Is Catholicism idolatry? and if yes, WHY?

Question

Please state your reasons why Catholics are idol-worshippers if you say so.

SO WHAT IS THE TRUE RELIGION?? THE ONE AND ONLY TRUE ONE??? NOW I'M CONFUSED.

Answer 1

It is amazing the amount of sheer ignorance people have about Catholicism. They sound like run of the mill bigots of the Michael Richards or Mel Gibson variety when they pontificate (irony intended) about it.

Let me reiterate a few basics:

- Catholics do not "worship" Mary. The prayer that goes her way is an intercessory prayer - we don't pray to her, we ask her to pray for us.
- Catholics do not worship statues. To say we do is stupid and ignorant. The statues in a church reflect certain kinds of meditations - the stations of the cross which reflects Jesus journey to Golgotha, the sacred heart of Jesus, Mary with child reminding us of the nativity, and with St. Anthony, a reminder to feed the poor.
- Catholics do not "(depend) on other things besides the One" because all the things Catholics do come from the One. We have sacraments like baptism and communion because we were told to by the One ("do this in memory of me" and "one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.")
- Catholics most certainly do not style the Pope as "Lord God the pope," an obscene and offensive title if I have ever heard one. Quite the contrary, the last pope styled himself the "servant of the servants." Nor do we the faithful worship the pope. If you want to understand in protestant terms what it is we do think of him, think no further than "Senior Pastor."

Answer 2

I can only say yes to this question. An idol is a man-made representation of something that is bowed down to and prayed to. If you visit any Catholic church you will see people wearing out their knees praying and grovelling in front of the crucifix and more plaster saints than I can count. Of course Catholics will try and explain that these images are not idols but what other definition fits them?

Answer 3

Yes. And not just catholicism, just about all Christianity has idolatry. The proof: Jesus. Ask the average Christian what Jesus looked like and they'll tell you every detail. Small beard and mustach, attractive, white, thin, ect.

Ask a Jew what Abraham looked like, ask a Buddhist what Sihartha looked like, ask a muslim what Muhammad looked like and most likely they'd tell you either "How should I know?" or "what difference does it make?"

Answer 4

It is one of the leading doctrines of Romanism that the pope is the visible head of the universal church of Christ, invested with supreme authority over bishops and pastors in all parts of the world. More than this, the pope had arrogated the very titles of Deity. He styles himself “Lord God the Pope,” assumes infallibility, and demands that all men pay him homage. Thus the same claim urged by Satan in the wilderness of temptation is still urged by him through the Church of Rome, and vast numbers are ready to yield him homage.

But shouldn’t those who fear and reverence God meet this Heaven-daring assumption as Christ met the solicitation of the wily foe? “Thou salt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.” – Luke 4:8. God has never given a hint in his word that he has appointed any man to be the head of the church. The doctrine of papal supremacy is directly opposed the teachings of the Scriptures. The pope can have no power over Christ’s church except by usurpation.

So why don’t Catholics worship ONLY God, this is a very serious matter, please note my references:
Ex:34:14: For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:
Isa:43:11: I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.
Isa:45:6: That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me.I am the LORD, and there is none else.

Answer 5

You could call it that. Not because of images surrounded by lighted candles. Because of depending on other things besides the One who said "no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." (John 14:6) A lot of us do that accidently. Catholicism does it officially.

Answer 6

No, it is not idolatry.

Catholics do not worship idols.

Of course, most people don't know how to define the word "worship" so that everyone who hears that word knows what it is...

Answer 7

I Think they do not teach the second commandment.
they have split the 10th commandment into two to make up the difference.

Answer 8

I think they place a little too much emphasis on worhipping the crucifix and Mary herself, and not enough focus on Jesus

Answer 9

why do they lite candles around a statue of Mary and pray to her statue. or to other statues of saints that's an idol to me.

Answer 10

No it isn't.It is a good organized religion.