Why do churches burn candles?

[Perd Hapley]

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

(Presuming they aren't there merely for illumination.)

[PTK]

Religious custom. Varies by religion, sect of, &co.

[Perd Hapley]

Well I knew that much. 

[MicroBalrog]

Perhaps Jewish roots?

[Tallpine]

It's tradition ! 

[Monkeyleg]

My wife has candles burning in the house sometimes to get rid of odors.

Maybe the churches burn them to rid the air of farts.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

for light

[Perd Hapley]

My wife has candles burning in the house sometimes to get rid of odors.

Maybe the churches burn them to rid the air of farts.

Wrong. When we want to rid the church of you old folks, we just play contemporary music.

[vaskidmark]

Seems there were objections to the mess and flies associated with human/animal sacrifices.  (Bunch of wussies!)  Some rocket surgeon came up with the bright idea of doing virtual sacrifices instead.

Now I ask you, just how many prayers have been answered since the discontinuation of the burning of actual flesh?  Numbers are down, aren't they?  Mere coincidence?  I think not!

stay safe.

[zxcvbob]

Seems there were objections to the mess and flies associated with human/animal sacrifices.  (Bunch of wussies!)  Some rocket surgeon came up with the bright idea of doing virtual sacrifices instead.

Now I ask you, just how many prayers have been answered since the discontinuation of the burning of actual flesh?  Numbers are down, aren't they?  Mere coincidence?  I think not!

stay safe.

Jews ceased the sacrifices when the 2nd temple was destroyed in 70 AD.  There's a movement to build a 3rd temple, but the purification rites for dedicating a temple are daunting.  Even the simple task of finding a red heifer without any white has proven impossible.  (when the temple in Jerusalem is eventually rebuilt, I don't think God will allow sacrifices to resume, but that's just me) 

[lee n. field]

(when the temple in Jerusalem is eventually rebuilt, I don't think God will allow sacrifices to resume, but that's just me) 

And that any Christian would want it to resume, is mind boggling.

As to the original question, I dunno.  In a "smells and bells" tradition, there's probably a reason.  Elsewhere, I don't see anything that would mandate it.

[RoadKingLarry]

Because heretics are too hard to keep lit.

[Perd Hapley]

Because heretics are too hard to keep lit.

Oh, snap! 

(Ironically, Nero was said to have used Christians as human torches to light his feasts. Dude musta thrown quite a party!)

[230RN]

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

[Perd Hapley]

I don't think there is any evidence for candles in the Paleolithic era. Oil lamps would have been used in the early Judeo-Christian context. Do those count?

And Magick is not much different from Prayer.

I invite you to explain in this thread over here:

http://www.armedpolitesociety.com/index.php?action=post;board=1.0

[lupinus]

Symbolism, the exact ones are many and varied.

Fire itself is associated with Gods presence (burning bush, pillar of fire, etc.)

Christ is the light of the world

Christ's triumph over death/darkness

Depending on the exact church and their customs, each candle can have it's own meaning as well (Gospel, Epistle, Communion, etc.)

[230RN]

Here you go.

http://www.armedpolitesociety.com/index.php?topic=30216.msg594033#msg594033

[lee n. field]

Wrong. When we want to rid the church of you old folks, we just play contemporary music.

CCM works pretty good for that.

[Waitone]

Cheaper than chemlights.

[Monkeyleg]

Wrong. When we want to rid the church of you old folks, we just play contemporary music.

Cute. Thanks for not being offended. I didn't think about that when I posted.

[Perd Hapley]

Symbolism, the exact ones are many and varied.

Fire itself is associated with Gods presence (burning bush, pillar of fire, etc.)

Christ is the light of the world

Christ's triumph over death/darkness

Thanks. Makes sense, I guess.

[Zardozimo Oprah Bannedalas]

Wrong. When we want to rid the church of you old folks, we just play contemporary music.

So true. 

[zahc]

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

[coppertales]

Because the donations don't cover the electric bill.............................................chris3

[Chuck Dye]

The bringing of light is more than just a Christian desire.  Some of the Buddhist temples I have been in have left many churches more or less in the dark when it comes to candles.  Small and remote, they are not at all tourist trap displays, either.