A renowned rationalist in India was forced to flee the country after he was charged with blasphemy stemming from his debunking a Jesus miracle.

Sanal Edamaruku got into trouble after he visited the church of Our Lady of Velankanni in Mumbai, where a statue of Jesus Christ had been leaking water. Worshippers and clergy, who perceived the flowing water as tears, declared the phenomenon a miracle.

Edamaruku, who is known for explaining away religious myths, spoiled the religious excitement by declaring the water was coming from a leaky pipe in the wall behind the statue.

The remark got Edamaruku indicted on charges of violating India’s blasphemy law, which can result in a three-year prison sentence. This, coupled with death threats, prompted him to seek exile in Finland.

He has sought assistance from European leaders, hoping they will lobby Indian officials to drop the case against him.

Cardinal Oswald Gracias, the Catholic archbishop of Mumbai, has told Edamaruku that if he publicly apologizes for his remark, the charges will be dropped.

But the exiled rationalist has rejected the offer, claiming he did nothing wrong.

Edamaruku also pointed out that there is a health issue involved: Worshippers, who have been drinking Jesus’s “tears” in the belief that it will heal them, are in fact consuming sewage water that can cause disease. It may be the first case of “skeptic against septic.”

-Noel Brinkerhoff

To Learn More:

Jesus Wept…Oh, it's Bad Plumbing. Indian Rationalist Targets 'Miracles' (by Henry McDonald, The Guardian)