Yeah, what purpose? Mystic, magic, dead bones - makes my skin crawl. And if actually touching the bone is more powerful than just looking at it, how long before some benighted, desperate, delusional groveler tries to nibble a bit off?
I am not trying to poke fun at those that venerate relics, but I am trying to understand what is the reason that this is so important. Perhaps if I can understand the reason or purpose behind it, I can make a better judgment. I can understand the desire to recognize those that have suffered for the faith, but I suspect that there is more to this than simply honoring their memory.
This relics business seems rather grotesque and morbid to me.
Sorry you missed my post #5. In Scripture, the use of the bones of Elisha brought a dead man to life: "So Elisha died, and they buried him. Now bands of Moabites used to invade the land in the spring of the year. And as a man was being buried, lo, a marauding band was seen and the man was cast into the grave of Elisha; and as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood on his feet" (2 Kgs. 13:20-21). This is an unequivocal biblical example of a miracle being performed by God through contact with the relics of a saint!
You can learn more about saintly relics at post #5.
Voo-doo ping