Is having crucifixes in churches not breaking the second commandment?

Question

"You shall not make for yourself any graven image, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth."
Nevertheless there is lots of figurative art in churches. Why?

sorry, in this commandment it does not say anything about veneration/adoration. It says: make

Answer 1

People who oppose religious statuary forget about the many passages where the Lord commands the making of statues. For example: "And you shall make two cherubim of gold [i.e., two gold statues of angels]; of hammered work shall you make them, on the two ends of the mercy seat. Make one cherub on the one end, and one cherub on the other end; of one piece of the mercy seat shall you make the cherubim on its two ends. The cherubim shall spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, their faces one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubim be" (Ex. 25:18–20).

David gave Solomon the plan "for the altar of incense made of refined gold, and its weight; also his plan for the golden chariot of the cherubim that spread their wings and covered the ark of the covenant of the Lord. All this he made clear by the writing of the hand of the Lord concerning it all, all the work to be done according to the plan" (1 Chr. 28:18–19). David’s plan for the temple, which the biblical author tells us was "by the writing of the hand of the Lord concerning it all," included statues of angels.

Similarly Ezekiel 41:17–18 describes graven (carved) images in the idealized temple he was shown in a vision, for he writes, "On the walls round about in the inner room and [on] the nave were carved likenesses of cherubim."

Answer 2

Humans rely on symbolism; it is an inherent aspect of our abilities to reason and to use language. What can possibly be so wrong about symbolizing Yahweh? Am I not making a symbol of Yahweh—a graven image—every time I write the word, G-O-D? If, however, it is not inappropriate to represent God symbolically with a word, G-O-D, then why not with something else? What is so inappropriate about inventing a pictogram, an image, or anything else to symbolize the living God? What was God thinking when He gave Israel this second commandment? To understand how this commandment is not just petty and trivial is a real difficulty.

It is tempting to solve this difficulty by understanding the second commandment—like the first—to be a prohibition against idolatry. Under this interpretation, the second commandment did not forbid Israel to symbolize Yahweh; rather, it forbid them to worship other gods. They were commanded not to worship graven images representing other gods, not graven images of Yahweh.

Or you could interpret it as saying, do not try to make me into something solid and finite?

Answer 3

Graven is the operative word there, which by my account is the least understood. Please read fully. Focusing on the lovely things. Not tricking oneself about knowledge on how to read properly & fully.

The Crucifix on the Risen Element is not a graven thing. Good art is not bad. Bad art depicts evil creatures and is obviously bad art. In ways to depict difference, a scales is sometimes used, as seen in courts, sometimes The Angel of Justice with scales & wings.

Similarly in the bible it's written, something along the lines of, 'having to take pens away from evil doers as all they drew was evil looking stuff'. the more on paper version i don't remember but it was in the old testament, and was more along the lines of 'these images are heresy... THE LORD SAID'.

Answer 4

I asked the same thing about the virgin Mary statues and got the whole we dont worship the statue thing although I have seen some people kneel down and pray in front of the statues.. I think that it is breaking the commandment with both crucifixes and other images.

Answer 5

If that commandment was interpeted the way you say, then cartoons would be sinful? OMG, Sponge Bob is leading me to hell!!!

the commandment was talking about people worshiping graven images. Catholics do not worship crucifixes; they pray to the One the crucifix reminds them of. It's more a mnemonic than an idol.

Figurative art in churches is pretty and helps people focus on who the art represents.

Answer 6

Does this commandment refer to worshiping a graven image [as if it is a god], or does it mean have no visual reminders of the one and only true God?

Particularly if you consider all of the verses of this commandment found in Exodus 20:4-6.

... 4Thou 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.

5Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

6And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

Answer 7

Literally the answer is yes. Why does it happen? Because humans are imperfect and need corporeal reminders of the transcendence which is barely perceivable at this level of reality. Religion itself is trying to render the gossamer dragonfly-wing like nature of the whisper of godliness inherent to all enlightened thought out of lead and dross, a hint of a divine laugh forever stuck in an angry lack of translation to this realm.

Answer 8

The Christian veneration of images is not contrary to the first commandment which proscribes idols. Indeed, "the honor rendered to an image passes to its prototype," and "whoever venerates an image venerates the person portrayed in it." The honor paid to sacred images is a "respectful veneration," not the adoration due to God alone:

Religious worship is not directed to images in themselves, considered as mere things, but under their distinctive aspect as images leading us on to God incarnate. The movement toward the image does not terminate in it as image, but tends toward that whose image it is.

Answer 9

Very true, but , we or at least I hope "we " cover most do not worship the cross, or any image. Yes crosses are everywhere, not trying to know off, but I would be far more concerned with the statues, many will have statues of "saints" that is far across the line to me. The cross as the song goes, to me, is a "emblem of suffering and shame"

Answer 10

No doubt you will get lots of answers by christians saying that crucifixes in churches and round the necks is not breaking the second commandments. Rules are always bent by christian apologists to justify their irrational behaviour.