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Traditional Roman Catholic doctrine teaches that when the bread and wine is offered in the communion ceremony, that the bread and wine actually become the body and blood of Christ.  Jesus Christ was clearly speaking figuratively when he instituted this memorial.  What I don't understand is what "magical" properties are gained by the person partaking in the communion who believes this?  Roman Catholic believers are no more healthy, no more free of sin, and no more free of any kind of destruction, than any other Christian who partakes of the Communion, whether they believe it is the "actual" body and blood of Christ, or not.

Furthermore, since so many Roman Catholic traditions are based in pagan rituals, I wonder where this particular cannibalistic doctrine originated?  I don't see what Roman Catholics gain by this belief.  Jesus Christ said in John 6,  "He that eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, dwells in me, and I in him."  To dwell in him is to live according to the standard by which he lives, which is to live in the center of the will of God, to obey the truth of scripture, to live within the heart of God, to walk in love, to work righteousness.  The figurative language was bringing the believers full circle from when God said to Adam and Eve, "You shall not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil."  This was clearly figurative.  The whole lesson of Genesis 3 is that the sin was disobedience.  It had nothing to do with fruit, because it was talking about obedience.  They were not to "try out" evil.  When they stayed within the parameters of God's will, they stayed out of harm's way.  As soon as they "ate" of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they brought horrific consequences to themselves.  Jesus Christ by his perfect obedience provided for us to "eat" his flesh and blood, which is to do as he did, which is to obey God's Word.

Does anyone know any pre-Christian origins of this doctrine?  I know the Christian history of it, but I can't imagine what supernatural benefit there is to this belief.  The memorial was to instill in us the renewed commitment to obey the scriptures, to live as Jesus Christ lived, and to keep God's will as the only standard of reference for our lives.  Religious ritual and traditional ceremonies have no power of themselves.  It is our love for God that gives us the encouragement to believe and obey.  The body and blood of Jesus Christ are seated at the right hand of the Father.