but if they are of Mary and the many many saints, or Jesus on the cross, they are not?
Not trying to offend, just genuinely want to know what you think.
2007-09-13 08:36:46 · 10 answers · asked by Diane 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
michael, that's partly my point really, if that is the case, and Jesus is God made flesh, then why is it OK to have an image of him on the cross (crucifix)?
2007-09-13 08:47:05 · update #1
catholics have them because they are pagan lite. all of the flavor, less of the divinities.
christians and muslims in general have never understood that images are not the same as the thing they represent. tho we worship at the image, it is not the image we worship. tho the image is only stone, metal, wood, or whatever, the spirit of its object can possess it and thereby receive the honoraria directly. the god or goddess doesn't even need to be present physically, but the worship and sacrifice still acheive their goal, the image only helps the worshipper visualize his intent.
i think the predominant attitude among american nationalists regarding desecration of the flag is idolatry, but what i do in my spiritual practice is not.
2007-09-13 10:18:59 · answer #1 · answered by bad tim 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
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.
2007-09-13 22:47:14 · answer #2 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
You are on the right track. It shows the hypocrisy of Christianity. It was a way of suppressing other beliefs. How do you promote your own religion? You don't have to put other beliefs down, but old folks in ancient times, chose this way to preach.
If a Hindu goes to temple and puts a statue of Krishna...he is pagan
But if a Christian and Catholics wear cross or have a statue of Jesus....it's religion.
2007-09-13 15:48:09 · answer #3 · answered by keera 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Very good question!
To answer your question may I draw your attention to Psalms 115:4-8
" Thier idols are of silver and gold, the works of eartling man. A mouth they have, but they cannot speak, Eyes they have but they cannot see, Ears they have but they cannot hear, a nose they have but they cannot smell. Hands are thiers but they cannot feel. Feet are thiers but they cannot walk; they utter no sound with thier throat. Those making them will become just like them, all those trusting in them."
So do these statues and wall hanging fit this bill? What do YOU think
2007-09-13 16:02:13 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because Christians love to see things that are not in line with their monotheistic approach as sinful. So a statue of Christi is OK but a statue of Gaia or Inanna would not be.
What a lot of hypocrisy! The exclusivity of their religion will, I predict, ultimately be its downfall.
2007-09-14 00:34:08 · answer #5 · answered by Lady Morgana 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There is only one God worthy of worship. Idolatry is a sin in most religions. Statues can not perform miracles or do anything amazing like ALLAH(SWT).
2007-09-13 15:51:39 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Thet are idols. The commandment says not to make any graven image of Him.
2007-09-13 15:44:03 · answer #7 · answered by michael m 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Graven images are only sinful when you worship them
2007-09-13 15:48:14 · answer #8 · answered by Bibiana La Atheist 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my statue of Gaia and Kwan yin and others only remind me of the beauty that surrounds me everyday..I do not worship them but use them as a reminder of my faith and who and what i am.. A very proud Pagan Woman
2007-09-13 16:26:08 · answer #9 · answered by Fae 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You know you got a great point there. i just wish i knew the answer
Goddess Bless
2007-09-13 15:44:24 · answer #10 · answered by Christinej 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋