Today people are fascinated by cryptids—hidden creatures—like Bigfoot and the Loch NessMonster. In the ancient world, the most famous cryptid was the dragon, so did early Christians believe in them?
The term dragon (Greek, drakôn) appears in the Greek Bible, but normally it is in a symbolic context—like when the devil appears in the form of a dragon in the book of Revelation (e.g., Rev. 12). So this doesn’t provide good evidence for belief in literal dragons.
However, the term also appears in other contexts. For example, in Daniel 14, the prophet Daniel kills a large drakôn that the Babylonians worshipped. However, in secular Greek, the term drakôn originally referred to a snake or serpent, and it did not always have monstrous connotations. This is clear in Wisdom 16:10, where the author refers back to the snakes that bit the Israelites in Numbers 21 and describes them as “venomous drakontôn.” The author of Daniel 14 may thus have expected readers to imagine a big snake, and some modern Bible translations like the Common English Bible use “snake” in the passage.
The Bible thus doesn’t provide a good basis for documenting belief in literal dragons. However, we do find some in the early Church who were open to the idea. St. Augustine writes:
“As for dragons, which lack feet, they are said to take their rest in caves, and to soar up into the air. While these are not too easy to come across, this kind of animated creature is for all that definitely mentioned not only in our literature but also in that of the Gentiles” (Literal Meaning of Genesis 3:9:13).
This passage may not mean what it suggests, however. You’ll note that Augustine says dragons have no feet—which would point to snakes—but he says that they fly. There were—indeed—references to flying snakes in ancient literature. Isaiah mentions them (14:29, 30:6), and so does the Greek historian Herodotus (Histories 2:75-76, 3:109). So Augustine is likely not referring to what we would think of as a dragon but to flying snakes. (Note: flying—or, technically, gliding—snakes do exist in some parts of Asia.)
The flying snakes that Herodotus referred to were small, but in another passage, Augustine envisions dragons that are very large:
“Now dragons favor watery habitats. They emerge from caves and take to the air. They create major atmospheric disturbance, for dragons are very large creatures, the largest of all on earth. This is probably why the psalm began its consideration of earthly creatures with them” (Expositions of the Psalms 148:9).
Augustine wasn’t alone in thinking about real, enormous dragons. Other Church Fathers did so also, and so did non-Christian thinkers.
The reason is obvious when you think about it. Although the term paleontology was only coined in 1822, humans have been running across fossils for as long as there have been humans. When they came across the bones of giant, monstrous animals, they correctly concluded that there used to be giant animals in the area.
In her book The First Fossil Hunters, historian Adrienne Mayor insightfully argues that it was the ancient discovery of fossils that formed the basis of the legends of dragons and similar creatures the world over.
St. Augustine himself reports finding a giant tooth on a beach, where the action of the waves presumably uncovered it:
“Once, on the beach at Utica, I saw with my own eyes—and there were others to bear me witness—a human molar tooth so big that it could have been cut up, I think, into a hundred pieces each as big as one of our modern teeth. That tooth, however, I can well believe, was the tooth of a giant” (City of God 15:9).
I’m not a Young Earth Creationist, but I have to agree with musician Buddy Davis’s fun children’s song D Is For Dinosaur:
“When dinosaurs first roamed the earth, many years ago
People called them dragons (and just thought you’d like to know)
So dinosaurs and dragons are both the same thing
The only thing that’s different is we changed the dragon’s name”
On Friday, May 17th, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (or DDF) released a document titled Norms for Proceeding in the Discernment of Alleged Supernatural Phenomena.
Accompanying the document was a note by Card. Victor Fernandez—the head of the DDF—introducing it and explaining the reasons why it was written.
This document revised, replaced, and expanded a previous document issued by the then Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (or CDF) from 1978.
Apart from matters of detail, there are several notable shifts in the approach that the new document takes.
These include (1) the scope of the document, (2) a procedure of greater transparency, and (3) a new classification system for apparitions and other supernatural phenomena.
When it comes to scope, the 1978 document dealt only with “presumed apparitions and revelations,”
while the new one expands its coverage to phenomena “such as alleged apparitions, visions, interior or exterior locutions, writings or messages, phenomena related to religious images, and psychophysical phenomena” (n. 6).
These also include reported Eucharistic miracles.
The greater transparency is illustrated in two ways.
First, when the 1978 document was released, it was distributed on a confidential basis and was meant only for bishops and their associates.
However, it leaked (including on my website, jimmyakin.com), and it was only published in 2011—thirty-three years after it was originally released.
By contrast, the new document was immediately placed on the Vatican website and a press conference introducing it was held.
Second, when the 1978 document was in force, local bishops were invited to submit their findings and conclusions about apparitions to the CDF for review and approval before announcing them (4:2).
However, when the Congregation approved the bishop’s planned announcement, it would ask that its name be kept out of the matter,
presumably to keep people from exaggerating what the CDF had done and announcing the apparition as “Vatican approved” or “Vatican condemned.”
Henceforth there will be more transparency.
Cardinal Fernandez explains, “Now, when the bishop makes his decision public, it will be stated as ‘in agreement with the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.’”
At the core of the new document is a new way of classifying supernatural events.
The list presented is not exhaustive, but the Church’s conclusions will be “usually expressed” in terms of six categories:
Category 1 is Nihil obstat (which means, “Nothing obstructs”):
It is used for phenomena that are connected with “many signs of the action of the Holy Spirit” and so far “no aspects that are particularly critical or risky have been detected” (n. 17).
Category 2 is Prae oculis habeatur (which means, “It should be held before the eyes”):
It is used for phenomena that have “important positive signs” but also “some aspects of confusion or potential risks.”
Consequently, “doctrinal clarification might be necessary” (n. 18).
Category 3 is Curatur (which means, “It is to be attended to”):
It is used for phenomena that have “various or significant critical elements”—meaning negative ones
but have nevertheless “spread widely” and are connected with “verifiable spiritual fruits.”
In these cases, the bishop is not to encourage the phenomena
and to “seek out alternative expressions of devotion and possibly reorient its spiritual and pastoral aspects” (n. 19).
Category 4 is Sub mandato (which means, “Under mandate”):
It is used for phenomena that are “rich in positive elements”
but that are being misused in some way, such as by “a person, a family, or a group.”
Misuse might involve financial gain, immoral acts, or defiance of the diocesan bishop (n. 20).
Category 5 is Prohibetur et obstruatur (which means, “Hindered and to be blocked”):
It is used for phenomena that have “some positive elements” but have very serious “critical issues and risks.”
The bishop is to “declare publicly that adherence to this phenomenon is not allowed” (n. 21).
And Category 6 is Declaratio de non supernaturalitate (which means, “Declaration of non-supernaturality”):
It is used for phenomena that the bishop has “found to be not supernatural” based on “facts and evidence that are concrete and proven,”
such as a visionary admitting they lied, witnesses detecting fraud, or mythomania (that is, an excessive tendency for lying or exaggeration) (n. 22).
You’ll notice that what’s missing from that list is a firm declaration that the phenomenon is supernatural.
Not even the nihil obstat implies that this is the case.
Under the new norms, a phenomenon can still be declared supernatural,
but it will require a special act of the pope (n. 23).
This has to do with the reasons for the new norms.
In his accompanying note, Cardinal Fernandez explains that the previous tendency to conclude that phenomena were either supernatural or not supernatural had undesired side-effects.
If phenomena were declared to be supernatural it—in his words—“effectively oriented the faithful to think they had to believe in these phenomena, which sometimes were valued more than the Gospel itself.”
And I’m sure we’ve all met apparition enthusiasts who are more excited about new Marian statements than they are about Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
Fernandez said that the lack of public clarity also contributed to confusion about the status of apparitions,
and he noted that the need to establish that an apparition is supernatural in order to give it some form of approval caused extensive delays.
Before committing the Church—or even a local diocese—to the idea that an event has been established as supernatural, special precautions were needed.
Fernandez notes: “The expectation of receiving a declaration about the supernatural nature of the event resulted in very few cases ever reaching a clear determination.
In fact, since 1950, no more than six cases have been officially resolved,
even though such phenomena have often increased without clear guidance and with the involvement of people from many dioceses.
Therefore, one can assume that many other cases were either handled differently or just not handled at all.”
Which is pretty bluntly honest of the Cardinal.
The new Nihil obstat classification is meant to allow a more expeditious way to provide a form of approval for an event and recognize the action of the Holy Spirit in things connected with it,
“without expressing any certainty about the supernatural authenticity of the phenomenon itself” (n. 17),
and thus without implying to the faithful that they are obliged to believe it.
Of course, the declaration that an event is not supernatural still exists,
and it is the sixth category of the ones for regular use.
In addition, the four new categories reflect the complexity of the evidence regarding an event and the effects it is having in the Church.
Category two (Prae oculis habeatur) is for events that are favored by good evidence but with some reasons for concern,
so a full Nihil obstat isn’t warranted.
The opposite is category five (Prohibetur et obstruatur), where there are very serious problems and only a few positive elements,
yet a full decree of non-supernaturalness isn’t warranted.
In the middle are two categories for events where there is a difference between the event itself and the impact it is having in the Church.
In category four (Sub mandato), the event itself has a lot of positive elements,
but some particular group is misusing it.
The reverse is category three (Curatur), where there are significant problems with the event
but—despite that fact—the event has become widely popular so that “a ban that could upset the people of God is not recommended” but some kind of healthy reorientation is desired.
In addition to the things Cardinal Fernandez names as the reasons for the revision of the norms, I strongly suspect that the creation of this category was one.
In 2010, Benedict XVI instituted a commission to examine the popular but controversial Medjugorje apparitions, and the commission reported its results to Pope Francis in 2014.
In 2017, Pope Francis stated that the initial Medjugorje apparitions deserved further study but was doubtful about the later ones.
This meant that it was hard to give a “supernatural” or “not supernatural” evaluation of Medjugorje, and the Vatican has not made an official announcement in all the years since.
It thus would make sense to review and revise the categories used to classify events like Medjugorje, and the Curatur category sounds like it was designed for the conclusions that the Vatican reached about it.
Consequently, I suspect that an announcement about Medjugorje may finally be on the horizon.
It is important to note that the new norms do not change any classifications of apparitions that currently exist.
Those declared supernatural or non-supernatural still have the same status, though it is possible they could be revised at some point.
Without naming it, Cardinal Fernandez mentions how the status of the Ida Peerdeman, “Our Lady of All Nations” apparitions went back and forth, with a negative judgment finally being reaffirmed in 2020.
Further, the criteria for Nihil obstat note that particularly critical or risky things have not been detected “at least so far”—
implying that the ruling is a provisional one that could be changed if such things do emerge.
I think that—on balance—this new set of norms is promising.
It has a more sophisticated approach to the complex nature of reported supernatural phenomena, how the evidence can be mixed and change over time, and what their impact on the Church can be.
It also strikes me that it may encourage the faithful to have a more healthy appreciation of such phenomena that is open but discerning,
without automatically assuming that an event is obligatory for belief in all of its details or to be completely and utterly rejected.
Sometimes, near death, a person with dementia will suddenly regain clarity and lucidity and give loved ones a chance to say goodbye. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discuss the phenomenon called terminal lucidity, what could cause it, and whether it tells us anything new about the brain, soul, and consciousness.
Last time, Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discussed Joe Fisher’s mid-1980s experiences with spirit guides, and they continue to look at what he learned as he researched the guides and their claims and come to their own conclusions about what had entered Joe’s life.
You can also leave a voice message on the Mysterious Feedback Line at (619) 738-4515
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Joe Fisher’s research into spirit guides led him to past life revelations and even a spirit romance. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discuss how Joe was encouraged to investigate these paranormal claims, the evidence he found, and what he eventually concluded.
The video will be available at noon Eastern on the day of release.
https://youtu.be/YO1nBoBh-q8
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Rosary Army. Featuring award-winning Catholic podcasts, Rosary resources, videos, and the School of Mary online community, prayer, and learning platform. Learn how to make them, pray them, and give them away while growing in your faith at RosaryArmy.com and SchoolOfMary.com
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It’s the fifth episode of the month, so Cy Kellett of Catholic Answers Live is asking Jimmy Akin weird questions from listeners, about topics like how Adam and Eve relate to other early human ancestors; could dark matter and energy be angelic or demonic; can you pray for souls in hell; and more weird questions.
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Rosary Army. Featuring award-winning Catholic podcasts, Rosary resources, videos, and the School of Mary online community, prayer, and learning platform. Learn how to make them, pray them, and give them away while growing in your faith at RosaryArmy.com and SchoolOfMary.com
Tim Shevlin’s Personal Fitness training for Catholics. Providing spiritual and physical wellness programs and daily accountability check-ins. Strengthen yourself to help further God’s kingdom. Work out for the right reason with the right mindset. Learn more by visiting fitcatholics.com.
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Some are convinced that an ancient clay pot found in Iraq is an electric battery made 2,000 years ago. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli examine the claim and whether it might be advanced, ancient technology or even evidence of extraterrestrial contact.
https://youtu.be/HgpEOMWEgCs
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Rosary Army. Featuring award-winning Catholic podcasts, Rosary resources, videos, and the School of Mary online community, prayer, and learning platform. Learn how to make them, pray them, and give them away while growing in your faith at RosaryArmy.com and SchoolOfMary.com
Tim Shevlin’s Personal Fitness training for Catholics. Providing spiritual and physical wellness programs and daily accountability check-ins. Strengthen yourself to help further God’s kingdom. Work out for the right reason with the right mindset. Learn more by visiting fitcatholics.com.
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After hearing many stories of people reporting After Death Communications from deceased loved ones, Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli examine the reports from the faith and reason perspectives. Are they just imagination? Is it the grief talking? Could it be demons?
The video will be available at noon Eastern on the day of release.
https://youtu.be/ZAa0VxGQ3U0
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Rosary Army. Featuring award-winning Catholic podcasts, Rosary resources, videos, and the School of Mary online community, prayer, and learning platform. Learn how to make them, pray them, and give them away while growing in your faith at RosaryArmy.com and SchoolOfMary.com
Tim Shevlin’s Personal Fitness training for Catholics. Providing spiritual and physical wellness programs and daily accountability check-ins. Strengthen yourself to help further God’s kingdom. Work out for the right reason with the right mindset. Learn more by visiting fitcatholics.com.
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Millions of people report spontaneous experiences of contact with departed loved ones, hearing their voices, seeing their faces again. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discuss what After Death Communications are, what they are like, and whether they really could be forms of contacted with our lost loved ones.
https://youtu.be/mY9NTM4uCgs
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In 1909, G.E. Kinkaid found a cave in the Grand Canyon containing Egyptian and Asian artifacts. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discuss the excavations that began at the time and then how the story vanished from the media. What is the truth of Kinkaid’s cave and what did it really contain?
The video will be available at noon Eastern on the day of release.
https://youtu.be/dVoS-QbS06I
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This Episode is Brought to You By: Jimmy Akin’s Mysterious World is brought to you in part through the generous support of Deliver Contacts, offering honest pricing and reliable service for all your contact lens needs. See the difference at delivercontacts.com.
Rosary Army. Featuring award-winning Catholic podcasts, Rosary resources, videos, and the School of Mary online community, prayer, and learning platform. Learn how to make them, pray them, and give them away while growing in your faith at RosaryArmy.com and SchoolOfMary.com
Tim Shevlin’s Personal Fitness training for Catholics. Providing spiritual and physical wellness programs and daily accountability check-ins. Strengthen yourself to help further God’s kingdom. Work out for the right reason with the right mindset. Learn more by visiting fitcatholics.com.
The Grady Group, a Catholic company bringing financial clarity to their clients across the United States. Using safe money options to produce reasonable rates of return for their clients. Learn more by visiting GradyGroupInc.com.
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