Anubis statue in my home

  • Thread starter Thread starter MontJ
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
M

MontJ

Guest
A few years ago I went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Egypt and Jordan. Egypt had some pretty cool little statues and I ended up buying plenty of them.

They had some cool wooden cats, pyramids, some other interesting figures and I bought myself a 15" statue of Anubis. I bought it solely because it looks cool… and I talked the price down with the merchant, even if it left him pissed.

I’ve thought about whether it’s OK to have these things in the home. Is this morally permissible?

Thanks.
 
IMO if you are keeping these statues as works of art and souveniers you are doing no wrong.

It would only be idolatry if you worshipped them as idols.

I’m in Texas and I have a bronze statue of a rodeo bronc rider, it’s just a work of art and nothing else.
 
I personally wouldn’t keep a statue of Anubis in my home for the same reason I wouldn’t keep a statue of Vishnu in my home; the simple reason I don’t believe these statues were made for the sake of art.
 
Credo_in_Deum said:
I personally wouldn’t keep a statue of Anubis in my home for the same reason I wouldn’t keep a statue of Vishnu in my home; the simple reason I don’t believe these statues were made for the sake of art.
Click to expand...
Would you have dynamited the Buddhas of Bamiyan?
 
MontJ said:
A few years ago I went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Egypt and Jordan. Egypt had some pretty cool little statues and I ended up buying plenty of them.

They had some cool wooden cats, pyramids, some other interesting figures and I bought myself a 15" statue of Anubis. I bought it solely because it looks cool… and I talked the price down with the merchant, even if it left him pissed.

I’ve thought about whether it’s OK to have these things in the home. Is this morally permissible?

Thanks.
Click to expand...
It may morally permissable, but I’d never have it out publicly where guests could be scandalized and made confused. Personally, I’d destroy it, but that’s only because, as another poster noted, it is doubtful that these statues would be made to look pretty. Their presence in one’s home may be detrimental. It certainly isn’t advised.
 
I don’t see the problem if they are kept for art. For example, I have Kachina Dolls I bought in Arizona that I thought were cool. I don’t worship them or subscribe to ancient Pueblo Indian beliefs so I see no problem. Same with the Anubis statue. Although I do agree with the last poster that you shouldn’t display them front and center, but if they are for arts sake sure keep them
 
Rainaldo said:
Would you have dynamited the Buddhas of Bamiyan?
Click to expand...
🤷 If the Buddhas were mine to dynamite? Possibly, if I couldn’t find a suitable Buddhist group or the like who’d be willing to take care of them and appreciate them. Whichever solution leads to them not resulting in confusion and scandal on the part of my faith.

As to the OP: Personally, I can see why you bought the Anubis statue as a neat work of art, 'cause it is that (and Egyptian stuff has that cool mystique to it). However, I would hesitate to keep it in my home as a devout Catholic, 'because it does symbolically stand for more than a simple work of art, however much we may choose not to believe in it.
 
Well, my simple answer is that even the Vatican has pagan stuff in its art collection. That should tell you what they think.
 
I fail to see how keeping a work of art in one’s home would cause confusion as to his religious affiliation if he were a devout Catholic and the work was of a deity from a religion that no one subscribes to anymore.

-ACEGC
 
WoundedIcon said:
Well, my simple answer is that even the Vatican has pagan stuff in its art collection. That should tell you what they think.
Click to expand...
I would think that those in higher authority would be more free to display that kind of stuff in proper context.
edward_george said:
I fail to see how keeping a work of art in one’s home would cause confusion as to his religious affiliation if he were a devout Catholic and the work was of a deity from a religion that no one subscribes to anymore.
Click to expand...
According to some of the New-Age books on magic and such that I’ve flipped through before, Egyptian symbols and the like are still used occasionally in an occult context.

Eh, I dunno. I just don’t think it’s a good idea to keep those kinds of symbols around the home. Why bother in the first place? “Cause I like it” is hardly the measure that we Catholics should typically apply to our lives, right?
 
Lochias said:
I would think that those in higher authority would be more free to display that kind of stuff in proper context.

According to some of the New-Age books on magic and such that I’ve flipped through before, Egyptian symbols and the like are still used occasionally in an occult context.

Eh, I dunno. I just don’t think it’s a good idea to keep those kinds of symbols around the home. Why bother in the first place? “Cause I like it” is hardly the measure that we Catholics should typically apply to our lives, right?
Click to expand...
 
Bl_Pope_Pius_IX said:
It may morally permissable, but I’d never have it out publicly where guests could be scandalized and made confused. Personally, I’d destroy it, but that’s only because, as another poster noted, it is doubtful that these statues would be made to look pretty. Their presence in one’s home may be detrimental. It certainly isn’t advised.
Click to expand...
With all due respect, and just out of curiosity, is your contention based on merely personal opinion, or are you speaking on behalf of the Holy Catholic Church in an official capacity.

I reason I ask, is sometimes answering strongly, without qualifying rationale for statements, is just as likely to scandalize and confuse others.

Peace and all good!
 
Don_Jackson said:
With all due respect, and just out of curiosity, is your contention based on merely personal opinion, or are you speaking on behalf of the Holy Catholic Church in an official capacity.

I reason I ask, is sometimes answering strongly, without qualifying rationale for statements, is just as likely to scandalize and confuse others.

Peace and all good!
Click to expand...
Hello!

I was speaking merely out of personal opinion. I tried to stress it when I said “Personally…” I was simply adding my two cents. However, with regards to scandalizing others by displaying pagan symbols, I feel this is out of prudence. On friday (few days ago) I visited a rectory a few towns over. I was suprised to see that the parlour had a rather extensive collection of Oriental pagan symbols. I guessed they were Japanese but I cannot be sure and I did my best to ignore them.

Now, paganism shouldn’t be held as a “novelty”. Paganism has been condemned consistently by Holy Mother Church. This being said, I see no reason to display such an item in one’s home.
 
The proper arrangement for such statues is face downwards. (1 Samuel 5:3) 😃
 
Y’all are being really superstitious over a statue. If it’s such a big deal get a priest to bless it if that’ll help you sleep at night.
 
Thanks for the responses. You make some valid points here…

I like the “wolf” aspect of the statue and it’s just a nice piece of art. They sold lots of souvenirs including jeweled pyramids and little King Tut statues. I doubt they were made for more purpose than mere art for tourists…

And about having Vishnu in the home, I wouldn’t have a statue of Vishnu either but only because it’s still worshipped today and it’s hideous.
 
MontJ said:
Thanks for the responses. You make some valid points here…

I like the “wolf” aspect of the statue and it’s just a nice piece of art. They sold lots of souvenirs including jeweled pyramids and little King Tut statues. I doubt they were made for more purpose than mere art for tourists…

And about having Vishnu in the home, I wouldn’t have a statue of Vishnu either but only because it’s still worshipped today and it’s hideous.
Click to expand...
My response(s) remain the same.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top