Is it wrong to have non-catholic items as decorations in a home?

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For example. I have a Kachina doll that I bought on a trip to Arizona. For those who don’t know, Kachina’s are figures who dance in Pueblo indian ceremonies (particularly the Hopi) and a lot of sculptures and artists make statues and dolls of Kachinas.

Anyway, is it wrong of me to have one since it is a representation of a pagan god? Its not like I worship it. I just like the way it looks. What about things like Buddha statues or Native American or African Tribal items that are religious in nature. Is it idol worship even if we don’t worship it?
 
WildCatholic said:
For example. I have a Kachina doll that I bought on a trip to Arizona. For those who don’t know, Kachina’s are figures who dance in Pueblo indian ceremonies (particularly the Hopi) and a lot of sculptures and artists make statues and dolls of Kachinas.

Anyway, is it wrong of me to have one since it is a representation of a pagan god? Its not like I worship it. I just like the way it looks. What about things like Buddha statues or Native American or African Tribal items that are religious in nature. Is it idol worship even if we don’t worship it?
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Officially, I would think no there is nothing wrong per se. Although I can see Catholics feeling concerned by that. It’s like if I had statues of Siddhartha in my house. I am a Catholic and not a Buddhist, but is it ok to have a bunch of those statues in my house?
 
My Mother had a Buddha in her Garden, she did not see it as any form of religious Figure.
just saw it as a little fat man Garden feature. , so I guess it depends on how you yourself see it.
 
Phil_Marinus said:
My Mother had a Buddha in her Garden, she did not see it as any form of religious Figure.
just saw it as a little fat man Garden feature. , so I guess it depends on how you yourself see it.
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Well I see it as an awesome looking statue. Its not like I think it as a god.
 
Nothing wrong as long as it’s not a religious artifact for you. That’s the same as having a statue of a cow, for some people a cow is a sacred item for me a cow is just a cow. 😉 Or a statue of a cat, I love cats, some people used to worship cats, for me a cat is just a cute pet. 🙂
 
I have some Catholic pictures, crucifix, and statue of Our Lady of Grace in my home. It reflects my belief and is a reminder of our Lord. I don’t worship these sacramentals, they are a comfort to me to have them around. The Buddha is popular in landscaping but it doesn’t have any significance in my life. St. Francis of Assisi, being Catholic, would be my preference. Everything I have I would like to honor the God I serve.
 
I personally would refrain from having other religious items that are not part of the Catholic Faith in your house. It is dangerous to have objects from other religions in you home because our faith is the one and true faith. Now, although we need to be respectful to other religions we shouldn’t have their objects in our house because it can send the wrong message. Replace it with Catholic artwork! 👍😃

God Bless You!
 
I can only answer and tell you what I think and what I would do in my own home!

I think it’s alright to have neutral images. A nice framed picture of a sunset or something (just an example), or a nice painting of a mountain,whatever. I think that religious pictures and statues should be the majority though; but it needn’t be typical or 100% devotional. For example, yes lots of pictures of saints, and no home is complete without a shrine of some kind to the Sacred and Immaculate Heart. But there are some awesome pictures of, say, a Cathedral setting that would make great home art. That’s not devotional, but it is religious and speaks of a love of God.

I would 100% stay away from statues of anything but Our Lord, Our Lady and the saints (and other Catholic things that can be made into statues!). Even if you think the Bhudda is just a fat man - and it takes no meaning for you - there are two issues here (1) someone could see it and be scandalized, and (2) subjectively you assign no religious meaning to it, but objectively it has religious meaning to it, and that’s where the problem is. Objectively that Bhudda (or Vishnu, or whatever) represents something that is anti-Christ. It’s just not good to mix the anti-Christ with the Christ. Doesn’t matter how arty it looks. Also, many of these statues to foreign gods (that is, devils) are usually possessed and likely to infect your home in some way. Most modern Catholics don’t believe in that kind of thing though, but it is a reality.

A home can be perfectly beautiful and Catholic without being overly pious and dripping with devotional items - at that point it starts to look a bit bad, as if the devotional items are being changed into mere decoration for the sake of it (though it’s still miles better than having statues of devils).

God Bless you +
 
WildCatholic said:
For example. I have a Kachina doll that I bought on a trip to Arizona. For those who don’t know, Kachina’s are figures who dance in Pueblo indian ceremonies (particularly the Hopi) and a lot of sculptures and artists make statues and dolls of Kachinas.

Anyway, is it wrong of me to have one since it is a representation of a pagan god? Its not like I worship it. I just like the way it looks. What about things like Buddha statues or Native American or African Tribal items that are religious in nature. Is it idol worship even if we don’t worship it?
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The Hopi don’t worship the Kachina. They are viewed as sprints and use the Kachina doll to teach about nature.
 
I’m reminded of something often said when I was growing up. “What would Jesus find if He walked into your house today?”
  1. Good behaviors, kindness, love, respect, generosity, prayer life, a Bible and Catholic reading material, a rosary, holy icons in His honor, the saints, Mary, and Joseph to remind us of His love and protection.
  2. No squabbling, porn, drunkeness, verbal or psychological abuse.
Much more can be added to each list.

I believe this was credited to Archbishop Fulton J Sheen.
 
I know of no doctrine or law that absolutely forbids it, but I would say that (especially if you have children) you ought to make a clear distinction between how artifacts of other religions and your own sacred Catholic art is displayed.

What I mean, practically is: have lots more Catholic art than non-Catholic artifacts, and put the Catholic art in prominent places, and the non-Catholic art off to the side.

This will tell something to children. It’ll tell them that you honor God in your home and these other things have the same importants as a flower vase or a jar of potpouri.
 
Rich_C said:
I know of no doctrine or law that absolutely forbids it, but I would say that (especially if you have children) you ought to make a clear distinction between how artifacts of other religions and your own sacred Catholic art is displayed.

What I mean, practically is: have lots more Catholic art than non-Catholic artifacts, and put the Catholic art in prominent places, and the non-Catholic art off to the side.

This will tell something to children. It’ll tell them that you honor God in your home and these other things have the same importants as a flower vase or a jar of potpouri.
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Good point there! While I don’t think it’s sin I myself would not want things like that in my home. Good point about parents being careful to explain to kids that it’s just decoration or art and not religious to you.
 
There is nothing at all wrong with it. It is certainly not a sin of any sort (not even venial) and so long as you don’t venerate these objects, then they are just objects of art, or objects of cultural interest.

I have several Buddha’s, a peace pipe, many Native American fetishes, a dream catcher, several statues of Egyptian gods, a statue of Krishna, a didgeridoo, and probably a few more bits and pieces. I’m interested in other cultures and their beliefs, and I also appreciate the aesthetic value of these objects.

These objects pose no threat to my own Faith, and if someone else comes into my house and takes offence to them or views it as scandal then that’s their problem not mine. Our Parish Priests have certainly not been bothered by them when they’ve been round at my house.

I think we ought to lighten up a bit about such things. There is no harm in them so long as you don’t worship or venerate these items.
 
Brendan_64 said:
There is nothing at all wrong with it. It is certainly not a sin of any sort (not even venial) and so long as you don’t venerate these objects, then they are just objects of art, or objects of cultural interest.

I have several Buddha’s, a peace pipe, many Native American fetishes, a dream catcher, several statues of Egyptian gods, a statue of Krishna, a didgeridoo, and probably a few more bits and pieces. I’m interested in other cultures and their beliefs, and I also appreciate the aesthetic value of these objects.

These objects pose no threat to my own Faith, and if someone else comes into my house and takes offence to them or views it as scandal then that’s their problem not mine. Our Parish Priests have certainly not been bothered by them when they’ve been round at my house.

I think we ought to lighten up a bit about such things. There is no harm in them so long as you don’t worship or venerate these items.
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With respect Brendan just because you have them doesn’t make them alright. I’ve known two exorcist priests who would get on their knees and beg you to remove those things from your home. Objectively those things are used for evil or represent something anti-Christ (as well as the scandal factor). They could even be possessed or cursed. There are many beautiful things you can put into your home, you don’t need to resort to false gods, anti-Christs and objects understood to be new agey and foreign to Christianity.

It’s all good and well saying that if someone is scandalized it’s their problem not yours. Well… moral theology actually says that it is your problem, and your sin.

Who am I, you can do what you like, but come judgement day I wouldn’t want to explain to the God who died for me that that I fancied the beauty of a false god (i.e. demon) so I put it into my home.

What is the function of art? It’s not neutral. That would be besides the point. Art is a form of veneration in itself (not to say it’s worship or replaces God). It’s appreciation of beauty, and it’s a way to raise ones mind to God through the appreciation of beautiful scenes, historical moments, people, saints, etc. Which is why up until a few hundred years ago art was so beautiful. Then we lost God, and art became ugly, distorted, sometimes perverse. The point is that having a Hindu god or Bhudda in the home means that in fact you are finding the need to venerate something beautiful in a demon/false god who misleads thousands into hell every day. I’m not saying it’s done on purpose or a mortal sin (of course not) but I’m just looking at it in a philosophical way trying to get to the root of the function of art and what role it plays in selecting what things we put into our home. Our art, our decorations are an expression and extension of who we are and what we wish to express to the world. Do you want to express that you think Hindu demons are okay? As for me, if I ever would have a demonic figure in my home I would probably have it with a noose around it’s neck with St Michael stamping on it, but that’s a bit strange and morbid though it expresses the truth well.

God Bless you.
 
WildCatholic said:
For example. I have a Kachina doll that I bought on a trip to Arizona. For those who don’t know, Kachina’s are figures who dance in Pueblo indian ceremonies (particularly the Hopi) and a lot of sculptures and artists make statues and dolls of Kachinas.

Anyway, is it wrong of me to have one since it is a representation of a pagan god? Its not like I worship it. I just like the way it looks. What about things like Buddha statues or Native American or African Tribal items that are religious in nature. Is it idol worship even if we don’t worship it?
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Popes receive gifts from those of different cultures and religions. Don’t try to incorporate anything into your practice of Catholicism and you should be fine.
 
Basilios said:
With respect Brendan just because you have them doesn’t make them alright. I’ve known two exorcist priests who would get on their knees and beg you to remove those things from your home.
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Many thanks for your advice, but I have to respectfully disagree with you.

There is nothing, absolutely nothing in the teachings of the Catholic Church that says that to have such things in your house is not permitted. It is NOT sinful to do so. Saying that it is wrong to have such things in one’s house is a case of over-scrupulosity (something that seems to be very prevalent on CAF. Why do people feel the need to add extra things as being sinful, in addition to the teachings of our Church?

And as for me committing a sin should another Catholic take offence at these in my home. With all due respect, that is just not true. There is nothing in the teachings of our Church that says that having such items is a sin. I am not worshiping or venerating them and if, I have done nothing wrong. If someone else falsely thinks I have then that is their problem, not mine.

My personal faith is not so weak that it can be threatened by a few interesting looking baubles.

I think my own personal saints (St Jude, St Michael Archangel, St Joan or Arc, and St Francis of Assisi) and of course the Sacred Heart will guard me from a few pretty baubles.
 
To ask whether something is a sin or not is the wrong question, we must ask, “How does this action of mine help my brother or sister?”

Consider what St. Paul has to say:
1 Corinthians 8:4-13 (CPDV)
But as to the foods that are immolated to idols, we know that an idol in the world is nothing, and that no one is God, except One. For although there are things that are called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, (if one even considers there to be many gods and many lords) yet we know that there is only one God, the Father, from whom all things are, and in whom we are, and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom all things are, and by whom we are. But knowledge is not in everyone. For some persons, even now, with consent to an idol, eat what has been sacrificed to an idol. And their conscience, being infirm, becomes polluted. Yet food does not commend us to God. For if we eat, we will not have more, and if we do not eat, we will not have less. But be careful not to let your liberty become a cause of sin to those who are weak. For if anyone sees someone with knowledge sitting down to eat in idolatry, will not his own conscience, being infirm, be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols? And should an infirm brother perish by your knowledge, even though Christ died for him? So when you sin in this way against the brothers, and you harm their weakened conscience, then you sin against Christ. Because of this, if food leads my brother to sin, I will never eat meat, lest I lead my brother to sin.
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Eating meat sacrificed to idols is not a sin in itself, because the idols are just statues; they are nothing. However, scandal is when our actions lead our brothers and sisters into sin, and this is a sin in itself, because we care more about ourselves than our brothers’ immortal soul. Sometimes, we must sacrifice things that we want or like out of love for our brothers and sisters.

Today, this is most important in the case of statues of Buddha, because their are many people who think it is okay to be bother Buddhist and Catholic. If someone is struggling with this and sees a statue of Buddha in the house or yard of a known Catholic, or near other Catholic artifacts, it may very well weaken their will in their struggle with their faith.

I am not directing this at any one person, we all need to consider how our actions can lead others into sin. For example, when we engage in gossip, we lead our friends into the sin of gossip. Our actions do affect the people around us, and we are our brothers’ keepers.

God bless all of you.

Fr. Bryan
 
I have a number of the standard Catholic decorations and items: crucifix, lil’ holy water font for my bedroom door, pictures of Jesus, Mary and the like.

I also have a fondness for skulls, and many of those decorate my room. It started as a teenage thing, when I was insecure about myself, and I took comfort in surrounding myself with “tough-guy” symbols. Later, I came to see them as a good memento mori, a reminder of life’s brevity (without diminishing its joy) and what to consider truly important and not.

A former priest who did some spiritual advising for me saw nothing wrong with that, and even mentioned that many pictures of St. Francis are depicted with a skull somewhere, for the same reasons.

So, to answer the OP, I think it depends on context and intent.
 
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