Know of any Silas out there?

This is yet another reactionary posting in regards to the Da Vinci Code movie/book. Does anybody remember the character Silas? I remember that he whips himself inside the confines of his room. It couldn’t help but remind me of a Filipino custom where they do something similar, but out in public during the holy week. They are parading all over town whipping themselves, then finally allowing themselves to be crucified in hopes that God would accept their acts of repentance. They see it as a way for absolution for their sins. I've always thought this custom is incredibly STUPID! The thing is, God doesn’t get even, He forgives! What do they think? God wants to give em a great big kick on the balls in public to make Himself happy. If you happen to know anybody doing this, remind them that their body is a gift from God. Some even consider it God’s temple. How would they like it if someone trashes a gift that they gave or flogs the walls of their home. The ironic thing is that sometimes drunkards, killers, rapists, kidnappers and thieves do this ritual every year thinking that their sins have been cleansed so they can go about doing the same business afterwards. Where’s the repentance in that?