Do Roman Catholics commit idolatry since they bow down to Mary and other Saints.
Are they breaking the 10 commandments?
Exodos 20:3 "You shall have no other gods before me.
4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments.
If so.....
"Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, not idolators, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, shall inherit the kingdom of God" (I Corinthians 6:9-10).
2007-10-23 18:10:23 · 18 answers · asked by bazookaBOOM 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Most of these Holy Images we venerate like the most holy and heavenly Mother Mary, Mother of God and of the Church and saints are heroes. These are friends of God. That's why during major rituals like the ordination of priests, we call upon them for help. They are graduates in the divine university of God. We are the pilgrim Church struggling daily to be crowned at the end of our journey. If we bow before presidents and guests of honour, why not double our reverence when it comes to the holy images which spiritually tune us to worship God?
2007-10-23 18:18:52 · answer #1 · answered by TigerLily 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
They do not worship Mary and Saints. That's a false belief that many people have about Catholics. So no, they are not breaking the 10 commandments.
Also, everyone breaks the 10 commandments. It's in our nature. We just need to realize our sins and ask for forgiveness.
It's the one's who don't care if they break the commandments and aren't sorry, that "shall not inherit the kingdom of God"
2007-10-23 18:20:08 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
Very, very good question. We just discussed this in Theology last week. When you say that we bow down I assume that you mean that we worship. We do not worship Mary and the other saints though. We worship God. God is the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. We venerate Mary and the other saints. That means that we show honor to them. We do not worship them but recognize the good they did, that they are in heaven, and that they are an example for how we should live our daily lives here on Earth. Thanks for asking this question. I hope this clears up your questions.
2007-10-23 18:16:44 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Bowing shows respect not worship.
Any Christian would bow in worship to
+ God the Father
+ God the Son
+ God the Holy Spirit
Bowing can also show respect instead of worship. A man might go down on one knee to propose marriage to a woman.
In some Asian cultures bowing is a formal greeting of respect. Christians in these cultures do not stop bowing in greeting.
The Church on Earth is the Body of Christ. Each of us is a part of that body. I see nothing wrong with a Christian bowing in respect to the Christ in another believer.
The Pope has been selected by the Holy Spirit for his office. This act of God is deserving of respect.
In the Bible Jesus' followers did not allowed anyone to worship them but does not say that they rejected shows of simple respect and love.
With love in Christ.
2007-10-23 18:26:38 · answer #4 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Do you realize how many times this argument is refuted already?
As some other people already said, Catholics don't worship Mary, or the Saints. We show veneration to them and pray only for their intercession.
P.S.
Also, the Books in the Old Testament were written by writers who were influenced by the Jewish culture around them. The God found in the Old Testament was how they saw Him.
2007-10-23 18:21:37 · answer #5 · answered by Otaku in Need 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It is Christ that brings us to our knees.
It is He who deigns and wills to infuse us with His Presence
He Loves His Earthly Mom and she holds a special place in His Heart, just as our moms do for us, so we, of course, love her as well. The first icon painted of the Blessed Virgin was done by St Luke. (Who was also a physician.) There is some church history that is missing from your assumptions.
The saints, one and all, gave all the credit to Jesus and to God for any and all manifestations of glory. As would any true humble person today. It is because of God that these works are done. This is a very strict teaching in the church. Even when the children met St Michael the Archangel in Fatima Portugal in 1913, they fell down before him, and he told them to get up, for he was only a creature. So all Catholics know this. We keep statues and pictures to remind us of their presence and how much love we have shared and what was done for us, just as a scrapbook or a picture of your loved ones helps you remember, fondly, an occasion that you now see with different eyes.
2007-10-23 18:22:14 · answer #6 · answered by Shinigami 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Roman Catholics do not consider Mary or the saints to be gods.
You attempt to answer your own question through the quotations, but seem to be forgetting that you were not put on this earth to sit in judgment of others.
2007-10-23 18:17:01 · answer #7 · answered by blondeboch 2 · 4⤊ 1⤋
In Revelation 19:9-10, John is warned not to "venerate" a heavenly being (and apparently a very powerful one)
Rev 19:9-10 Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
And again, in Revelation 22:8-10 Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things.
Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”
"See that you do not do that."
'nuff said.
2007-10-23 19:19:22 · answer #8 · answered by he_returns_soon 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Since Catholics are your fellow Christians and mine, why don't you let them experience God through their rituals and ceremonies (about which you don't appear to have a good understanding anyway), and worry about something important.
Like your own faith walk and sinfulness.
P.S. EVERYONE breaks some of the 10 commandments during their lifetime. That is why Jesus had to die on the cross...
2007-10-23 18:13:27 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 2⤋
This practice came from ancient civilizations where people used to create and worship teraphims (idols or household's gods)
2007-10-23 18:15:38 · answer #10 · answered by Aeon Enigma 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋