My point, I don’t know how to make it more clear, is that you insist on taking some of the prohibition against idols literally, but other parts of that same prohibition you do not take literally. You are selective in what you take literally and what you do not take literally, so that you can find fault with Catholics while exonerating yourself and other Christians.
I’ve already answered your “point” several times now, but for the record b/c you want to make it personal: I am not selective and actually do take it more literally than you think. I do not have photos around and do not even take them anymore. I do not use media - mostly b/c of its content - but I don’t see a connection with that and images one makes for the use of worship. TV is real life events going on that are recorded and transmitted and not used for worship… I am perfectly fine with the Amish practice of simply avoiding it all altogether. That is what I love about faiths that are seperate from the questionable muck out there. If one is serious about his faith he should not play with matches - nevermind with fire. Jesus said to avoid sin at all costs. That is what my goal is - albeit I’m lousy at it, but I do try by the grace of God. Cut off the hand, gouge out the eye…
So are people in Asian countries idolators because they bow when they greet each other? Is it idolatry to bow to the Queen of England? Are actors committing idolatry when they bow to their audience at the conclusion of a play?
I would never bow to the Queen of England. I don’t watch plays and I doubt the serious Christian would take part in such an ungodly occupation.
*Then Abraham bowed down before the people of the land." *Was Abraham adoring the people of the land?! Your very own bible contradicts your claim.
No, it doesn’t. When I make a heart-felt appeal to my little children I might bow down before them too - not in adoration/veneration/etc. but as in a posture of appeal. You are taking this Scripture out of context. There are different kinds of bowing. Bowing in front of a statue is clearly for worship whether intended toward the statue or not.
It was not the bowing that they rebuked, but the worship.
"When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him.""Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that!”"
The bible is very clear to point out (for the benefit of iconoclasts, perhaps) that there was an attempt to worship. There is no attempt by Catholics to worship saints or statues. Again your very own bible contradicts your claim. But still you refuse to see.
Romans 11:4
But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not
bowed the knee to the image of Baal.
Exodus 23:24
Thou shalt not
bow down to their gods, nor serve them
Leviticus 26:1
Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to
bow down unto it:
Obviously God sees bowing to an image as worship - or at least an expression of it - something which is forbidden. And that was with a very quick search and by no means an exhaustive example. Lest you say it is a “botched translation”, my Hebrew dictionary defines the word used in these passages as: “bending”. I see the Douay-Rheims translates the word as “adore”, but every single translation I have seen says “bow” - and unless my dictionary is wrong…
Even if you say it is just reverencing the image or venerating it or showing it honor… These are things God alone is deserving of. To intentionally do such things in front of an image is, AT THE VERY LEAST, scandalous.
So you are going *against *Scripture with this belief? Why not adhere to what Scripture *actually *says?
I’ve alrealdy answered this numerous times here. I don’t have to adhere to the text LITERALLY b/c JESUS SHOWS WHY we don’t have to! Is that going against Scripture? I gave you an example FROM SCRIPTURE to show that Jesus is not opposed to their being images on things we must use in every day life. So please stop saying I am going against Scripture or making up my own interpretation!
So Scripture says in one place not to make any likeness of anything, and Scripture says in another place that Jesus took a coin with a likeness on it and used it to teach, etc. Isn’t this an instance of the Bible contradicting itself? If so, how can anything in it (the Bible) be true? If not, how do you explain the contradiction?
You may start a new thread if you feel the need to pursue an answer to those questions. I’m sorry you believe the Scriptures contradict themselves. Many atheists make the same charge. The quick answer is: It doesn’t contradict itself at all. The answers are all right there without a church’s infallible interpretation. In fact, even the Catholic answer to those supposed contradictions uses Scripture to show why it does not in fact contradict itself.
Your best bet is to PM the admins and ask for a name change.
I think at this point most people are familiar with my old username and it would only cause unecessary confusion to change. If, however, I do leave for a time and then come back to enter into entirely new conversations, I will ask for a change.
. In fact - I think I’m just about done for the day unfortunately!