Why do Catholics idolize a piece of ceramic??

Question

I'm a Christian and I'm pretty sure that's against one of the ten commandments. . .

Um. . .Christians don't worship the cross. . .but Catholics put a figure of Jesus on the cross which is also controversial

Answer 1

Catholics do not worship statues. They simply exist as reminders, religious icons, if you will. As to the crucifixion - for some reason, Catholics prefer to focus on the suffering and death of Christ - the sacrifice- while others focus more on the resurrection. I even know of one group of christians that will not wear a cross because they believe that focuses on all the hurt, suffering and pain. They prefer to celebrate the life and remember the sacrifice in the sacrament of communion. I do so wish the people who spread these rumors would actually study a religion before spreading gossip, rumors and lies. And, BTW- I am wiccan and even I know the truth. I've taken time to study various religions and condemn none as long as they hurt no one.

Answer 2

Catholics do not idolize statues.

Do you have pictures of your loved ones? Have you ever looked at the picture of someone while talking on the phone to them?

Statues and pictures of people we love are not idols.

Statues and paintings of Jesus and the saints are just like pictures of the people we love and respect.

The King James Version of the Bible states in Exodus 20:4: "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"

Why were the Jews commanded not to make graven images? Graven images were the standard method of pagan worship. They were representations of false gods.

This is a very clear command.

However God commanded the Jews in Exodus 25:18 and 1 Chronicles 28:18–19, "And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them"

And in 1 Kings chapter 7 Solomon made bulls and other images out of precious metals.

It seems obvious that the Jews did not worship the cherubims and Solomon did not worship the bulls he had made. These images did not violate the command of God. Therefore, an image not made for worship is acceptable.

In Numbers 21:8-9, "And the LORD said to Moses, "Make a saraph and mount it on a pole, and if anyone who has been bitten looks at it, he will recover." Moses accordingly made a bronze serpent and mounted it on a pole, and whenever anyone who had been bitten by a serpent looked at the bronze serpent, he recovered."

And in John 3:14-15, Jesus says in correlation, "And just as Moses lifted up the [image of a] serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life."

How can a statue of our Lord Jesus Christ dead on the cross be considered an idol to a false god? A crucifix is the message of the Gospel without words held up for all to see, a visual reminder of the sacrifice of Jesus, no different from a painting, a play, or a movie.

Catholics do not worship statues but the almighty God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

With love in Christ.

Answer 3

They don't idolize the piece of ceramic, or stone,or gold or whatever. The crucifix is a image or reminder of Christ's suffering. It's like putting a string on your finger to remember something.

I am an Evangelical Christian and I wear a scapular medal that I bought in a Catholic religious supply store, some of my church mates have mentioned they are uncomfortable with the idea, I find it a helpful physical reminder of Christ's presence in my life. Does the $4.00 worth of metal have any "powers"? No. It's just a piece of metal, it just helps me remember.

Some people make an industry out of knocking Catholics. I think that what makes us different is pretty small and minor compared to the larger issues that join us together.

Answer 4

We don´t. I´m pretty sick of that cliché. We don´t worship images, they just lead us to God.
It´s stupid to say that you can´t have an image because God frorbade it in the OT. If images were forbidden ANY SYMBOL of a sacred thing would be, too, so we should do away with every single cross in the world.
Besides, I´m afraid you dont know much about the Bible. In the temple there were two cherubim angels...Was that idolatry????
God didn´t allow the Jews to make statues because of the danger of doing the same thing as pagans, who worshipped idols, It has nothing to do with a sacred image.

Answer 5

catholics do not worship... what are you talking about. you've clearly never been to a catholic church. besides, don't all churches kneel before an altar with some sort of jesus figure on a cross hanging behind the pugh.

edit: to mel below me, stop being ignorant, its to acknowledge the father, the son and the holy spirit. don't talk outta your ****.

Answer 6

I am a Christian and Think this is a Great Question. i have seen Catholics kneel and do the cross in front of them as if they were Gods.

Answer 7

I'm not catholic , but what peace of ceramic???

Answer 8

They don't. Simple enough. Next question please...