Changes

'''Holy water''' is water that has been blessed by a member of the clergy or by a religious figure. The use for cleansing prior to a [[baptism]] and spiritual cleansing is common in several religions, from [[Christianity]] to [[Sikhism]]. The use of holy water as a sacramental for protection against [[evil]] is common among [[Anglican Communion|Anglicans]], [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholics]], and [[Orthodox Church|Eastern Christians]].  

'''Holy water''' is water that has been blessed by a member of the clergy or by a religious figure. The use for cleansing prior to a [[baptism]] and spiritual cleansing is common in several religions, from [[Christianity]] to [[Sikhism]]. The use of holy water as a [[sacramental]] for protection against [[evil]] is common among [[Anglican Communion|Anglicans]], [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholics]], and [[Orthodox Church|Eastern Christians]].  

The traditional use of holy water is condemned by [[Evangelical Christians|evangelical]] and [[Fundamentalism|fundamentalist]] [[Christianity|Christians]] as a [[Paganism|pagan]] [[superstition]] inspired by [[Satan]], based on the ignorant faith of an object having [[magic]]al powers. They point out that another word for superstition is “idolatry”, saying that we should get our faith not from objects or rituals of man-made origin, but from the one true God who gives eternal life. {{quotation|“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority”.<ref>Colossians 2:8-10</ref>}} This text used in Protestant evangelical and fundamentalist objection to ancient [[orthodox]] [[catholic]] Christian practice is fundamentally a denial that God uses matter as a vehicle for spiritual blessing.  

The traditional use of holy water is condemned by [[Evangelical Christians|evangelical]] and [[Fundamentalism|fundamentalist]] [[Christianity|Christians]] as a [[Paganism|pagan]] [[superstition]] inspired by [[Satan]], based on the ignorant faith of an object having [[magic]]al powers. They point out that another word for superstition is “idolatry”, saying that we should get our faith not from objects or rituals of man-made origin, but from the one true God who gives eternal life. {{quotation|“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority”.<ref>Colossians 2:8-10</ref>}} This text used in Protestant evangelical and fundamentalist objection to ancient [[orthodox]] [[catholic]] Christian practice is fundamentally a denial that God uses matter as a vehicle for spiritual blessing.