Why is it that one of the ten commandments is to not make or bow down to any idols yet as catholics and christians we have a cross and the jewish faith has the six pointed star? What is the difference here? Are these not idols we pray too and bow down too? I don't understand...
2007-09-30 12:19:59 · 21 answers · asked by alikat 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
If you want a clear academic understanding of the meaning of the 10 commandments from the Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant perspectives, to go the Wikipedia entry for "Decalogue" and you will get an intelligent answer instead of all of this crap--unless this is what you are looking for.
A cross and the Magen David are not "idols" or even representations of God. They are symbols of religious belief and also symbols of the religious communities to which one belongs. The commandment originally was written to distinguish Jewish culture and ideas about God from other religious cultures and their ideas about God. It was based in cultural pride as well as paranoia about other groups of people and their belief systems.
2007-09-30 13:16:50 · answer #1 · answered by philosophyangel 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In Judaism, the six pointed star is not something bowed down to and worshiped. It is a symbol that identifies a faith and a people.
Same with a cross.
Idols in a Catholic church, that's another matter.
It's all a moot point when you consider the ten commandments are not binding in Christianity anyway.
.
2007-09-30 13:18:51 · answer #2 · answered by Hogie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
From what I understand, many Christians use religious symbols such as a cross/statues/etc as a means of meditation. That is to say, it is not that they worship the cross/statue/etc, but rather use it as something to direct thought or help provide concentration on a specific issue. They are tools.
Another thing to do in answering your question, which I would delve into now if I had time - is to look at the historical context of the Ten Commandments. The religon of that era was MUCH MUCH different than that of today and it is important to see how the faith Moses was speaking of differed from that of neighboring cultures.
2007-09-30 12:28:38 · answer #3 · answered by K.L. Bingman 1 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Having a cross as a symbol of your belief or a star of David is not neccessarily bowing down to them. However when people bow before a statue of Buddha or Krisna and pray to these idols this is much different. We Chrsitians do not pray to the cross, nor do Jews pray to athe star of David. We pray to God in heaven.
2007-09-30 12:28:38 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
If you studied the scripture you would notice that the Ten Commandments were just tribal, they were for the tribe of Moses, these rules were only valid within the tribe to keep the peace, once out of the tribe they could do what they like, just look at the book of Numbers where the tribe is questioned on why they didn't kill and take the women for themselves in the other villages. The Ten Commandments wasn't some rules written by God in order for the whole world to follow. Also catholic don't pray to or worship statues, they are there as a focal point when they pray to God, just like you would have a picture of a loved one when you are thinking about them, it's a good idea to learn about other religions before making presumtions about them because of things you have heard rather than actually studied
2007-09-30 12:27:15 · answer #5 · answered by chocolateman 3 · 0⤊ 4⤋
It seems to me that some clarification is required. First of all the Ten Commandments is law that was given to Moses for the Jews. The other laws that the Jewish people demanded of God were also for the Jews. When the apostles went out to spread the word they were told that the Gentiles didn't have to follow the rules that were given to the Jews by God.
While the Ten Commandments are good rules to follow as far as keeping humans playing nice - it's not a hard and fast rule that non-Jew's even have to live by them.
2007-09-30 12:51:06 · answer #6 · answered by Janet T 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I as a Christian do not bow down to a cross. It is only there as a reminder of what Jesus did to save us.
2007-09-30 12:45:15 · answer #7 · answered by 9_ladydi 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm a very spiritaul person i pray only to the most high which is god and i try to obey his laws and commandments i do not bow to know idol's
2007-09-30 12:28:10 · answer #8 · answered by Historian 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋
There you go. You have answered your own question. True Christians adhere and live their lives within truthful Bible and Godly standards. False Christians do what they please and misconstrue and misalign the truth of the Bible.
Remember when Peter spoke of "wolves" who would infiltrate the congregations bringing with them false beliefs and their own imperfect conclusions instead of sticking to the Bible and truthful Godly principles? Well, there you have it.
We are to pray only to God and not to any symbol, idol, emblem, or tradition to man, etc., not even Jesus. We pray to Jehovah God but we pray in "Jesus name". We do not pray to idols or to Jesus.
Many love living the lie in order to feel important about belonging to POPULAR, YET FALSE religions. They feel they are amongst a "raging trend' than being a true friend of God's and his son, Jesus Christ. Most people in case you haven't noticed, love living the lie.
Great point and question...great!
2007-09-30 12:29:07 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
idols are man-made or physical representations of G-d on earth, such as a statue. that is what the 10 commandments is forbidding. the cross and the star of david are just symbols of a particular religion. they aren't representations of G-d.
2007-09-30 12:31:59 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋