I have been told, statues of Mary are mere figures or symbols by which the Deity is worshiped. But the 2nd commandment (of Big 10) forbids the worship of the true God by images or similitudes. If its ok, then what is idolatry?
2007-12-22 05:30:05 · 13 answers · asked by Mark 7 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
no one prays to Mary as a deity...so no idolatry has taken place.
Mary holds a special place because she was the earthly birth mother of Jesus (God himself)
Because of this, Catholics, among others ask Mary to intercede on their behalf, so that Jesus, her son, may hear the prayer reiterated by her. They believe that because she was His mother and was also without sin (because they believe a sinful Mary could not have borne Jesus) that she has the ability to be a go between.
At no time do people ask Mary to answer prayers.
Jesus is not a mediator to God because Jesus and God are one.
2007-12-22 06:06:09 · answer #1 · answered by sunflowerpinwheel 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Depends upon the religious perspective which answers this Q.
Thinking that a statue is God is erroneous. Statues cannot 'do' anything. Can't make a 'graven image' of what cannot be encompassed by our small minded thinking. And our bigger awareness of God could never be duplicated or even come close to a true representation. We all view God differently (even no view is a view in the negative) from 'within'.
Maybe it would be written like this today - don't believe that the material world is the be all and end all, it is a truth, but not Absolute Truth, which God is.
Wanna get right down to it, these words I type are 'graven images'. So maybe we've all 'missed the mark' and 'misunderstood' (both are Greek and Hebrew translations of the word 'sin').
I don't think people do pray to a statue of Mary, rather they pray BEFORE a statue of Mary to help them keep their mind on what they are needing to be focused on.
Some religions think praying to Jesus' mother, Mary is blasphemous, some don't, and both will wage a war to prove who is more right. This to me, is the true sin, and not what Jesus taught at all.
He had two commandments: 1. Love God with all ya got, and 2. respect and love your fellow human beings as you yourself would like to be respected and loved.
And I, not of the Catholic faith, say HATS OFF TO YOU MARY, thank you God for Mary, for Jesus and for this forum.
Amen.
2007-12-22 14:43:53 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mary is not God, so we should not pray to her (Exodus 20:3). Only Jesus is our mediator (1 Timothy 2:5). We have direct access to God through Him (Ephesians 2:18) for He is our High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16).
Worshipping any image, including one of Mary, is idolatry. Idolatry is sin. (Exodus 20:4-6)
2007-12-22 13:46:06 · answer #3 · answered by Christ follower 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Idolatry involves any distracting away from the true worship of the one true God.
This is why God forbade Israel (and all others who would worship God that followed, whether or not they were of the line of Israel) to make any likeness of anything in the earth, to worship it.
God is the one who hears, who answers prayers, so we should direct our prayers to Him.
2007-12-22 13:36:45 · answer #4 · answered by zeal4him 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The statue of Mary reminds us of her and what she has done. It's okay to kneel and pray with the statue in front, you just can't worship it like this "oh, I bow down to you statue of mary" The statue of Mary is just a symbol of her.
2007-12-22 13:35:18 · answer #5 · answered by KH 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Honestly, I believe it isn't a sin because she is a holy figure, but you have to be praying to her not the statue, the statue was just made by an ordinary man.
2007-12-22 13:35:54 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, it's a graven image and a sin. Mary was God's vessel and she did not die for our sins and it not to be worshipped. Jesus said, "who is my bother who is my mother? anyone does the will of my father is..." (paraphrasing).
The bible says Jesus alone is our mediator to him. 1 tim
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2007-12-22 13:39:41 · answer #7 · answered by Jeanmarie 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would think praying to an inanimate object would pretty much be the dictionary definition of "idolatry".
2007-12-22 13:35:21 · answer #8 · answered by Tut Uncommon 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
No it is not a sin if you truly believe. If i pray to my webcam because i believe it is holy...how can that be a sin?
2007-12-22 13:40:28 · answer #9 · answered by wrathofkahn03 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think it's a sin, but I also don't believe she will hear you. I believe that only the Father and the Son hear prayers.
2007-12-22 13:35:28 · answer #10 · answered by Son of David 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋