I’d be more upset if they burned the Greek version, but then again, certain monks from St. Catherine’s monestary on Mt. Sinai were doing exactly that with the Codex that Tischendorf found of the LXX and NT (4th C - Codex Siniaticus, also known as Aleph) and I even forgive them!!!
I actually have to T-shirt that says (On the Front) ‘I’m Young, I’m British but Guess What?’ (On the Back) ‘I’m Catholic’ (with an outline of St Peters Basilica faded on the back). It does attract a few odd looks.So today I was at the book store, and a family christian store, I had noticed a large amount of Jesus paraphernalia in the form of fashion. I never really new what this was until I had a previous relationship with a fundamentalist girlfriend a couple years back.
After reading a lot of belligerent arguments online about " Catholic idol worship"
( in quotations ) ,and having them with my EX, GF.
I had noticed that most of the Christians wearing these shirts, hoodies, hats and bracelets are non-denominational or protestant in general
Going to mass on Sundays I have never seen anyone wearing such T-shirts that say
" get out of hell, free card " or "stop drop and roll , won’t save you in hell "
This post wasn’t made to start an " Idol Debate " as I really don’t care, but that being said,
if the same accusations are made towards myself as a Catholic, wouldn’t that be the
pot calling the kettle black if the protestant christian is the same person wearing the Jesus fashionable clothes. Seems like a successful way to make money if one wants to start a fashion business though. ( not what I would do )
Just throwing that out there, to everyone. …
Do you venerate this T-shirt?
Of course not, it is an outside witness to my faith, also quite ironic since most peoples opinion is that to be young is to be secular in this country.
certainly doesn’t sound like idolatry to me…:bible1:
many protestants are not iconoclastic, they dont disagree that the picture/ statue represents the human aspect of the divine subject.This is a true story.
When I first got married there was an older couple who lived acrossed from me. He was having these horrible dreams. like a darkness or something filling the room at night. It got so bad that he actually could not sleep at night.
The wife came over and asked me what they could do. I was like:shrug: So I asked my Dad, he said to tell them to put a Cruficix in front of the bed.
You can believe me or not, but the evil force never came back.
If you have a picture of God, a statue of him or the Blessed Mother etc. they are not false idols. They are true statues or pictures in the image of who they are.
God revealed himself AS MAN! The Blessed Mother as Woman, the prophets as real human men. They are not false images they are true images copied from what they truly looked like.
This is a true fact. study’s have been done. IF a thief is comming to rob 5 houses or a block. And they see a Statue of Christ, the Blessed Mother or a Saint they will bypass that house and rob another first. This is not to say they will not enter the house, but given a choice it will be the last they would pick.
Blessed Articles have powers. Not the kind you think. But when you have rosary’s blessed they become Holy. Because they are blessed with Holy Water. Anything HOLY is OF GOD!
When my daughter got married many non-Catholic’s were at her reception. Behind the table was the Cruficix. and 2 Statues. One kid cussed, Looked up and said to the Statue it was of St Peter on the other side of the Hall, he said looked up and said, Hey I am sorry Man, forgive me. ANd he didn’t cuss the rest of the night, NOT in fron of St Peter
He knew as we all know it is only a Statue, but he also although not Catholic, knew what it was a reminder and who it was a reminder of.
Thats what they are reminders of what was, what is, and what will continue to be. Alive souls that live forever and continue to watch over and protect us.
andrewstx,I think that is wonderfull Anna.
Honestly I don’t get out much since I can’t drive since the stroke. What I see in the diocese of northwest Texas is stagnation and loss of members. The mission in the small town I live in is closed, as are most of the small town missions. The tiny mission I was confirmed in is closed, years ago.
Most growth is in Christ Church a rapidly growing schismatic denomination. The parish I was in was once large and healthy, now it has shrunk dramatically. The bishop refuses to allow a new rector, and now they only have a “priest in charge”.
I think a lot of the problem is no-one wants to come here and serve. This has got to be the uglyist place on earth.
I never meant to attack your chruch. as you probably can tell it was dear to me at one time, it is beautifull with stained glass, statues, and all.
I just hope it can survive another generation, and that looks doubtfull.
Atheists take this same approach christosdavid. In other words, “Why become a Christian, just look at the behavior of Christians?!” The evangelical’s response is, “Don’t look at me, look to Jesus!”
This may or may not help you, but I think it may. See when someone is faithful to God, God in turn is faithful to them.
Also with the kissing of a picture, Do you ever see a older wormen, I say that because Grandma’s do this alot.
An example. One of my good friends wants to sell her home. She has buried a statue of St. Joseph upside down in the backyard because she has been told that will insure its sale. What about such traditions as that? Or what about praying to St. Anthony of Padua when you lose something? When you find it, it's a miracle due to his intervention. When you don't. well...
Don't many Catholics cross the line into the dangerous and murky area of superstition in such situations? In my mind this borders on paganism - such as astrology. Evangelical Protestants seem to have similar beliefs and practices, too.
Most Catholics I know, and certainly mainline Protestants, tends to shy away from such traditions that can be seductive but seem far removed from intelligent Christianity.I’ve never heard of that practice. I would deem the notion to border on superstition, though.
If a friend were present physically with you in the room and by their intervention they helped you to find a lost object, would you be against thanking them secondarily (and God primarily)?
In some cases, possibly. In others, no. What counts is where your heart is.
Asking the saints for help and appreciating their aid: this isn’t superstitious–otherwise Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Assyrian Church of the East adherents would in large numbers be in a perpetual state of sin by supposedly mixing Christianity with paganism.
Unfortunately I think this happens more often than it should. There is nothing wrong with relics as long as the focus (and intention) is on worshiping God and glorifying His name; when the intentions are misplaced (i.e., what can God do for me?) the practice can fall into superstition. In an ideal world, all Catholics would adhere to the Catechism (well, bible first, then catechism).