0
No, the keeping of religious picture and statues in not classed as idolatry. It only becomes idolatry when one worships those said pictures or statues. Idolatry is the worship of idols; the worship of images that are not God. With all due respect to my Catholic brothers and sisters, their praying to statues and pictures constitutes a form of idolatry, but is not in the true sense idolatry. There is only one mediator, that is Jesus Christ. We should not worship through anyone or anything else but Christ ANSWER Idolatry is an act of serving, bowing down, revering, or praying to any image, statue, figure, icon as if that "thing", that "creation" were The Eternal God as its own self and embodiment. It is an act of creating God and not allowing God to create us. Keeping "pictures of statues and saints" is not idolatry in and of itself, however, when one uses these "things" as mentioned above; it is made an idol and a creation of God. God cannot be created, God is creation its self and that self has no "one" form, image, icon, picture, art, or of the changing natural world. Actually, even my description of God through this paragraph and all language is idolatry, because language act as images and concepts in the mind. To define God is impossible and it is idolatry. In the Christian and Catholic sense, praying to Jesus the Christ is not idolatry because he is the divine power in human form (which is possible for the Eternal God to do because God is not in a "box", but can certainly become one); however, and paradoxically, in the Judaic sense...it is outright blasphemy, apostasy, and idolatry to pray through a Rabbi, Teacher, Prophet, or King. Why? Because there is no intercessor for the Eternal God, and that is why the first of the ten commandments is "you shall have no other gods BESIDE me".
Wiki User
∙ 8y ago
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoThe term 'idolatory' is a pejorative and is not used by Christians to describe their own practices. The term is only used by Christians when pagans and others keep pictures and statues of their gods.
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
Why are there no statues or pictures in the protestant churches?
The founders of many Protestant Churches felt that having statues or pictures of saints in their churches could be regarded as a form of idolatory.
Is prayer to saints idolatry?
Prayer to saints is not considered idolatry in the Catholic and Orthodox Christian traditions, as it is seen as asking for their intercession and help in communicating with God. Saints are revered as exemplary Christians who can serve as role models and inspire believers in their faith.
The use of stautes in Catholic and protestant?
In the Catholic church, statues of saints are used as articles of devotion. Catholics regular kneel before statues and pray for the intercession of the saints they depict. Protestants do not pray to saints and do not kneel to statues.
How many saints statues are they in St. Peter's Square?
over 140 statues
Why do non-Catholics believe having statues of saints at home is a form of idolatry?
Some say so simply because it is a Catholic practice. If it is Catholic, it is automatically considered wrong. The vast majority do not understand the practice. Catholics do not have statues of the saints for worship, they are just reminders of people who have gone before us and we consider them important in our lives. It is no different than having photos of family members on display in our home. Do we worship them?
Do Catholics pray to statues?
No, Catholics do not pray to statues. Catholics pray to God, Jesus, and ask Saints to pray for them.
What images do Muslims have for god?
For Muslims, God is a powerful, impersonal being whose will is supreme and has a kind and loving side but rules in justice with an iron fist. However, there are no physical representations of Allah. For Muslims, statues, paintings, drawings, & etc. of saints or Allah are considered idolatry.
In Medieval Europe what was an icon?
Icons were pictures of saints, Jesus, and the like. They were the subject of controversy, because some people believed reverence for them was idolatry, and others believed it was right and proper. People killed each other over this question. Sad.
Why do catholics have statues in the church?
Because they remind of us the saints or beings they represent. They are beautiful.
What did Pope Leo IX and PGregory VII fight for?
Quite a lot, actually, both of these Popes fought vigorously for the Church and its rights, and its holiness. This is a quick answer site, check out the articles below for more on both of them:
Do the protestants pray to St.Mary?
No, Protestants believe that God hears every prayer, and therefore the intecession of Saints is at best unneccisary; and at worst prayer to saints may be considered a form of idolatry.
How do Christians use icons to help them pray?
Only Catholic and Orthodox Churches use statues and pictures of Jesus or of the saints to help them pray. Protestant Churches do not, considering the use of icons akin to idolatory.
