It says not to do that in the bible yet why does Catholicism propose it? It also says in the bible to not make graven images or likenesses of anything on the earth...yet the Catholic church has statues all over?
2006-09-02 16:28:29 · 39 answers · asked by Rena 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
God is called the hearer of prayer no one else, he does not delegate that to anyone else, so what a privilege to be able to speak to the Most High. Praying to others would then be considered idolatry. Jesus himself said pray to the Father and to ask in his(Jesus')name. So we pray to Jehovah and ask for our prayers to be heard in the name of Jesus his son. Jesus is mediator between Jehovah and us, no one else. Anything other than this is not Biblical.
2006-09-02 16:35:04 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 5⤋
No. And the reason I say that is this: when you pray to the Virgin Mary or a saint, it is like asking a friend for help, for intersession with the Person/God that they are so much closer to than you are. No one I know WORSHIPS Mary or the saints; that is what is forbidden.
I don't consider statues "graven" images. They are merely focus points for prayer/meditation, and they beautify churches.
I think you don't understand much about Catholicism, but that you listen to a lot of garbage by anti-Catholics.
By the way, what IS the problem so many people have with Catholics? And why is it, no matter what religion, when someone wants an exorcism, they always turn to a Catholic priest??????
edit: just read a lot of these answers. Wow! do you people NOT know anything about the Catholic religion. !!!!
It IS a religion--what the heck else would it be?
It originated with Jesus, but the traditions go back thru' all time.
The "pope" IS in the Bible: When Jesus called Simon Peter, which means rock, and said "Upon this rock I shall build my church", he was naming Peter the first "leader"/pope.
2006-09-02 16:36:57 · answer #2 · answered by Joey's Back 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Um, no. You're thinking like a Fundamentalist. Hey, the Bible doesn't mention eating Big Macs, either, but people do it. Don't use "sola scriptura" (Bible-only) theology when trying to understand the Roman Catholic Church.
There's a long-standing tradition of praying to Mary and the saints, due to their closeness to God. The Catholic Church stands upon tradition as well as scripture. The teachings of the Church tell us that Mary and the saints are worthy of our veneration, and that they can help intercede for us.
As for the statues, they're merely aids to worship. Nobody's really praying to statues, as so many Protestants like to suggest.
2006-09-02 16:38:22 · answer #3 · answered by solarius 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Praying TO anything or anyone other than God, is a form of idolatry, yes. Being obsessed with your boyfriend more than you love Christ is also a form of idolatry.
Catholics do not "pray to saints." Catholics ask saints to pray for them in the same way you would ask your friend to pray for you, or, in a hopeless moment, look up at your ceiling and silently ask your deceased grandmother who you would say is "watching over" you, to take a message to God for you. This is what Catholics do and this is what they believe as do all other Orthodox (Russian, Eastern, Greek, even some Anglicans) branches of Christianity.. Some of this has to do with their view of the afterlife. Where are all these people that died? Are they dead in every way? Are they in another dimension that is not connected with ours? Or are they, as the Bible describes, part of that "great cloud of witnesses..." and members of -per the Apostles Creed- "the communion of the saints" who watch over us, pray for us, encourage us, even though we cannot see them. This is not a new belief or practice, it's been around for a couple of thousand years.
As to Mary, no Catholic prays TO Mary. Go get a prayer book and read it for yourself. "Hail Mary full of grace the Lord is with thee..." this is straight out of Luke's Gospel and is what the angel Gabriel says to her when he meets her. "Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death" is the conclusion of it and there's absolutely nothing in between that says, "Hear my prayer Mary and answer it." Mary doesn't answer prayers. Mary is, like all the saints and others who have left this earth. She is an intercessor on our behalf. Oh yeah, and she's the mother of God so she does get a little bit of special status there which I doubt few would begrudge her. But no one prays to her.
Catholics don't pray to statues. There is a difference between an idol such as the early Canaanite tribes used in their pagan religions (for whom this commandment was intended) and "sacred art." Usually, the very people who want to complain about Catholics and their "idols" are the same people who have Thomas Kincaid pictures in their homes or a painting of The Last Supper hanging in their kitchens. Images and art that depict something sacred is not idolatry. It's purpose is to direct your mind to spiritual matters and examples. That's all. Protestant churches generally have pictures and even statues of sacred people and events and the Catholic church is no different except perhaps they don't apologize for it and aren't shy about it. And you leave out Joseph here as well. Most parishes have a crucifix and then to one side Mary, and to the other side Joseph. The "holy family" is a worthy thing indeed to be reminded of especially in a culture like this one.
2006-09-02 16:53:27 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
If they pray to them as if they are gods, then YES!
As far as graven images...
"Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God" (Exodus 20:3-5).
In this context, the point is that we should not bow down before or serve (worship) the graven image (painting, picture, statue, etc). It's not saying "don't make a statue of a person, or a cow, or fish, etc", it's saying "don't make a statue of a person and worship or serve the statue as if it were a living god."
The next time you see a crucifix in a church or on a necklace, ask yourself if you consider it to be idolatry.
2006-09-02 16:52:07 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
I don't know why Catholics pray to Mary and saints. As far as the statues. I think graven images are images of other gods and things like the golden calf. The statues represent the real God to Catholics and I don't think that they are worshiping the statue. I think they use them as a constant reminder of God's love for us. I see your point though. Oh and to answer kellycareens question. Peter was the first pope.
2006-09-02 16:31:57 · answer #6 · answered by Rachel☺ 5 · 2⤊ 3⤋
No, praying to the Blessed Virgin Mary & the Saints is **NOT** idolotry.
Catholics have Only 1 God: Father, Son, & Holy Spirit.
The Blessed Virgin Mary & all the Saints are with Our One True God in Heaven & they pray to Him on all our behalves.
Statues of Saints are not idols.
Idols are statues that worshippers take for actual gods(which was far more common in the ancient world than in the present one), like they do in primitive religions.
2006-09-02 16:43:56 · answer #7 · answered by clusium1971 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Yep.
So is worshiping a Cross.
I am a jealous God and thou shalt have NO other Gods before me. Not Mary, Not Jesus, Not crosses, Not Holy Ghosts.
GOD and ONLY GOD.
Or don't you believe in the 10 commandments, if so, go commit adultery while stealiing and murdering.
2006-09-02 17:59:43 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely it is idolatry. It is all devil Paul who invented Jesus worship to kill the message of Jesus. When Paul orchesterated a drama of repentance, Barnabas, the clsoest deciple of Jesus (PBUH) got tricked and he paved the way for Paul's acceptance. Soon however Barnabas realized his mistake and regretted for his remaining life over this honest mistake. The maternal uncles of Jesus i.e. James also denocunced Paul who was creating Jesus worship in order to kill the message of Jesus. Paul invented the lie that Jesus paid for the sins of all. To begin with Jesus was not crucified. Teh person who was crucified was his traitor desiple who was made look alike Jesus and hence he acted very funnyon the way and on the cross. And thsi expalins how Jesus appeared on 3rd day. TheGospel of Baranbas which was banned by devil Paul gives a lotof details about this but since Church is by large follwoing Paul calls it a fabrication howeverd one can still see the name of Gospel of Barnabas among those books which were totally banned as they were exposing the lies of devil Paul! Devil Paul opend the flood gate of people into his new religion and permitted idolatry. and hence we see Roman Cahtolic and statues of Mary etc. Those followers of Jesus who did not believe in the lies of rabid devil Paul were called Unitarian Christians and other who fell pray to Paul were called trinitarion chirstians. Some of the former later accepted Islam e.g. Bosnian Muslims when they read Quran realizing that Muhammad (PBUH ) was the person who was foretold by Jesus who was about to come. The other Unitarian Christians were killed (Ref: Blood on the Cross by Thompson)
2006-09-02 16:42:36 · answer #9 · answered by pathowiz 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You must be Baptist. Forget about all the saints and Mary and everything. Just pray. If it feels spiritual to hold a rosary in your hand or a rabbit's foot while you are listening to the Spirit, then it's ok. Ask your questions, sit quietly and listen for your answers. You will be heard no matter what you call the Universe. "God" doesn't really have a name--S/He is too huge to have a name but different faiths have different names for this divine intelligence that hears us. We all speak to the same intelligence no matter the name.
2006-09-02 16:38:32 · answer #10 · answered by tampagirl1015 2 · 3⤊ 2⤋
They do not pray TO the statue....they're not dummies. You may not agree with the doctrine but there is history and faith behind your accusations.
When you carry pictures of family members in your wallet you don't love the picture it's just an image. Same theory.
Mary was Jesus mother so she is loved and adores much as you love and adore your mother
Praying to Saints is like seeing a cousin and asking him/her to say hello to your aunt for you.
It's not as undercover and demented as you're question implies.
Education is the key.
2006-09-02 16:37:36 · answer #11 · answered by daljack -a girl 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋