[Piers-the-Ploughman]

You are correct "Blessed are they who can believe without seeing." That is most important here.

No doubt fake relics continue to tarnish Christianity's reputation and from my vantage point Christians should be wary, but this is a cross-denominational problem too. I have received letters from popular TV minister with enclosed prayer cloth that supposedly he touched and has God's power etc...

There was that Bible story about a woman who touched Jesus' cloak and either she or her child was healed that instant. Now it wasn't the power of the cloak but of her faith in Him who wore it.

There are genuine relics. Myself, I wouldn't know a fraud from the real and thus am skeptical in most cases. Belief in any relic isn't as far as I am aware required for salvation. But, would any Christian not want to show respect for something of his Savior or one of his Apostles, if he could know it was real?

Out of charity for our fellow Christians, we ought not to cast aspersions on those who seem to favor relics. It would be our duty though as XJones has done to gently remind them if their zeal becomes excessive so as to erase more important parts of the Christian faith:

More important though: Blessed are those who believe without seeing.

[xJones]

Out of charity for our fellow Christians, we ought not to cast aspersions on those who seem to favor relics.

You are so right, and it does cross Christian lines. My late Protestant mother used to receive some of the most shameful gimmicks. There was "the red thread", the put-under-your-pillow prayer cloth, etc., and what looked like form letters saying that God had awakened that particular preacher during the night to pray for her. There is at least one company that specializes in such gimmicks and letters,.... but only God will be the judge of those that prey on the innocent and trusting.