Should men stop kneeling when asking for a woman's hand in marriage bc that might mean he is worshipping her?

Question

Or could it be that he is in fact, NOT worshipping her, and simply doing it out of respect and as a way to honor her, much like us Catholics do, when we are falsely accused of worshipping all of our false Gods (that we are supposedly just too afraid to tell everybody about?")

Seriously, have you ever thought of that?

By the way, i wasn't seriously asking if men should stop doing that! haha =)

the point in me asking this (sarcastically) was that people like to find things such as this, to say that Catholics are WORSHIPPING other Gods, without realizing that IT IS in fact, also a sign of humbleness, honor, and respect and does NOT always have to mean worship!!

Nickster, you are right in saying that praying TO saints is worshipping false gods...we can both agree on that. What most people do not realize is....we are NOT in fact praying to them. NOBODY could take the place of Jesus Christ, ever. But we are all connected, through Christ. So therefore, I can ask you, my mom, my friends, the saints, my family that has passed before me, and Blessed Mary to pray for us here on earth. Why should I ask those who are physically "dead" to pray for us? Because, our physical bodies may be gone, but our souls are more alive than ever, with Christ, in Heaven. God Bless.

Nickster, you are right in saying that praying TO saints is worshipping false gods...we can both agree on that. What most people do not realize is....we are NOT in fact praying to them. NOBODY could take the place of Jesus Christ, ever. But we are all connected, through Christ. So therefore, I can ask you, my mom, my friends, the saints, my family that has passed before me, and Blessed Mary to pray for us here on earth. Why should I ask those who are physically "dead" to pray for us? Because, our physical bodies may be gone, but our souls are more alive than ever, with Christ, in Heaven. God Bless.

BornAgainCatholic, DannyH and Bruce, thanks for the additional information and clarification. As always, it is much appreciated :)

Answer 1

What amazes me the most about this whole "idolatry" issue is that many who ask "why do you worship statues?" think we're hiding something or in deep denial -- when the Catechism of the Catholic Church is openly and freely available to anyone who wishes to find out not only what we believe but also what we're taught.

I can only conclude that they have no interest in or intention of actually finding out the truth, but solidifying their own prejudice.

"But you're on your KNEES in front of a STATUE and you're PRAYING! How is that not idolatry? How is that not worship?"

Because it's not. Because, like the term "born again", Protestant/evangelical Christendom does not own the patent on what worship is supposed to "look like". Odd that the same people who insist that God knows our hearts in many, many other matters refuse to apply it here. It's another example of the mindset that places limits on God based on what they understand and perceive with their own senses.

For the record, though, here is what the Catechism says:

2132 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 2

“Nickster, you are right in saying that praying TO saints is worshipping false gods...we can both agree on that.”

Wrong. Worship is that form of prayer that gives reverence and adoration due only to God. We do not do this when praying to a saint. It is only a prayer of request for intercession that is taking place. Nothing more. If we did give God’s adoration to a saint it would be idolatry.

Thank you, though, in trying to help clarify the point. We are constantly accused of things we do not do. Hopefully someone will be helped by this.

God bless.

Answer 3

Good point. It illustrates that one can kneel and not worship. By extension, one can worship and not kneel.

I continue to be amazed at the foolish people who accuse Catholics of worshiping statues. I kneel to pray to God, never to a statue. I have never heard of a Catholic praying to a statue since I became a Catholic 36 years ago.

No one can deduce from posture whether Catholics worship statues. Posture is just not good evidence.

Thus, I propose an experiment. Visit your nearby Catholic church, and politely ask the first person kneeling in front of a sculpture of Christ, a saint, or the Virgin Mary who the person is praying to.

If you ask a thousand Catholics, none of them will ever report praying to the sculpture.

Cheers,
Bruce

Answer 4

Worship is something that is inside-out. A man gets on a knee to honor his lady and to tell her that he is humbled if she would say "Yes,". That's not "worshipping" someone else. Now if his lifestyle reflects that he is bowing down before other things before God that's a whole different story.

i think things like praying to saints can be considered worshipping other Gods because Saints aren't the ones that are going to help you- Jesus himself says there is only one mediator between man and God and that is the man Christ Jesus. What Jesus did on the cross enables us to go to God directly.

Haha- i'm sure that the ladies on this site appreciate it when their men get on their knees to propose. i'm old-school and when that day comes for me- i'm getting on my knees- but i know who has first place in my heart-- JESUS!

Kindly,

Nickster

Answer 5

to the amount you respect your images more than the Holy Spirit you are worshiping.

Have no images before me is pretty simple.
In Guatemala the people practically fall to their faces and some actually do, when some stupid demonic image comes out of the cathedral being carried by the deceived.

You may love God. I won't judge. You may have been borne again (no such thing as a child baptism condoned in the Holy Scriptures) That is between you and God.
Maybe you were raised on this and know nothing else. I don't know. but the "Catholic Church" is so twisted and does not resemble any thing of Jesus Christ it is sickening. You probably can't see it because you are in it.

You can't see the forest for the trees
Gypsy Priest

Answer 6

I've never thought about it, cause reasonabilty I can tell that it is just a sign of respect, I don't sing the national anthem at events because I feel that it's worshiping the queen (canada) or in the US it's putting faith and trust in Government and that it belongs solely to God.
But I would stand respectfully, and my husband would take his cap off, because it's would be disrepectful otherwise.

Answer 7

Pastor Billy says: I'm too much of a ROMANtic not to kneel.
If it's such a big issue for those who live in fear of idolatry with every word spoken and every action made ask the potential bride-to-be to kneel also.

Answer 8

Well it all depends. Is the man calling the woman the Queen of Heaven? Is he calling her The Mediatrix of all Graces? Does he insist that a certain form of prayer given to her on a daily basis will actually make his salvation more secure? If the answer is yes to any or all of these things, then the practice should stop, otherwise, you might just be comparing apples to oranges.

Answer 9

I have to be honest with you. If you are on your knees or prostrate in front of a statue it looks like idol worship. Whether it is or not only you and God know.

Answer 10

Thanks for the laugh, I needed that! There have been a lot of misinformed people asking questions about Catholics lately, it's nice to break it with a bit of humor.
Could you take a look at my last question? Thanks and God bless you