Vampires And Holy Items

[white avenger]

We've seen how vampires are burned and repelled bt crosses and holy water, so why is it that they can enter a church at all?

 

[thetopher]

As I remember they're afraid to, but that's only really psychological.
Vampires can enter holy places just fine if they get over that inherent fear (Angelus had a thing for convents). They can cross running water and do lots of things that folklore says that they shouldn't be able to.

Since the effectiveness of the cross has nothing to do with faith- anybody can wield one effectively- I'm thinking the power of the cross is also somewhat psychological. Some vampires, either really old (like the Master) or nuts (Kralick or soulled Spike) didn't really see them as obstacles. They burned the flesh, and were painful but they weren't deadly.

I'm not really sure if the effectiveness of the cross is even religious in the Buffyverse-there's no 'garden of eden' old testemant style paradise- it could just referencing some powerful magical ritual, like the one that finally cast out the Old Ones.

 

[VisionBoy]

I'm not really sure if the effectiveness of the cross is even religious in the Buffyverse-there's no 'garden of eden' old testemant style paradise- it could just referencing some powerful magical ritual, like the one that finally cast out the Old Ones.

I actually remember reading somewhere (will try and find a source) that signing a cross was thought to be a charm against evil in European folklore and that was later interpreted as the crucifix by Christian writers; hence it's use in so much vampire fiction.

 

[bespangeled]

It always annoyed me that it was only a cross that had any effect - I mean vampires predate Christianity by centuries. It seems to me that an older symbol of some sort would be effective. And what do people in non-Xtian countries use? In some religions even having a cross in your home could cause problems.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

It always annoyed me that it was only a cross that had any effect - I mean vampires predate Christianity by centuries. It seems to me that an older symbol of some sort would be effective.

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