There is a big difference between having something up on your lawn that symbolizes what we as Christians believe about Christmas, and praying to a statue.
Lampo we put a manger scene out which we view as being symbolic of the birth of our savior. Putting out a manger scene and praying to icons are not the same thing so it’s kind of an unfair accusation you made to your father-in-law. If he put out a manger scene and then proceeded to bow down to it in worship then that would be idolatry. Doesn’t sound like that’s the case though. It’s no different than having scripture displayed, or having the cross hanging on a wall.
I agree. Of course Catholics don’t “pray to statues.” Statues remind us of what they represent. Similar to a picture of a friend, loved one, etc. I doubt that people actually worship the picture itself. They are reminded of what the picture depicts or represents. Same for religious art, statues, jewelry, etc.
I think the issue of idolatry is whether or not you bow down to idols.
And I agree with you. I think that some protestants assume some things about catholics, and vice versa. I, personally, see nothing wrong with an icon or statue or anything else that helps people remember that which has meaning to them.
I didn’t make that accusation to my father-in-law. I thought about it for a second, but didn’t. BTW, what makes you think that when Catholics “bow down” and pray in front of a statue or what not, we are worshiping that statue? Have you or anyone you know ever “bowed down” on their knees at their bedside before bed and prayed? If yes, I doubt they were praying to the bed were they?
What Catholic prays to a statue? None that I am aware of!
It’s not the idol itself that Catholics bow down to.
I’ve asked this of my non-Catholic friends (the anti-Catholic ones). That’s the answer they give.We always did when I was in the Methodist church. I never knew anything about Catholics, though, so I wasn’t into call them idol-worshipers and what have you. My guess is that they would say the difference is that it’s just a decoration and not used for any type of worship/prayer.
Lampo here is a quote from the council of trent on icons/statues etc.
thats what it looks like to the rest of us.
Do you think that Catholics woship the figures (of wood, plastic, or whatever) in the nativity scene?
Catholics don’t pray to statues.
Now you know better. So we won’t hear you repeating this mistake again. Correct?
Forgive me for implying the accusation part. It sounded like that’s how you responded to him.
Well just because you don’t know someone who has done that doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened. And again we’re not supposed to bow down to anything except GOD. So it not OK to bow down to a nativity scene.
Elvis I never said that Catholics pray to statues. You’re re-stating the point I made to Lampo in that I thought he made an unfair accusation to his Father-in-law. But Roman Catholics do venerate statues and apply latria worship to images of Christ.