[BenLurkin]

Yeah well, maybe their Unhealthiness was mental.

[ArcadeQuarters]

> still more were weighted down with stones.

So it worked!

[ClearCase_guy]

But I ain’t gonna quit until I’m laid in my tomb
And even then they better shut it tight.
— T Bone Burnett

[dangus]

>> It’s possible they are people “who died suddenly without Christian sacraments, like unbaptized children, people who committed suicide, babies born with teeth, or newly postpartum mothers.” <<

In case anyone misses what was going on with people who committed suicide or unbaptized children: they would have been considered to have died outside of the state of grace, and thus susceptible to BECOMING vampires. (Unbaptized children were speculated to go to Limbo, a state theologically compared to the Bosom of Abraham.)

Those in a state of grace would be immune to becoming vampires: The true purpose for someone using holy water and a crucifix when confronting a vampire would be to provide sacraments to any accomplices. Catholic homes used to always include a kit including a crucifix, holy water, charism oil and candles so last rites or baptisms could be provided to anyone who might be in danger of death. (No, you don’t need to be a priest to baptize someone.)

So, this is why the study is kinda pointless: vampire-proof burials weren’t necessarily because they thought that someone WAS a vampire, but because they thought that someone might BECOME a vampire.

[BiggerTigger]

Ancient Socialists.

[null and void]

There’s a headline you don’t see every day...

[MNJohnnie]

One interesting theory is the description of a “vampire” is similar to advanced stages of rabies.