# Holy Water **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 1, 2008, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-water/470639 "2008-11-01T22:26:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jesus\_Harold\_Christ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f14d63/32.png) [@Jesus\_Harold\_Christ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jesus_Harold_Christ)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2008, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-water/470639/1 "2008-11-01T22:26:23Z")
What is holy water? Does it have magic powers? Once made holy is it always holy, even if pissed or shit out? What percentage of the Earth’s water is holy? Does it lose holiness as it mixes with the moisture in the air? Are individual molecules holy? Do molecules ever become unholy after being holy? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2008, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-water/470639/2 "2008-11-01T22:51:16Z")
> [@Jesus\_Harold\_Christ](#): > > What is holy water? Does it have magic powers? Once made holy is it always holy, even if pissed or shit out? What percentage of the Earth’s water is holy? Does it lose holiness as it mixes with the moisture in the air? Are individual molecules holy? Do molecules ever become unholy after being holy? Of all people who SHOULD already know all the answers to those questions… ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2008, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-water/470639/3 "2008-11-01T23:01:53Z")
Good for a start. > **[Holy water](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_water)** > > Holy water is water that has been blessed by a member of the clergy or a religious figure, or derived from a well or spring considered holy. The use for cleansing prior to a baptism and spiritual cleansing is common in several religions, from Christianity to Sikhism. The use of holy water as a sacramental for protection against evil is common among Lutherans, Anglicans, Roman Catholics, and Eastern Christians. > In Catholicism, Lutheranism, Anglicanism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy and so... > **[Catholic Faith, Beliefs, & Prayers | Catholic Answers](https://www.catholic.com)** > > Explore the Largest Catholic Database: Beliefs, Practices, Articles, Books, Videos. I find it works well when I have one HELL of a thirst. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2008, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-water/470639/4 "2008-11-01T23:05:27Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Of all people who SHOULD already know all the answers to those questions… Comes with the holier than thou attitude. ---
**Author:** ![Rapier42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/90db22/32.png) [@Rapier42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rapier42)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2008, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-water/470639/5 "2008-11-01T23:56:56Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > I find it works well when I have one HELL of a thirst. Is this the part where somebody smacks you with a fish? ---
**Author:** ![hotflungwok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/edb3f5/32.png) [@hotflungwok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotflungwok)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-water/470639/6 "2008-11-02T00:11:36Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > Good for a start. > I find it works well when I have one HELL of a thirst. How do you make holy water? Boil the HELL out of it. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-water/470639/7 "2008-11-02T00:15:31Z")
The answer to these questions do not require debate. You need to seek out a priest in the Roman Catholic Church, which as far as i know is the only institution where holy water can be found. He might be able to give you your answer. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-water/470639/8 "2008-11-02T00:19:41Z")
Well, you make holy water (assuming you’re on good terms with your god) by dropping regular water on a coaligned altar and then praying. Once you have holy water you can make more holy water by dipping the regular water (make sure you have two or more waters or the exercise is pointless) into holy water. Holy water is really handy stuff–you can use it to uncurse cursed objects or to bless uncursed objects. It can also cure lycanthropy and other illnesses assuming you’re not a chaotic kind of guy. It’s also a nice weapon against demons, the undead, and various lycanthropes. As for unholy water, it does have its uses as well, but they tend to be more esoteric and harder to obtain, unless you’re willing to either gravedig or risk praying at a cross-aligned altar. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-water/470639/9 "2008-11-02T00:19:53Z")
> [@Rapier42](#): > > Is this the part where somebody smacks you with a fish? I believe **Bosda** is the trout-wielder in these here parts. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-water/470639/10 "2008-11-02T00:40:05Z")
> [@Jesus\_Harold\_Christ](#): > > What is holy water? Does it have magic powers? Once made holy is it always holy, even if pissed or shit out? What percentage of the Earth’s water is holy? Does it lose holiness as it mixes with the moisture in the air? Are individual molecules holy? Do molecules ever become unholy after being holy? My apologies for misinforming you in my earlier post. The Ganges River is holy to Hindus. Its water are holy and healing. Mix a molecule of Ganges water with the Mississippi River will make the whole river holy. You can piss and shit in the Ganges and its still holy. There’s nothing to suggest that the properties of Ganges water will cease. I’m not [shitting you](http://www.cs.albany.edu/~amit/ganges.html) ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-water/470639/11 "2008-11-02T00:47:36Z")
This should have been posted in **GQ** , as there is not really any debate, here. However, it has been snarky from the opening post and so I am not going to send it over to that Forum. If someone would like an answer in which the Teeming Millions expand upon the answers provided by **runner pat** in post #3, feel free to open a new thread in GQ. This is closed. [/Modding]