Worshipping Statues

[YipYupYep]

The part about our statues and crucifix. Idolatry and all that.

First, I tell other faith persons that we don’t worship the statue. We don’t believe the statue of Mary is actually Mary. Not an idol. An object of art but more, at the same time.

I call it a body without a sole. ( as I have been told ) No magical powers. Not possessed with some type of spirit. Just plaster, wood or stone. No spirit inside. However, I compare it to the American Flag. It just a piece of cloth really, but what does it represent? That is what we protect. What we love. Like the Statue of Mary, the flag is an object of beauty. We want to see it above any other flag, here at home. Like the crucifix, the Flag may never be disrespected. Even venerated, not for what it is, some strips of cloth sown together, but for what is behind it. What it stands for.

That’s the short answer. Most can relate to that.

 

[Afterthought]

I wouldn’t blame them. Although you talk to god when you pray, with all the representations of Jesus and whatnot, naturally people would think you would.

The same misconception with pretty much every religion that has representations of their deities could be found. This is no special case.

If you are offended, tell them so, and then explain why and what really is supposed to happen when you pray towards a picture of a saint.

 

[ericka1701]

When I hear someone pass along misinformation about the Church, I’ll say something like “Wow, in my 5 years of studying Catholicism, and less than a year of being a full-fledged Catholic, I never came across that information in the Catechism or any other Catholic writings. Actually what I learned was…”

A little humor (even some sarcasm) might make the other person more receptive than an “in your face” approach. Although the “in your face” approach is very appropriate for those who keep spreading lies about the Catholic Church. Charity first… then smacking someone over the head with a Catechism if that doesn’t work.

God Bless!
Ericka

 

[GraceDK]

I did not defend it because usually when you try to defend really anything about your personal beliefs, others will fail to understand and then, try their best to defend their belief in the misconceptions you are debunking. That, to me, is a stalemate and somewhat of a waste of time.

Sure … sometimes it turns out that way. However I have not experienced it more than a few times. Most times I have been successful. However, if I loose my calm, or if the other person is not willing to hear at all, its then that it goes wrong.
Thats why we gotta know something about being diplomatic, the basics about rhetorics… eg. Socrates method was pretty good, and paying attention to the other persons points while remaining calm during such situations at all times.
As for me - and I am a convert to Catholicism and have little sympathy for the passivity of so many Christians that leaves Evangelisation(most importantly) and apologetics up to everyone else -
I think its always, always worth the try. Even when we fail. You might have been caught of guard… Dont feel bad about it. It happend to me once too. That was once too many… after that I got myself educated so it did not happen again.
But lets all be patient with ourselves and others

Grace

 

[mystagogia]

A few days ago, in my AP Psych class, we had finished our final and had a bit of time to just talk.

We (two of my classmates and I) got into a discussion about eating healthy, and I mentioned that went Lent comes, I was going to give up meat [because it is my first Lent since my Confirmation], so I’m really gonna lose some weight.

Both of the girls I was talking to were Protestant. One asked what Lent was, and I explained it accurately. She told me that she never really knew the difference between Christian and Catholic. Before I could give a response, the other Christian girl assumed, “They worship Mary, saints… statues.”

In my head, I was thinking, Geez, be careful. That’s my heritage you’re talking about.

I wasn’t too offended, but I was amazed at how little many people knew about other faiths, in general–not just Catholicism. It seems as if when it is unknown, it is more demonized. I was always aware of that, but it never looked so real to me at that moment.

At least now, I’m going to work harder to defend my own past religion, especially if I’m going to defend others for the sake of their presence.

But what would you have done differently?

Ironically Yours, Blade and Blood

It isn’t clear to me what you did in response to the situation. Did you let the comment pass unremarked?

There’s a good chance your friend was simply parroting what she has been told and led to believe in her own church or by her own parents. I was taught Catholics practiced idolatry in my Baptist church coming up, in exactly the same sort of cadences, “They worship Mary, pray to statues and to saints instead of Jesus, etc.”

What I would do today were I in a similar situation would be to try a friendly and cordial explanation hoping to clear up matters and bring out some better understanding. I’d say, “No, that’s not accurate. We have one God, the Father, the Almighty; one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God …”

 

[BrianStacy]

I have the same problem with family and friends…

What should one do if the person continually brings it up after having been asked to drop the subject and refuses to hear the truth regarding the issue?