This isn't mentioned anywhere in the Bible.So,who started it and why?The veneration(worship)of some "saintly relics"includes some of their body parts.Personally,I think to put such items on display anywhere is being disrespectful of the dead,and that their bodies should be left alone!
Does anyone else feel the same way?
2006-10-07 19:45:00 · 8 answers · asked by auntfran8 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The natives in this region where I live are called "Carriers" because they believed that if they carried a piece of their dead relative (an ear, a finger, etc) it would remind them of that person, and it would be as if that person was still with them in some way. And they were not forgotten.
It doesn't seem very respectful, but it is human. Strange, but human.
Minor point: veneration is not the same as worship. An old person may be "venerable", but not necessarily someone you worship. Just someone you respect. So get it straight. We have words in the english language that have certain meanings and connotations. Do not mix them up or blur their lines. Say what you mean, and mean what you say.
Recently, archeological digs in the middle east uncovered a culture that buried the dead beneath the bed. (pre-dating written history) Also they cut off the heads of their (deceased) loved ones and used them as foundations for their homes. In this way, they kept their loved ones near-by.
If you look at modern behaviour, you see it in fan-girls at rock-concerts, where a famous person is nearly disrobed in public when a frenzy to gain a part of that person's clothing ensues. It's probably the same mentality: "I've touched someone famous! I've touched a piece of history! I've touched something of someone who did miracles!" It's crazy, I know, but it's human. It's a part of us, and might as well embrace the feeling, girl!
2006-10-07 19:51:30 · answer #1 · answered by Shinigami 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
DougLawrence gave the answer better than I could have.
The obvious one is people who saw and touched the Resurrected Christ for the 40 days between his Resurrection and his Ascension into Heaven.
Since Christ, the Virgin Mary, Moses and other Biblical figures lived among men, all of their images were venerated from the earliest times. The Catholics have sadly worshipped 3-D images (like La Pieta) while the Orthodox have maintained the 2-D worship of icons.
On the 1st Sunday of Orthodox Lent, the Sunday of Orthodoxy is commemorated:
http://www.schmemann.org/byhim/orthodoxy1985.html
The Saints are venerated as part of the worship service - we Orthodox make it clear that neither the Saints nor the icons are icons worshipped. The Catholics fell into error by venerating 3-D statues. Some Catholic churches will have (2 Dimensional) an icon or two because they remain party to the 7th Ecumenical Council which restored icons in 787.
2006-10-08 12:52:03 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
it is staggering to confirm that a minimum of a million poster is knowledgeable approximately Christian background different than what they examine and attempt to take actually interior the NT. The church in Rome became widespread as the two the catholic church (meaning international-huge) and the Orthodox church (Roman or Western Orthodox). And "Messianic" Jews" is a popular New Age flow. If there became extra suitable than a handful of Jewish followers of a Jesus, if Jesus became a historic individual, than maximum did not stay on the conflict with Rome or the numerous years of persecution after it. Ignatius and Justin martyr interior the early 2d century did not understand of any. there became a debate interior the early church in spite of if Jews ought to be allowed to connect their church homes or not; it became not any different way around.
2016-11-27 00:16:36 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The practice is based on the Bible, on on the experiences of the early church, as well.
Here's what happened when the body of a man who had recently died, touched the bones of the prophet Elisha (Eliseus):
2Ki 13:20 And Eliseus died, and they buried him. And the rovers from Moab came into the land the same year.
2Ki 13:21 And some that were burying a man, saw the rovers, and cast the body into the sepulchre of Eliseus. And when it had touched the bones of Eliseus, the man came to life and stood upon his feet.
When the crosses of Christ and the thieves were discovered in the holy land, having been lost for some 300 years, the true cross was identified by touching a portion of it to a deathly ill man, healing him. instantly.
No one knew which of the three was the true cross of Christ, but only the true cross exhibited healing powers.
God has, on many occassions, used people and places and things as instruments of his divine will.
Another old testament example is the "brazen serpent":
Num 21:6 Wherefore the Lord sent among the people fiery serpents, which bit them and killed many of them.
Num 21:7 Upon which they came to Moses, and said; We have sinned, because we have spoken against the Lord and thee: pray that he may take away these serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.
Num 21:8 And the Lord said to him: Make a brazen serpent, and set it up for a sign: whosoever being struck shall look on it, shall live.
Num 21:9 Moses therefore made a brazen serpent, and set it up for a sign: which when they that were bitten looked upon, they were healed.
In the new testament, St. Paul heals by touch:
Act 28:8 And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux. To whom Paul entered in. And when he had prayed and laid his hands on him, he healed him.
Act 28:9 Which being done, all that had diseases in the island came and were healed.
Could the bones of St. Paul exhibit the same properties as those of the prophet Elisha? If God wills it!
So now, a question for you: Since this is mentioned in the Bible, are you now willing to change your opinion?
Does anyone else feel the same way?
2006-10-08 01:06:16 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Probably just another leftover from the Catholic integration of pagan practices in attempts to convert the masses. It is a fact that many Catholic saints who supposedly lived before about 800 - 1000 Common Era were actually modelled after pagan gods. Thus, any "relics" that survived were transferred to the Catholic saint, and the practice continued with those who were named saints later.
2006-10-07 20:45:50 · answer #5 · answered by Ally 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Nice try but veneration is NOT the same thing as worship. What's more, the veneration of Saints is most certainly in the Bible:
Veneration / Honor of the Saints
Matt. 18:10 - the angels in heaven always behold the face of God. We venerate them for their great dignity and union with God.
Matt. 15:4; Luke 18:20; Eph. 6:2-3 Exodus 20:12; Lev. 19:3; Deut. 5:16 - we are instructed to honor our father and mother.
Luke 1:28 - the angel Gabriel venerates Mary by declaring to her "Hail, full of grace." The heavenly angel honors the human Mary, for her perfection of grace exceeds that of the angels.
Romans 13:7 - we are to give honor where honor is due. When we honor God's children, we honor God Himself, for He is the source of all honor.
1 Cor. 4:16 - the most important form of veneration of the saints is "imitating" the saints, as Paul commands us to do.
1 Cor. 11:1 - again, Paul says, "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ." The ultimate objective of veneration is imitation.
Phil. 2:25-29 - Paul teaches us to honor Epaprhoditus who almost died for the faith. How much more honor is owed to the saints that did die for the faith!
Phil. 3:17 - Paul says to imitate him and others, which is the goal of veneration. Veneration is not worship.
1 Thess. 1:6 – Paul says to the Thessalonians, “You became imitators of us and of the Lord.” This is the goal of veneration.
2 Thess. 3:7 - Paul says that the Thessalonians should imitate him and the other bishops.
Hebrews 3:3 - Jesus is worthy of "more" glory and honor than Moses. This does not mean that the saints are worthy of no glory and honor. Instead, it proves that saintly people are worthy of glory and honor out of God's goodness.
Heb. 6:12 – the author teaches us to be imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Heb. 13:7 - we must imitate the faith of our faithful leaders. We ask for their intercession and venerate them for their holiness.
James 5:10-11 – James teaches us to take heart in the examples of the prophets and Job, who endured suffering.
1 Peter 2:17 - Peter teaches us to honor all men, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the emperor. Don't those living with Christ in heaven deserve honor? Catholics believe they do, and honor them with special feast days, just as we honor those living by celebrating their birthdays.
Gen. 19:1 - Lot venerates the two angels in Sodom, bowing himself with his face to the ground.
Gen. 42:6 - Joseph's brothers bow before Joseph with the face to the ground. This is veneration, not worship.
Exodus 28:2 - it is especially important to honor religious leaders. Sacred garments for Aaron give him dignity and honor.
Lev. 19:32- we should also honor "the face of an old man." When the elderly die in Christ, we should continue honoring them, because death does not separate them from us or the love of Christ.
1 Sam. 28:14 - Saul bows down before Samuel with his face to the ground in veneration.
2 Chron. 32:33 - Hezekiah was honored at his death. We honor our brothers and sisters in the Lord.
Sir. 44:1-2 - we should praise and give honor to those who the Lord apportioned great glory. It is our family in Christ.
2006-10-09 02:58:58 · answer #6 · answered by Daver 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the catholics baptized paganism into the church. all the "saints are replicas of pagan gods. they changed the Sabbath of God to the venerable day of the sun that the pagans used to worship on, thus changing the day to sunday. as well as many others
2006-10-07 19:50:05 · answer #7 · answered by norm s 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The older christian churches kept many pagan customs and incorporated them, this proved to be effective with believers with little or no formal education, who tend to accept and embrace primitive rites.
modern churches neutralize some of these old, pagan customs,
not only among Christians.
2006-10-07 19:56:36 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋