Don't you think it's a little barbaric and very cruel? I remember seeing a beautifully executed hand painted bust of Christ with thorns sticking into his scalp and blood pouring down his face. Even as a Catholic, I was horrified. I felt the intention of the artist was to tell Christ, "Bleed, you bastard!". And since this statue was being sold in a religious store, I understood that this bloody sentiment was universal among those who believe Christ died for our sins. Again, isn't this cruel and barbaric to worship a bloody dying man?
2006-06-16 02:43:12 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
Are you saying that Christians therefore get pleasure from Christ's pain?
2006-06-16 02:50:28 · update #1
Human sacrifice to appease the god?
2006-06-16 02:53:58 · update #2
That's exactly how the piece is supposed to be, as it possibly shows people the truth and the pain about Jesus' own pain. The horrorific experience tends to shock people, but that's exactly how it is supposed to be: a showing of Christ's pain...
2006-06-16 02:48:22 · answer #1 · answered by felizmino213 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Here is the true answer.
Early on in Genesis, God mentioned that "The Life is in the Blood." Also, he said in several places that he was a jealous and perfect God, who demanded perfection in all. To sin is to fall short of perfection, and the penalty from sin was death. (Yes, this does sound a whole lot like preaching, but it just so happens that this is theologically significant, and also misused by hellfire preacher's to frighten people into salvation.) So if death was the only atonement for sin, something had to die. It is not barbaric, it is cause and effect.
For some time, animal's were killed to shed the required blood. But there was one possible alternative: Christ's blood. (Note: As a Lutheren, I believe the Christ always was fully human and fully God, and always will be.) Because Christ was perfect, his blood, his life were sufficiant to cover any and all sin.
So you see that it is not barbaric, nor is it human sacrifice, so to say. It is really simple. Cause and effect: Adam sinned, and imperfect cannot yield perfect, so all of his offspring were imperfect. Need and remedy: We needed atonement for sin, and there was only one source of perfect blood which could be a true and lasting remedy, which was the blood of Christ.
Hope I helped.
2006-06-16 04:34:29 · answer #2 · answered by anti.matter 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They (hopefully) aren't worshiping the statue, and they aren't worshipping the blood either. Christians worship the sinless life and selfless giving of that life. In the Old Testament, God said that in order to receive forgiveness, the priests had to slay an innocent lamb (or whatever animal). But, in the New Testament, Jesus was that perfect 'lamb', and because of the crucifixion, we have the oppurtunity to gain forgiveness. Some pictures are a little gory, but the truth is, people couldn't even recognize Jesus as a human because he was beaten so badly. So, if an artist wanted to portray Jesus as he was hanging on the cross, it would be a lot more gruesome than a lot of blood, it would be the most gory thing you have ever seen.
2006-06-16 02:52:03 · answer #3 · answered by lledge 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it is barbaric. Just another bloody sacrafice to a God who requires blood before he'll forgive.
You can't be saved by someone else's suffering anyway--someone may suffer in the act of saving you but it's not the suffering in itself that makes the difference. It's what the person did that saves you. Catholics are too caught up in the idea that suffering is a good thing.
2006-06-16 07:41:33 · answer #4 · answered by mikayla_starstuff 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The main problem I have with the Catholics is they keep Jesus nailed to the cross. Jesus is no longer on the cross. The crown of thorns was just part of Him being brutalized. My religion worships the Jesus that is in Heaven with God.
Jesus didn't die for our sins. Jesus died so that through redemption, and accepting Him a our Lord and Savior we can have the gift of forgiveness and eternal life.
2006-06-16 02:48:27 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is it easier for you to picture Jesus as a fair skinned blemish free well groomed handsome man who saves you ... OR ... the truth of what he sacrificed for you so that you may be save. Like it or not, he was poor, beaten, bloody, bruised, humiliated and nailed to a cross and shed his blood all for mankind. One should be Thankful for his great sacrifice. He did this for us.
2006-06-16 05:03:04 · answer #6 · answered by Gardener for God(dmd) 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"beautifully executed"....your words
perhaps you are cruel and barbaric and seek admiration.
to answer the question: no it is not cruel and barbaric to worship a bloody dying man.
it is cruel and barbaric to make a man bloody and near death and admire your work.
2006-06-16 02:55:55 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No I do not think so Since he rose from death to live again it is a symbol that God can over come every thing no matter how bad it seems to us.
2006-06-16 02:47:08 · answer #8 · answered by mmmkay_us 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not at all...
but the point is not that he is a "bloody dying man". the point is that even tough he died, he was resurrected of his own accord(being that he is God.)
the point is also that God cared enough about us to send His own Son to die for all of us.
also, focus on His teachings, not that He died a grotesque death.
and it's our fault that He died that way...
2006-06-16 07:37:57 · answer #9 · answered by §}:{§ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's just a representation of what Jesus did for us and to always remind us of the new and everlasting covenant and what he was prepared to do to save us. i do agree that some people go too far with it and make some horrific pictures. i am catholic myself and in some respects i agree with you, but we must realise what He did do for us and what He went through to save us and for us to realise the true potential of this we can't soften what actually happened.
2006-06-16 03:06:03 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋