Not intending to feed any ’ trolls’ ; just that since we are on the Eve of Chrismas , when His Glory shone all around - even on those oxen and sheep …and we can be merciful , like Him …who gave us lot more than what any one of us deserved …
The interest in this thread also possibly gives some clue to the deep yearning of many to find The Truth …esp. considering the severe judgements that Israel called down , when she became unfaithful in this area ( now true , idolatry was probably more a sign of her having become unfaithful in other areas of her relationship to Yahweh and to each other )
May be there is even the hidden wish that The Church is true and spotless , in an insane ( idol worshipping ) world ! - since that is one of the consequences of idol worship - loosing the sense of who or what man is and who God is …
What many seem to miss is one key phrase in the first commandment - ’ you shall not make for YOURSELF an idol '…there in comes the diffrence between the Cherubim on The Ark -which were made in obediance to God and the other graven images that man was tempted to carve - to take the place of The True God .
The fall had brought in the enemy’s lie …the enemy whose intent was to destroy man , made from matter…and its ploy was to seduce man to make gods out of the appetites of the body and its pleasures …so that when man became even more frustrated from realising that that god only made him a slave , he would become violent and despairing in his passions …
But then came The Light …from a Good God who had made everything for Good …
Body -as The Temple of The Holy Spirit …
And The Father taught His children that precious lesson , by going all out …The Old Temple as a type …even the worship guidelines also to help us - in our sacred duties of relationships …marriage …preciousness of life…
Is it any coincidence that it is The Church , who have the balance and truth in this whole matter and has been the Light … and are the lies of idolatry, the enemy’s ploy to hide this truth …esp. now that we have The Thelogy of The Body …and man would truly consider his sacredness …
Yes , we , made of body and soul are sacred …and we can respect and venerate … esp. those who have lived , not for oneself but for God…
One major problem non catholics face is possibly because of the Major deficiency in their concept of Adoration … specifically with regard to Eucharist…
God had His chosen people guarded through centuries against the lies and distortions of the enemy …this ,esp. about His true and substantial Presence which was to be only in The Eucharist …not in idols … so that in the fulness of time , when He did chose to be present with us , it would not be any source of confusion or contention but only of unity …
And it is …for The Bride …for The Church …for persons of Good will !
Peace !