@slowwalker : Coming from a country that's deeply religious in general (India), one does tend to see countless such gestures of symbolism - there are people who go and pour milk over statues of Gods and godesses in our country, there are those who light candles in churches in order to get favours done, people roll on hot temple floors to appease deities, others do a form of mutilation on their bodies for the same, there are also sacrifices of livestock made in the name of religious practices.

These make absolutely no sense to somebody who isn't religious (or doesn't prescribe to that particular religion - and that includes me) but then for those who believe in a certain doctrine, it gives them hope that such gestures will help them with whatever problems they face as humans.

Every body has their own struggles and if this is what helps them survive another day and as long as it doesn't hurt others who don't prescribe to their doctrine, it would be best to not judge them for that.. Live and let live... Wouldn't you agree?