'Holy Week' in the Philippines

Poor men. :(

There are only few days left before Holy Week. The Holy Week (Latin: hebdomada major) can be considered a tradition of some Christians, especially those who belong to the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) and Orthodox Churches. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, the Holy Week is the week which precedes the great 'festival of the Resurrection' on Easter Sunday and is consequently used to commemorate the passion of Jesus Christ. 

Different Christians celebrate the Holy Week in many different ways they like. The Philippines, as a Catholic country, is very known for its different ways of celebrating the week. It includes the traditional 'visita Iglesia' of some Christians who celebrate Holy Week. In this traditional act, they visit several churches (preferably, the historical ones) to contemplate and pray to their god. Some Christians who celebrate Holy Week take part in activities during the range of this week including Palm Sunday, the Chrism Mass, and the 7 Last Words. Some Christians participate in the singing of the 'Pasiong Mahal.' This practice is commonly known to Christian Filipinos as the 'Pabasa.'

Well, as for me, all practices, even though worthless, are OK. Those practices, even though worthless, are away from harm. But there are some practice that really upset me. One example is the practice of some Christians to crucify themselves on the cross during Holy Friday. Why does it upsets me? Because that practice is both worthless and (very) near to the possibility of harm. There are so many ways to celebrate the Holy Week but why do the harmful thing? Another practice that upsets me is the practice of some Christians to punish themselves during Good Friday by beating their back, making it bleed, etcetera. It's worthless and very near to harm. I know they can celebrate Holy Week without doing harmful things, am I right? Even the RCC officials in the Philippines, through the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), discourage their followers from doing these harmful practices.

MANILA, Philippines - Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president and Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma yesterday discouraged the practice of some Filipinos to be nailed on the cross on Good Friday. 

Palma issued the statement following reports that 20 people would be crucified on April 6 in Barangays Pedro Catud, Santa Lucia and San Juan, all in Pampanga. 

The CBCP official told the Church-run Radio Veritas that while penitents have their own reasons for wanting to be nailed on the cross, he reminded them that the Catholic Church frowns on these practices. 

“We do not judge and condemn but we discourage it. There might be some who have made a vow (of getting nailed on the cross) and if they don’t do it, they will feel guilty,” he said. 

Instead, Palma urged them take part in Holy Week activities such as Palm Sunday, Passion of the Lord, Paschal Triduum, Chrism Mass, the Last Supper and the Seven Last Words. 

Emeritus Novaliches Bishop Teodoro Bacani asked the faithful to look for other ways to show their repentance for their sins instead of inflicting pain on themselves by being nailed on the cross. 

“One way of paying for your sins is by showing concern, doing good deeds to others, and helping people. This is what they should do instead of punishing themselves,” Bacani added.

(Source) 

The Philippine Department of Health (DOH), just like the CBCP, also discourages these harmful practices. You may watch the video below if you can understand Filipino language.

Well, as an atheist, I have a [very obvious] view on those practices (both the harmless and the harmful) - they're both worthless and based on delusions. Practising those are OK for me even though they're worthless if they don't harm themselves. I know, it's part of their religious rights but suggesting them not to do harmful practices but instead celebrate Holy Week harmlessly is not against their religious rights, right? Well, it's up to them.

Thank you for reading my post. OK, just for final clarification, this is only my own opinion as an individual atheist.