A lot of protestants (and others) say that catholics worship statues. I've personally had people say I put more trust and faith in my rosary then I do in God.
Just because we face something during prayer does not mean we are praying to it. None of you claim jews pray to the wailling (sp?) wall. It helps me to completly focus during prayer when I have an item that I use to religiously. It helps remind you, helps you think in a religious sence.
If you pray kneeling down against your bed you are not praying to the bed are you? I do not understand how this is different for us- we are not praying to status. At most, we are asking people to pray for us- and yes, we believe they can hear us.
How is a statue wrong then?
2007-11-04 02:44:35 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
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 ... ...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."
Catholics use statues, paintings, and other artistic devices to recall the person or thing depicted. Just as it helps to remember one’s mother by looking at her photograph, so it helps to recall the example of the saints by looking at pictures of them. Catholics also use statues as teaching tools. In the early Church they were especially useful for the instruction of the illiterate. Many Protestants have pictures of Jesus and other Bible pictures in Sunday school for teaching children. Catholics also use statues to commemorate certain people and events, much as Protestant churches have three-dimensional nativity scenes at Christmas.
2007-11-04 02:47:50 · answer #1 · answered by Catholic Crusader 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋
If you were thinking of a friend or loved one who is ill and asking for help from God, your intent is what makes the pattern. The question here should have been statues or artifacts or not during prayer. IME many get caught up in their statues and artifacts and forget the source they seek.
2007-11-04 02:50:19 · answer #2 · answered by jmmevolve 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Reflection is not prayer.
Reflection is thought about past and present and potentially future events.
Prayer is supplication to some deity.
Reflection or prayer while facing some statue or waterfall is irrelevant to the action.
2007-11-04 02:52:04 · answer #3 · answered by CC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Objectively, you have way of discerning your motive or the end result. in case you settle for the assumption of a private God, His loss of ideal reaction does not talk to His existence - to any extent further than a baby calling out to a make certain who does not respond (on the telephone, interior the bathing room, sound asleep) proves that the make certain does not exist. That despite if, is a logical seize. superb to query and expand your concept of "God", and refine and slender your concept of "prayer". "God" isn't a merchandising gadget allotting pre-packaged strategies, neither is "God" some style of magical guy or woman granting needs. "Prayer" won't be able to be a letter to Santa Claus. under is a super link to the massively greater complicated, greater priceless concept of prayer and relationship with the Divine by a very classic path.
2016-10-03 07:56:37 · answer #4 · answered by goldthorpe 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People are not focusing on what the REAL issue is. There are those chipping away at any religious freedoms we may have. It does not matter if it is Christian, Jewish, Native American, Pagan or whatever...they simply do not want any references to any belief outside of the self. Call any and all beliefs as hate speech. We respect their belief not to believe. I urge you to look what they are saying about themselves. I am a Christian!
2007-11-04 03:06:34 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I know how you feel. We Pagans are accused of worshipping trees and idols as well. You are exactly right, your rosary and my personal altar in my home are merely ways to focus my thoughts and to honor the gods. I think it's good to have something that helps you to connect with deity and to remember important aspects of your spirituality.
2007-11-04 02:50:12 · answer #6 · answered by Cheryl E 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
its not for us to judge dear...it was not me
2007-11-04 03:03:50 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋