Do you see the difference?

Question

I am a Catholic and I am preatty tired of people suggesting that I'm going to hell because I worship idols, which is not the case obviously. Sure, we do have statues of Jesus and our saints but we do not worship them.

"You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth." This is a commandment that was pulled right out of the Bible(NIV). But do you understand the differance between an idol and an icon.

Idol- a material effigy that is worshipped

Icon- a picture, image, or other representation
(This is what us Catholics have)

Thank you for listening.

(Are there any comments that relate to what I have just said?)

Answer 1

Get down on your knees, idolater! And while you're down there....

Answer 2

actually if i read my bible correct it says,

"thou shalt make no graven images of what is in heaven above, or in hell below, or in the waters below the earth."

a graven image, is Any picture, statue, or representation of something.

so i would see any picture of Jesus as a Graven Image.
Any picture of the Devil as a Graven Image.
the pictures of people feasting in heaven that are left on my door, in the bible tracts. by the missionaries are graven images.

the only thing that confuses me on this one, is the waters below the earth. would this mean underground water such as underground rivers and lakes, or does it include the oceans and ponde as well, if so if an image of a Fish or seaweed a violation of this commandment?

however from further interpretation, i think that the waters below the earth, could signify the lake of ice that is said to be in hell (dante's infreno) this would be easier to understand...

either way, I am Pagan and have several idols, god statues and such, i feel that when i carve an image of my god and spend my time to do so that it is pleasing to the gods and goddess's that i worship. i do not worship the statue, i worship the god, but the statue has a place in my house, and a position of honor just as i would give to a god, if they were visiteing me.

Answer 3

why have a representation at all?

I think the problem is that the definition between the 2, is far too easily lost or clouded, either through ignorance or by accident.

or in a PROPER translation:
Exodus 20:40 :" Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor any manner of 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; "

remember in the old testament, the rules are broad, to the side of caution. if you can't have a non-abstract image of anything in creation, (for example, you will not find a single painting of a person in a orthodox synogogue, or most synogogues, that is a non-abstract image, that shows both eyes. most paintings and stuff will either have abstraction for such details, or simply be a profile.) then you can't accidentally fall to worshipping that image, instead of GOD himself.

Answer 4

I encourage you to see for yourself the difference between what the Roman Catholic Church teaches and what is in the bible.
For instance:
-there is no biblical proof of Purgatory
-indulgences are not biblical
-praying to Mary or any other saints is not biblical
-saying that Mary is co-redeemer with Christ is not biblical
-saying that the communion wafer is the actual body of Christ this not biblical
-calling the priests father
-confessing to or through a man rather than directly to God
-following the traditions of men rather than God
there are others... So you have to decide "will I follow the church or follow what God says in the bible"? Following the church is a religion following Christ is a relationship. There is a BIG difference and your eternal destiny may be at stake here.

I hope that you get a chance to read and study the bible for your self, don't take my word for it check it out for yourself.
here is a web site that might help

http://www.reachingcatholics.org/mainpage.html

God Bless and hope this helps answer your question

Answer 5

The difference between an icon and an idol is that an idol has religious significance. Really, that's it. Are you saying that none of the catholic church's icons have any religious significance?

Answer 6

Then why in the Catholic Bibles did they split the ninth commandment in two and take out the second? Look at your own catechism. Why do people pray to the statues of Mary? You may not be among the majority of "Catholics" but I venture to say that most do worship those statues.The Bible teaches that we are not to bow down to statues.
Exodus 20:4,5
The Roman Catholic Church says that we should bow down to
statues, not ancient tradition, but mediaeval tradition.
The Bible teaches that all have sinned except Jesus.
Rom 3:10-12, Heb 4:15
The Roman Catholic Church teaches that Mary was sinless.
The Bible says that Jesus is the only mediator between man and
God. I Timothy 2:5
The Roman Catholic Church says Mary is Co-mediator with
Christ.
The Bible teaches that Christ offered His sacrifice on the cross
once and for all. Heb 7:27,28 10:10
The Roman Catholic Church teaches that the priest sacrifices
Christ on the altar at mass.
The Bible teaches that all Christians are saints and priests.
Ephesians 1:1 and I Peter 2:9
The Roman Catholic Church says that saints and priests are
special casts within the Christian community.
The Bible teaches that all Christians should know that they have
eternal life. I John 5:13
The Roman Catholic Church teaches that all Christians can not
and should not know that they have eternal life.
The Bible teaches that we should call no religious leader father.
Mat 23:9
The Roman Catholic Church teaches that we may call the priests
and Pope father.
The Bible teaches to not pray in vain repetition. Mat 6:7
The Roman Catholic Church says to pray the Lords prayer or Hail
Mary’s in vain repetition.
The Bible teaches to confess your sins to God for only God can
forgive sin. Isaiah 43:25, Luke 5:24
The Roman Catholic Church says you must confess your sins
to the priest for forgiveness.
The Bible teaches before baptism a person should be taught
the Gospel, and the Commandments of Christ, believe, and
repent. Mat 28:19, 20; Acts 8:37 and Acts 2:38
The Roman Church teaches, little infants must be baptized or
if they should die they would be consigned to hell.
The teachings of purgatory, and limbo and prayers for the dead are
nowhere in scripture but clearly relics of paganism.
Words of Jesus to the Pharisees apply today as well; when we
nullify the Word of God with manmade tradition,.. Matt 15:6
Tradition contradicts tradition for example: the Roman church
teaches the pope is the head of the church—a bishop over all
bishops, BUT pope Gregory the Great, (540-604), pope (590-
604), who was the last of the four original Doctors of the Church
(q.v.) and who became known as Saint Gregory, at the end of the
ancient church period, said that such a church teaching came from
the spirit of antichrist. He wrote, “I confidently affirm that
whoever calls himself universal bishop or desires to be so called
is in his pride a fore runner of antichrist.”
Index of Forbidden Books of Pope Pius the 4th in 1559 said,
experience has taught us that the reading of the Bible in the
vernacular permitted generally without discrimination will cause
more damage than advantage because of the boldness of man, the
judgment of bishops and inquisitors is to serve as guides in this
matter. If someone was found in possession of one of these Bibles
without written permission from priest or inquisitor their sins can
not be forgiven unless they turn in the manuscript and confess.
BUT in marked contrast, the Vatican II says that easy access
should be made available to all its members.

Answer 7

I certainly understand the difference between a religious idol and a religious icon. The treatment of icons and relics by Catholics sometimes gives a strong impression that they are worshipped, though.

As for going to hell--I don't believe in hell in any case, so I'd never suggest that Catholics, good or bad, idol-worshippers or not, belong there.

Thanks for making a good point.

Answer 8

I'm catholic as well and proud of it. It's crazy to hear that too. People tell me I worship saints, statues, mary, and angels and that is complete BS. None of our prayers say they have any powers. All of our prayers asks the saints to intervene with god for us or on our behalf and we ask them to pray for us that is it. People are sooooo ignorant sometimes and instead of looking for yourself they just go with what someone (WHO PROBABLY ISN'T CATHOLIC OR KNOW ANY CATHOLICS!!!)says and be like oh they do, like a fool. We aren't even supposed to bow to them. The church told us not to bow to them. The statues are representations we do not believe that those statues can do anything for us. Thank you soooo much for saying this. Ohh yeah and those who bought into the whold Davinci code BS Davinci was a CATHOLIC!!!!!! And he gospel of mary hade nothing to do with her being pregnant or marrid with jesus. That was alllllll hype because the average person is too foolish to look for themselves.

Answer 9

I don't beleive any1 will go to hell...that theory is completely irrational and used to scare gullable people into the brainwasher's control. I used to be catholic and hated when people said they are not christian, and they worship idol b/c it is complete BS...

Eventually I realized the idea of a god at all was BS also..

Answer 10

I do believe what they are referring to is the Praying to the Saints, they are believing that is represented by the Catholics as Worshiping.
Don't listen to the idol nonsense, you are better than that.
See you when we get there.

Answer 11

The point that God is trying to put into your head is that you don't need statues and beads to profess your love to Him. All you need is good ol faith. What are the Statues there for anyway when you can't see Him. No one that's alive knows what Jesus looks like. It doesn't matter either. All I need to know is that He died for my sins and that's enough information for me to have eternal gratitude and devotion.