Why do churches burn candles?

[Perd Hapley]

I always assumed they had something against the candles, and have been trying to get rid of them.

Who is?

[Chuck Dye]

I have read in several places of Catholic establishments, tired of the soot and vaporized wax settling out throughout the place, have switched to coin operated electric candles.  

[zahc]

Who is?

People who burn candles.

[Perd Hapley]

Ohhhhhh. I see now. You make funny joke.  

[KD5NRH]

What's the deal with churches having candles burning in the sanctuary?

Contempt for the ozone layer.

That, and it's really hard to keep them lit on windy or rainy days if you leave them outside.

[Perd Hapley]

Probably just "candle magic" from pre-J-C times.  Parallel: The "magic lanterns" of the Middle East?

Candle Magic has been around for many, many years, being traced as far back as the Palaeolithic era. It is a very powerful form of sympathetic magic.
http://www.wicca.com/celtic/bri/intro.htm

Candle Magick is still practiced today as a Tool (note the capital) to focus the mind.

And Magick is not much different from Prayer.

Terry, 230RN

Reading the description of candle magic on those web pages, I'm not sure where you're seeing the similarity, other than in the mere presence of candles.

[charby]

here you go http://www.cptryon.org/ask/ask/candles.html

Santuary Candle http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanctuary_lamp

[lupinus]

I have read in several places of Catholic establishments, tired of the soot and vaporized wax settling out throughout the place, have switched to coin operated electric candles. 

The candles we use during most of our services are oil burning candles, for this very reason.

That and using new wax candles every week is a lot more expensive than topping off the oil.

[Lee]

They make less noise than witches.

[MrsSmith]

And here we have yet another example of why I so enjoy this forum.