In Butte, Montana, the catholic church put up a huge statue of Mary on the ridge overlooking the town. People pay a "donation" to have it lit for a night to buy the favor of Mary.
This is one reason I left the Catholic church. I mean no disrespect for the mother of Jesus, but she is simply not God, and this is pure Idolatry.
2007-04-04 17:05:44 · 21 answers · asked by Joe 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yes, it is just another graven image.
" You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth." - Exodus 20:4 nas.
graven image or idol in the Hebrew is: "Pacal"
http://www.biblestudytools.net/Lexicons/Hebrew/heb.cgi?number=6458&version=nas
http://www.biblestudytools.net/Lexicons/Hebrew/heb.cgi?number=6459&version=nas
Definition: to cut, hew, hew into shape. (Qal) to hew, hew out, quarry
NAS Word Usage - Total: 6 carved 1, cut 5
"Graven image" (KJV) or better "idol" in the NAS points to something that is carved or cut. This can be either from Wood, metal, stone, or any other basic material that can be carved or cut.
I believe the command in Exodus 20:4 to have a dual meaning. During the time the Bible was written, there was much worship of idols by both the heathen nations as well as national Israel. These idols included baal, molten calfs, and Asherim (i.e. Exodus 30:13); Asherim are wooden symbols of female diety.
Today, I believe this likewise, as the entire Bible does, speaks to us today. While it is unlikely there are people worshipping golden calfs, baal and Asherism. The Roman Catholic church is know for their worship of statues, images and so forth.
2007-04-04 17:22:55 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
You make a good point. I am a very devout Catholic, but sometimes I wonder about people who will travel many miles to see a reported apparation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, but won't cross the street to attend Mass where the Eucharist is being celebrated. I can't speak with specifics on any person because I can't look into their heart or read their intention, but I can say with certaintly that devotion to Mary is one thing, worshipping her as a "god" or "goddess" is something completely different. When people give honor to Mary by building a statue, I don't think that they are worshipping her...just REALLY devoted.
2007-04-04 17:40:13 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can't buy Mary's favor. Maybe it's more of a respect thing. I love Mary; she was a strong, smart, and brave woman. And the donations probably all go to the church.
But you are so right. I agree that some churches do take things to the extreme. I think God loves the shabby chapel on the corner just as much as the huge cathedral with a marble floor and statues.
2007-04-04 17:19:54 · answer #3 · answered by pamiekins 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is funny how people say they did not mean to disrespect something when they intentionally did. I see no other point to your question actually. Is the Lincoln Memorial an idol? What about the statue of the Marines that raised the Us flag at Iwo Jima? The Viet Nam Memorial? What about your family pictures? What about the angels on top of the Ark of the Covenant? And don't say we pray to statues because if you do you will be outright lying. When i was homeless for three years the people had no problem praying for me when i had nothing to give, in fact i still can't afford to now. I appreciate that those with the resources give things like that to the rest of us.
2007-04-04 17:15:00 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
God chose Mary, He never chose a "golden calf" to be His mother.
If Mary is good enough for God to give her honor, she is good enough for me to honor her.
The Statue of Liberty, on the other hand, would be an abomination to God since it is a model of a pagan goddess. But we never hear Protestants complaining about that as much as they complain about the Mother of Jesus.
The real meaning of idolatry is when someone places higher importance on anything other than God. This can be selfish pride, materialism, money, power, sports, fame, drugs, sex, keeping God out of the classroom to be "politically correct", making laws that go against God's laws (i.e. abortion, homosexual "marriage", doctor assisted suicide, embryonic stem cell research), etc.. Anyone who does these things commits idolatry.
Catholics have always had Jesus as the source and summit of our faith. But just like how the moon reflects the light of the sun, Mary reflects the light of Jesus. The sun is too bright for anyone to look directly into it, but everyone can look directly at the moon.
This is only an analogy to help people to understand the difference between Jesus and Mary, I don't want anyone to get the false idea that Catholics worship the sun and moon.
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2007-04-04 17:11:09 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
The statues are not idols or graven images and they are not worshipped. God in the old testament commanded the Jews to build statues many times. An example is Exodus 25:18. The statues are used as a way for people to connect with the stories in the bible and recall them. This was extremely important hundreds of years ago when people could not read the bible for themselves so the statues allowed them to recall and visualize the stories. If this was actually a sin then Photography would be a huge sin right when the person in the picture died.
2016-03-29 00:13:20 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not Catholic, but I like the statue. It gives Butte a connection with it's Irish Catholic identity. Besides, anytown that has a toxic pit above the water line needs as much heavenly help as possible. They should put a Buddhist temple and Islamic mosk on the other mountain peaks too just in case.
2007-04-04 17:16:19 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
In one of the lost books that they took out of the bible - Mary was immaculately conceived as well
Angels Appear To Anna
Protevangelion 4:1 Then an angel of the Lord stood by her and said, "Anna, Anna, the Lord has heard your prayer. You shall conceive and bring forth, and your progeny shall be spoken of in all the world."
An Angel Appears To Anna
Birth of Mary 3:1 Afterwards the angel appeared to Anna his wife saying: Fear not, neither think that which you see is a spirit. 2 For I am that angel who has offered up your prayers and alms before God, and am now sent to you that I may inform you that a daughter will be born unto you, who shall be called Mary, and shall be blessed above all women.
2007-04-04 17:30:58 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
The Bible states the only way to heaven is through Jesus. I'm
not sure how worshiping God through Mary came about, but it is not the teaching of the Bible. In the book of Revelations we are warned about taking away or adding to the words of the Bible. I don't see the reason for the statue, but everyone will be held accountable for their own actions.
2007-04-04 17:23:38 · answer #9 · answered by Morningstar 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
nonsense. No one is worshiping that light-up mary. I don't share the fascination myself, but I don't horriblize it either. Near my home there's a gigantic church building right on the side of the 405 that is practically encased in white christmas lights every year for two months and I'm sure people pay a fortune that could be used to help the poor light up their lives. But they think it's pretty and meaningful and even though I think it's kind of disgusting, I don't need to acuse them of worshiping that building. Don't throw your own feces at people and then claim that they stink.
2007-04-04 17:14:42 · answer #10 · answered by Nowpower 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋