Relics and Idolatry?

[BListon]

If a relic (such as the crown of thorns, or the head of John the Baptist, or a piece of the true cross) turns out to be fake… was it Idolatry to have venerated it?

 

[thewanderer]

Idolatry is giving worship that belongs to God himself to anything which is not God.

So unless one was actually worshipping the relic as though the relic itself were God then one would not have been engaged in idolatry. Whether the relic is real or not makes no difference.

 

[George_Stegmeir]

Idolatry is giving worship that belongs to God himself to anything which is not God.

So unless one was actually worshipping the relic as though the relic itself were God then one would not have been engaged in idolatry. Whether the relic is real or not makes no difference.

Outstanding response!!!

 

[SecretGarden]

Can someone explain what is the difference between venerating relics and idolatry? I personally don’t see a difference between the two.

 

[catholictiger]

If a relic (such as the crown of thorns, or the head of John the Baptist, or a piece of the true cross) turns out to be fake… was it Idolatry to have venerated it?

not idolatry but I think it be pretty bad if you knew it wasn’t real but you still venerated it.

but because your intent was that of wanting to grow closer to God, through the relic then you don’t have to worry.