in "voices," so as far as I assume, the guy is a nut. Plain and simple.

Religion is controversial, so it's debated a lot for various reasons. That's like saying "Why does every political thread turn into a debate?" I mean, what else would you expect?

You sound more like a bickering elementary school student more than most others in this thread, haha. Debate is going to happen. Especially on a forum.

And you know "nuts" hear voices. It's called schizophrenia.

[ShatteredWings]

Someone needs meds....

[AlmostHomeless]

Oh my... This is painful to think about. I am thoroughly grossed out.

[dead]

Someone needs meds....

Not just medication is needed.