Apostles in the New Testament and Chupacabra: Difference between pages

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Revision as of 15:49, 12 July 2007

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<small>''Alternate meaning: See [[Apostle (Mormonism)]]''</small>

{{Infobox Paranormalcreatures

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|Creature_Name = Chupacabra

The [[Christianity|Christian]] '''Apostles''' were [[Judaism|Jewish]] men who were "sent forth" (as indicated by the [[Greek language|Greek]] word ''apostolos''), by [[Jesus]] to preach Christianity to both Jews and [[Gentile]]s, across the world.

|Image_Name = Chupacabras.JPG

:"He called unto him his [[disciple]]s, and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles." &mdash; ''Gospel of Luke'' vi. 13.

|Image_Caption = Artist's depiction of a chupacabra

|Grouping = [[Cryptid]]<br>[[extraterrestrial life|Extraterrestrial]]

|Sub_Grouping =

|Spanish Translation = Goat Sucker

|Country = [[Puerto Rico]],<br>[[Mexico]],<br>[[United States]], [[Chile]],<br>[[Russia]]

|Region = Unknown

|First_Reported = Early [[1990s]]

|Last_Sighted = Present Day

|Status = [[Legendary creature]]}}

'''Chupacabra''' (also '''chupacabras''' /tʃupa'kabɾas/, from Spanish '''''chupar: to suck''''', '''''cabra: goat; goats sucker''''') is a [[cryptid]] said to inhabit parts of both of the [[Americas]]. It is associated particularly with [[Puerto Rico]] (where it was first reported), [[Mexico]], and the [[United States]], especially in the latter's [[Latin American]] communities. The name translates literally from the [[Spanish language|Spanish]] as "goat sucker." It comes from the creature's reported habit of attacking and drinking the blood of livestock, especially [[goat]]s. Physical descriptions of the creature vary. Eyewitness sightings have been claimed as early as 1990 in Puerto Rico, and have since been reported as far north as [[Maine]], and as far south as Chile. Though some argue that the chupacabras may be real creatures, mainstream scientists and experts generally contend that the chupacabra is a [[legendary creature]], or a type of [[urban legend]].

== The original twelve apostles ==

It is supposedly a heavy creature, the size of a small bear, with a row of spines reaching from the neck to the base of the tail.

According to the Gospels of [[Gospel of Mark|Mark]] (3:16-19) and [[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] (10:2-4), the twelve apostles chosen by [[Jesus]] near the beginning of his ministry were:

*[[Saint Peter|Simon Peter]]

*[[Saint Andrew|Andrew]]

*[[Saint James the Great|James]] and [[John the Apostle|John]], the sons of Zebedee

*[[Philip the Apostle|Philip]]

*[[Bartholomew]]

*[[Matthew the Evangelist|Matthew]] (sometimes identified with Levi, son of Alphaeus)

*[[Thomas (Apostle)|Thomas]], also known as Judas Thomas Didymus ("the twin")

*[[St. James the Less|James son of Alphaeus]]

*[[Thaddaeus]]-Jude Thaddaeus- (called in some manuscripts of Matthew ''Lebbaeus'')

*[[Simon the Canaanite]] (called in Luke and Acts "Simon the Zealot")

*[[Judas Iscariot]]

==History==

The list in the [[Gospel of Luke]] omits Thaddaeus (6:13-16), but includes [[Jude|Judas, son of James]]; Thaddaeus is also called "Judas the Zealot" in some [[Old Latin]] translations of Matthew 10:3.

The legend of ''cipi chupacabra'' began approximately in [[1987]], when Puerto Rican newspapers ''[[El Vocero]]'' and ''[[El Nuevo Dia]]'' began reporting the killings of many different types of animals, such as birds, horses, and, as its name implies, goats. It is predated by ''El Vampiro de Moca'' (The Vampire of Moca), a creature blamed for similar killings that occurred in the small town of [[Moca, Puerto Rico|Moca]] in the 1970s. While at first it was suspected that the killings were done randomly by some members of a [[Satanic]] [[cult]], eventually these killings spread around the island, and many farms reported loss of animal life. The killings had one pattern in common: each of the animals had their bodies bled dry through a series of small circular incisions.

Puerto Rican comedian and entrepreneur [[Silverio Pérez]] is credited with coining the term "chupacabras" soon after the first incidents were reported in the press.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.crystalinks.com/chupacabras.html|title= Chupacabras Bio| accessdate=2007-05-10}}</ref> Soon after the animal deaths in Puerto Rico, other animal deaths were reported in other countries, such as the [[Dominican Republic]], [[Argentina]], [[Bolivia]], [[Chile]], [[Colombia]], [[Honduras]], [[El Salvador]], [[Panama]], [[Peru]], [[Brazil]], the United States and Mexico.

==Alleged sightings==

The [[Gospel of John]], unlike the [[Synoptic Gospels]], does not offer a list of apostles, nor does the author even state their number. However, the following apostles appear in the fourth gospel: Andrew, Judas Iscariot, Peter, Thomas (who is also called Judas), [[Nathanael]], Philip, ''the sons of Zebedee'' (James and John), and the other Judas.

In July 2004, a rancher near [[San Antonio]], killed a hairless dog-like creature, which was attacking his livestock. This creature is now known as the [[Elmendorf Creature]]. It was later determined to be a [[coyote]] with demodectic or sarcoptic [[mange]]. In October 2004, two animals said to resemble the Elmendorf Creature were supposedly observed in the same area. The first was dead, and a local zoologist who was called to identify the animal noticed the second while she was traveling to the ___location where the first was found. Specimens of the dead animals were studied by biologists in Texas, who found that the creatures were coyotes suffering from very severe cases of mange.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.banderasnews.com/0603/art-chupacabra.htm| title=Texas' Blood-Sucking Monster| accessdate=2007-06-12}}</ref>

== The 12th apostle ==

Judas Iscariot having betrayed Christ, and then in guilt hanged himself before Christ's [[Resurrection of Jesus Christ|resurrection]] (in one Gospel account), the apostles were then eleven in number. According to [[Acts]] 1:23-26, between the [[Ascension|ascension of Christ]], and the day of [[Pentecost]], the remaining apostles selected a twelfth apostle by [[casting lots]]. The lot fell upon [[Saint Matthias|Matthias]], who then became the last of the "twelve apostles" in the New Testament.

In [[Coleman, Texas]], a farmer named Reggie Lagow caught an animal in a trap he set up after the deaths of a number of his chickens and turkeys. The supposed animal was described as a mix between a hairless dog, a rat and a kangaroo. The animal was provided to Texas Parks and Wildlife in order to determine what species it belonged to, but Lagow reported in a September 17th, 2006, phone interview with John Adolfi, founder of the Lost World Museum, that the "critter was caught on a Tuesday and thrown out in Thursday's trash."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nbc4.tv/news/4895053/detail.html|title=Texas Farmer Claims He Caught Legendary 'Chupacabra'|publisher=KNBC Los Angeles|date=[[2005-08-25]]}}</ref>

== Additional apostles ==

In April of 2006, ''MosNews'' reported that the chupacabra was spotted in Russia for the first time. Reports from Central Russia beginning in March 2005 tell of a beast that kills animals and sucks out their blood. Thirty-two turkeys were killed and drained overnight. Reports later came from neighboring villages when 30 sheep were killed and had their blood drained. Finally eyewitnesses were able to describe the chupacabra. In May of 2006, experts were determined to track the animal down.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mosnews.com/news/2006/04/27/chupacabra.shtml|title=Chupacabra the Goatsucker Vampire Sightings Reported in Central Russia|publisher=MosNews|date=[[2006-04-17]]}}</ref>

In his writings, [[Paul of Tarsus|Paul]] also described himself as an apostle (e.g. [[Romans]] 1:1 and other letters); specifically he referred to himself as 'the Apostle to the Gentiles' (Romans 11:13). He also described some of his companions as apostles (Romans 16:7).

In mid-August 2006 Michelle O'Donnell of [[Turner, Maine]], described an "evil looking" rodent-like creature with fangs that had been found dead alongside a road. The mystery beast was apparently struck by a car, and was otherwise unidentifiable. Photographs were taken and witness reports seem to be in relative agreement that the creature was canine in appearance, but unlike any dog or wolf in the area. The carcass was picked clean by vultures before experts could examine it. For years, residents of Maine have reported a mysterious creature and a string of dog maulings.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MYSTERY_BEAST?SITE=WWL&TEMPLATE=STRANGEHEADS.html&SECTION=HOME| title='Hybrid Mutant' Found Dead in Maine|publisher=Associated Press|date=[[2006-08-16]]}}</ref>

The writer of the ''[[Epistle to Hebrews|Epistle to the Hebrews]]'' refers to [[Jesus]] as the first apostle of the [[Christianity|Christian]] confession.

In December 2006, a local farmer in Peru claimed to have seen a creature resembling a Chupacabra attacking a wild boar on his farm. The man, who referred to the creature as "Zahir," later told the authorities that he feared for his life when he saw the creature devour the boar within minutes. The creature then ran faster than any animal the farmer had ever seen. Shocked at the sight of the creature, the farmer stated that he is haunted by the evil in the Zahir's eyes.

In Acts 14:14, [[Barnabas]] is called an apostle.

In May 2007, a series of reports on national Colombia news reported more than 300 dead sheep in the region of [[Boyaca]], and the capture of a possible specimen to be analysed by zoologists at [[Universidad Nacional]] of Colombia.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.eltiempo.com/nacion/boyaca/2007-05-02/ARTICULO-WEB-NOTA_INTERIOR-3539469.html| title=''Bestia' chupasangre asusta a los campesinos de Chiscas: ha matado 310 animales'|publisher=El Tiempo|date=[[2007-05-02]]}}</ref>

James the brother of Jesus is also called an apostle in the Bible.

==Appearance==

==Later Christianizing apostles==

A number of successful pioneering [[missionary|missionaries]] are known as "Apostles". In this sense, in the traditional list below, the "apostle" first brought Christianity (or [[Arianism]] in the case of Ulfilas and the Goths) to a land. Or it may apply to the truly influential Christianizer, such as Patrick's mission to Ireland, where a few struggling Christian communities did already exist. The reader will soon think of more of the [[culture hero]]es.

The most common description of Chupacabra is a [[lizard]]-like being, appearing to have leathery or scaly greenish-gray skin and sharp spines or quills running down its back.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://skepdic.com/chupa.html|title=Chupacabras Biography|accessdate=2007-05-10}}</ref> This form stands approximately 3 to 4 feet (1 to 1.2 m) high, and stands and hops in a similar fashion to a [[kangaroo]]. In at least one sighting, the creature hopped 20 feet (6 m). This variety is said to have a dog or panther-like nose and face, a [[forked tongue]] protruding from it, large fangs, and to hiss and screech when alarmed, as well as leave a sulfuric stench behind. When it screeches, some reports note that the chupacabra's eyes glow an unusual red, then give the witnesses nausea. For some witnesses, it was seen with bat-like wings.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chupacabras=Giant Bat?|url=http://www.cryptomundo.com/bigfoot-report/chupa-giant-bat/| accessdate=2007-05-10}}</ref>

==="Apostles"===

Another description of Chupacabra, although not as common, is described as a strange breed of wild dog. This form is mostly hairless, has a pronounced spinal ridge, unusually pronounced eye sockets, fangs, and claws. It is claimed that this breed might be an example of a dog-like reptile. The account during the year 2001 in [[Nicaragua]] of a chupacabra's corpse being found supports this conclusion. The corpse of the animal was found in [[Leon, Nicaragua]], and forensically analyzed at UNAN-Leon. Pathologists at the University found that it was an unusual-looking dog-like creature of unknown species.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.uforc.com/chupas/journal2-UFORCE_page21.html| title=Chupacabras Remains Found| accessdate=2007-06-20}}</ref> Unlike conventional predators, the chupacabra is said to drain all of the animal's blood (and sometimes organs) through a single hole or two holes.

* Apostle to the Abyssinians: Saint [[Frumentius]]

* Apostle of the Alleghanies: [[Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin]], 1770-1840

* Apostle of Andalusia: [[Juan de Avila]], 1500 - 1569

* Apostle of the Ardennes: Saint [[Saint Hubertus|Hubert]], 656 - 727

* Apostle to the Armenians: Saint [[Gregory]] the Illuminator, 256 - 331

* Apostle to Brazil: [[José de Anchieta]], 1533 - 1597

* Apostle to [[Styria (duchy)|Karantania]]: Bishop Virgilius of [[Salzburg]] (745-84)

* Apostle to the Cherokees: [[Cephas Washburn]]

* Apostle to the English: Saint [[Augustine]], died 604

* Apostle to the Franks: Saint [[Denis]] (3rd century)

* Apostle to the Frisians: Saint [[Willibrord]], 657 - 738

* Apostle to the Gauls: Saint [[Irenaeus]], (130 - 200

* Apostle to the Gauls: Saint [[Martin of Tours]], 338 - 401

* Apostle to the Gentiles: Saint [[Paul of Tarsus|Paul]]

* Apostle to the Germans: Saint [[Boniface]], 680 - 755

* Apostle to the Goths: Bishop [[Ulfilas]]

* Apostle to Hungary: Saint [[Anastasius]], 954 - 1044

* Apostle to India: Saint [[Thomas]]

* Apostle to the "Indians" (Amerindians): John Eliot, 1604 - 1690

* Apostle to the Indies (West): [[Bartolommé de las Casas]], 1474 - 1566

* Apostle to the Indies (East): Saint [[Francis Xavier]], 1506 - 1552

* Apostle to Ireland: Saint [[Saint Patrick|Patrick]], 373 - 463

* Apostle to the Iroquois, [[Francois Piquet]], 1708 - 1781

* Apostle to [[Noricum]]: Saint [[Severinus]]

* Apostle to the North: Saint [[Ansgar]], 801 - 864

* Apostle to the Parthians: Saint [[Thomas]]

* Apostle of Peru: [[Alonzo de Barcena]], 1528 - 1598

* Apostle to the Picts: Saint [[Ninian]], 5th century

* Apostle to the Scots: Saint [[Columba]], 521 - 597

* Apostle to the Slavs: Saint [[Cyril]], c 820 - 869

* Apostle to the Slavs: Saint [[Methodius]]

==See also==

*[[Cryptozoology]]

*[[Fauna of Puerto Rico]]

Similar creatures include:

Some Eastern Orthodox [[saint|saints]] are given the title specific to the Eastern rites "equal-to-the-apostles". The myrrh-bearing women, who went to anoint Christ's body and first learned of his resurrection, are sometimes called the "apostles to the apostles" because they were sent by Jesus to tell the apostles of his resurrection.

*[[Banshee]]

Many [[Charismatic]] churches consider apostleship to be a gift of the [[Holy Spirit]] still given today (based on [[1 Corinthians]] 12:28). The gift is associated with church leadership or church planting.

*[[Demon]]

*[[Greys]]

*[[Jersey Devil]]

*[[Loveland Lizard]]

*[[Mothman]]

*[[Monkey-man of New Delhi]]

*[[Peuchen]]

*[[Skunk Ape]]

==References==

[[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] believes that the authority of the original twelve apostles is a distinguishing characteristic of true Christianity, and its chief leadership body is called the [[Quorum of the Twelve Apostles]].

<references/>

==External links==

*[http://alienvideo.net/video-chupacabra.php Alleged video footage of a Chupacabra]

*[http://www.skepticworld.com/cryptozoology/chupacabra.asp Cryptozoology] - Skeptic World

*[http://www.lostworldmuseum.com Alleged photographic evidence of a Chupacabra]

==See also==

*[[Apostolic Fathers]]

*[[Apostolic succession]]

*[[Disciple]]

*[[New Testament]]

[[Category:Ancient Roman ChristianityCryptids]]

[[Category:Hominid cryptids]]

[[category:Charismatic and Pentecostal Topics]]

[[Category:ChristianUFO-related historyentities]]

[[Category:Christian leaders]]

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