How should I answer them?

[Artemus86]

My Muslim friends said to me: “You are praying to the Cross and Picture of Mary and Jesus, they aren’t God”

 

[excatholic01]

Sounds about right.

 

[Fidelis]

My Muslim friends said to me: “You are praying to the Cross and Picture of Mary and Jesus, they aren’t God”

I would say to them, “Why do you pray to the East wall of your house three times a day; it isn’t God.”

 

[wanner47]

My Muslim friends said to me: “You are praying to the Cross and Picture of Mary and Jesus, they aren’t God”

I would say, “You are committing blasphemy by claiming to have the power to know what is in my heart and mind when I pray. That power is God’s alone.”

 

[ConallCernach]

My brain tends to jump around a lot. Having a high visual inclination I can focus on things for a good length of time. Pictures and statues are not themselves being worshiped, they allow us to focus on the person, or event taking place, and how God speaks to us through that.

Pax

 

[Artemus86]

I would say to them, “Why do you pray to the East wall of your house three times a day; it isn’t God.”

They pray 5 times a day to the Ka’abah because of Allah tell them to do so.

 

[Artemus86]

My brain tends to jump around a lot. Having a high visual inclination I can focus on things for a good length of time. Pictures and statues are not themselves being worshiped, they allow us to focus on the person, or event taking place, and how God speaks to us through that.

Pax

They allow us to focus on the person? Who is he?

We are praying to God, do you think Statues and Picture are important?

Did you read Exodus 20:4?

 

[ConallCernach]

They allow us to focus on the person? Who is he?

We are praying to God, do you think Statues and Picture are important?

Did you read Exodus 20:4?

The person could be the person who we are trying to imitate, such as the devotion of St. Francis of Assisi. Or it could be the scouring of Christ, which would let us focus our attention to how Christ suffered for us. Or it could be a picture of Christ transfigured to help us be thankful for His promises of everlasting life.

I think a better question would be, did you read Exodus 25:18?

Pax

 

[Clairdelune_89]

To the original poster–
I would tell them first of all that we do not pray to the pictures or to the statues. We are praying to the person in heaven we are trying to communicate with–God, Jesus, Mary, The Saints, etc. It’s very important that they also understand that the word “Pray” does not equal the word “Worship”.

And yes, statues and pictures remind us of who we are addressing in heaven. It’s easier to talk to a person face to face than over the phone, right? It helps us focus on who we are talking to, what we are saying, and what we want to convey. It is only natural to look at a statue or painting as you pray. However, this is not idolatry because it is not the painting we are praying to, rather the person.

 

[thistle]

My Muslim friends said to me: “You are praying to the Cross and Picture of Mary and Jesus, they aren’t God”

Whether its muslims, buddhists, protestants etc etc its amazing how all of them attack us so vehemently. I really think they are all desperate to prove us wrong because they somehow feel we are right and it scares them because their views endanger their salvation.

 

[CentralFLJames]

My Muslim friends said to me: “You are praying to the Cross and Picture of Mary and Jesus, they aren’t God”

He is part correct. The cross and pictures are certainly not God but he is of course wrong if he is judging in his own mind that we are praying to these symbols.

By the same rediculous and childish reasoning people could ask:

"Why do Muslims worship the carpets they bow down to and press their foreheads to multiple times a day? Are they trying to prostrate themselves and worship Satan who is down below in hell?

If the Muslim responds “no - we do not worship the ground we are facing in the direction of the Ka’abah as God told us to” then anyone could respond by saying ‘but God did not tell you to do this - the man Mohammad did and he was known to often change his religious instructions to suit his many moods and whims’ (e.g. the Satanic verses).

It is historical fact that pagan polytheist Arabs used to worship the Black Stone in the Kabba as if it were God. It is indeed ironic that Mohammad constructed his new religion around this same practise and then claimed that it used to be a white stone until menstruating women touched it.
Tabari I:303:

"When we were sitting in the mosque, Mujhid said, ‘Do you see this.’ I replied, you mean the Stone.’ He said, ‘You call it a stone.’ I said, ‘Is it not a stone.’ He said, 'I was told by Abdallah bin Abbas that it was a white jewel that Adam took out of Paradise to wipe his tears - tears that did not stop for 2,000 years. I said, ‘Why and how did it turn black.’ He replied, 'Menstruating women were touching it in the Jahiliyyah

That said, I would ask him why Muslims still endlessly circumambulate around a black stone in Mecca’s Ka’aba just like the ancient pagan Arabs used to do and how this is not considered idolatry?

James

 

[Randy_Carson]

I would say to them, “Why do you pray to the East wall of your house three times a day; it isn’t God.”

 

[SteveGC]

Look. It’s simple.

I don’t care if you compare a Catholic kneeling in front of a statue, with a non-Catholic evangelical with his arms up, head up, eyes closed, praising God, with a Muslim on the floor chanting and kissing the ground…

I don’t care what group you talk about…I don’t care what physical artifacts are present, or are NOT present. Because the truth of the matter is…EVERYONE visualizes in their mind something OTHER THAN GOD, in order that they might CONNECT WITH GOD. Think about that. When I wasn’t Catholic, my prayers were said while I focused my mind on an image of Jesus. What image of Jesus?? Oh, the one I saw in the hallway of my “church”. Oh, but Catholics are idol-worshipers, because they choose to take the picture down and keep it with them while in prayer. ooooh…Idol worshipers! gimme a break.

So, in THAT sense, everyone would be an “image worshiper”, wouldn’t they? Catholics are just easy targets because we historically use visible material to assist in our imagery. All the “idol-worshiper” accusers are hypocritical. We ALL do it, folks.

Now, if someone is TRULY worshiping the image, obviously not good. Again, Catholics are easy targets here because we make tangible what non-Catholics keep in their heads.

Sorry if I sound irate. Just tired of the hypocrisy.

God Bless.

 

[Texas_Roofer]

My Muslim friends said to me: “You are praying to the Cross and Picture of Mary and Jesus, they aren’t God”

Part 1
Catholics acknowledge varies types of prayer to include prayers of intercession. Many other religions have issues or misunderstanding about prayers of intercession. For example they say “Catholics pray to Mary” that is correct however when the say “Catholics worship Mary”, that is incorrect. The prayer to Mary and saints are prayers of intercession, prayers to God are prayers of adoration.

Part 2
Additionally catholics allow symbols as statues to assist us in maintaining attention.

Part 3
Catholics know of a Trinity which is God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are all one in the same. As a Muslim his understanding of Jesus is different. He will probably assume a prayer to Jesus is another intercession but that is incorrect.

hope that helps

 

[Artemus86]

:clapping:

 

[Gottle_of_Geer]

My Muslim friends said to me: “You are praying to the Cross and Picture of Mary and Jesus, they aren’t God”

With any problem, get down to first principles - ask why X or Y or Z is done: that is, what the basis for it is. There are reasons the Church does as it does & believes what it believes.​

For a Muslim, Jesus is a prophet - & no more; even though he is so important a pophet, that only Mohammed is more important. But for a Christian, He is a prophet - & also, the Word of God Incarnate. IOW, the difference in practice flows from difference in belief. Jesus is far more important in Christianity than Mohammed is in Islam. Which is saying a lot; yet so it is.