In reply to Chive Talkin\':
> Must surely be about as useful as praying to the real thing
Yes, every bit as useful as praying to to the real thing, because the benefits of prayer come from focusing the mind, not on some magical qualities of a statue. Just about every depiction of the crucifixion is inaccurate, but stigmatics can replicate the wounds on the palms of their hands. So this neither proves nor disproves the crucifixion, merely indicates the power of the brain when focused.
Of course now that someone has told the Brazilian woman about the statute, she'll feel compelled to go and buy a new one, no doubt spending money she can ill-afford.
