What is Idolatry?

My religion teacher taught us that it is an act of worshiping somebody or something other than God. She was a Catholic nun.

So, I asked her, "So, are you an idolater?"
She asked, "Why did you ask that? Of course not."
Then I told her, "Why do you wear a crucifix and a scapular around your neck?"
She didn't answer. Instead, she marked her attendance sheet across my name "Absent".

Well, what can I do? Now, I'm asking in this forum..

In your opinion, what is IDOLATRY?

Thank you for whatever responses you'll make.🙂

Much of this Christian/Jewish/Muslims view on idolatry
comes from their view that since pagan gods like Baal
or Jupiter or Al-Uzza don't exist, then to now before
their images is to bow before a piece of clay or stone.
Since these gods are not real, then pagans are just
worshipping statues and images, nothing more.

By contrast, for Christians, Jesus Christ is real, so to
kneel before a crusifx is not to worship the object itself,
but He whome it represents or symbolizes.

I suppose a pagan worshiper could have also said the
same thing, that he worships and revers not the statue
of Jupitr, but he whome it represents.

Ofcourse, Jews and Muslims (as well as some early
Christians) refused to ahve any visual representation
of the Divine, partly because they didn't want to be doing
anything like the surrounding pagans, and partly because
they realised that God is beyond understanding or knowing.

Good question though, Jury.

Originally posted by Jury
My religion teacher taught us that it is an act of worshiping somebody or something other than God. She was a Catholic nun.

So, I asked her, "So, are you an idolater?"
She asked, "Why did you ask that? Of course not."
Then I told her, "Why do you wear a crucifix and a scapular around your neck?"
She didn't answer. Instead, she marked her attendance sheet across my name "Absent".

Well, what can I do? Now, I'm asking in this forum..

[b]In your opinion, what is IDOLATRY?

Thank you for whatever responses you'll make.🙂 [/B]

It is worshiping a idol which is what you believe in.My twin sister has a budda stature that she worships for some reason.(we are jewish but non pratise ones)
And as for the cross thing I am not sure why christens wear that.JM 😮

Originally posted by King Burger
Much of this Christian/Jewish/Muslims view on idolatry
comes from their view that since pagan gods like Baal
or Jupiter or Al-Uzza don't exist, then to now before
their images is to bow before a piece of clay or stone.
Since these gods are not real, then pagans are just
worshipping statues and images, nothing more.

By contrast, for Christians, Jesus Christ is real, so to
kneel before a crusifx is not to worship the object itself,
but He whome it represents or symbolizes.

Do not make for yourselves any carved images
of anything that is in heaven, and on earth.
Do not bow down to them nor served them.

Does God mean the images of non-existing or nonreal things?
God said anything that is in heaven and on earth.
This assumes the existing and real things.

Jesus is in heaven. Mary was real.
Catholics, who claim to be Christians, created images of them...
Served them, bowing down before them, even kissed them.. etc.

Their worship to Jesus and Mary and the saints also extends to their images, pictures, and relics, why so?

🙂

The Amish don't have any kind of images or pictures for that matter. They don't have pictures of their loved ones. They decorate their houses with a lot of calenders with scenery pictures....I guess you can go that far....Not me.

Idolatry is bowing for a god

Originally posted by Jury
When God said...

Do not make for yourselves any carved images
of anything that is in heaven, and on earth.
Do not bow down to them nor served them.

Does God mean the images of non-existing or nonreal things?
God said anything that is in heaven and on earth.
This assumes the existing and real things.

Jesus is in heaven. Mary was real.
Catholics, who claim to be Christians, created images of them...
Served them, bowing down before them, even kissed them.. etc.

Their worship to Jesus and Mary and the saints also extends to their images, pictures, and relics, why so?

🙂

Hey, I'm just telling you what some think.

I guess many people have a hard time worshipping something
that they cannot see or visualize at all.

It seems she has the definition right. You have to understand it's a fair belief, and I partly believe it myself, that Jesus.God.Holy ghost are all the same being, just different parts, so in having such a thing as a cross, it's not idolating. Also, I've never heard of anyone worshiping Jesus, he says not to I believe...but they praise him, which is a different thing, since he said he was the only way to get to heaven, through him. Lastly...some people wear such things simply as a good luck charm...hope this helps! 🙂

Lastly...some people wear such things simply as a good luck charm

I guess Hinduism and possibly Sikhism would be counted as idolatry religion?

I suppose anything that worshipes images and or statues. But then again, cross is a symbol and jesus on the cross is a symbol too...so...hmm, tricky.

I'll say once again, I've yet to meet a person who worships the cross... 😉

Originally posted by Jury
When God said...

Do not make for yourselves any carved images
of anything that is in heaven, and on earth.
Do not bow down to them nor served them.

Does God mean the images of non-existing or nonreal things?
God said anything that is in heaven and on earth.
This assumes the existing and real things.

Jesus is in heaven. Mary was real.
Catholics, who claim to be Christians, created images of them...
Served them, bowing down before them, even kissed them.. etc.

Their worship to Jesus and Mary and the saints also extends to their images, pictures, and relics, why so?

🙂

It's interesting as well that God in the OT said to make an image of the Ark of The Covenant with the 2 angels on the top. Angels are in Heaven.

Are we to make an image or arn't we??

I'm an idolater. I spend way too much time playing on the computer and hanging out with my friends rather than on God.

Another way to look at it is that maybe God is pleased that you are enjoying the life He gave you.

Yes, I'm sure god wants us to enjoy ourselves, as long as we continue to know why we can. Also...I'm thinking, when god said not to make any graven images, he means it in more of a whole sentence, like if I said: Don't buy a cat and worship it!\ Ofcourse, I'm sure there may be a more imple explanation...but still, this one works as well really...old english and such is just strange... 😛

I'm an idolater. I spend way too much time playing on the computer and hanging out with my friends rather than on God

Originally posted by finti
you aint a monk are you?, so I dont see the problem

Originally posted by Jury
Jesus is in heaven. Mary was real.
Catholics, who claim to be Christians, created images of them...
Served them, bowing down before them, even kissed them.. etc.

Their worship to Jesus and Mary and the saints also extends to their images, pictures, and relics, why so?

🙂

I would really and honestly know what your hangup with Catholics is? Did a nun beat you once or what? For someone who professes to know so much about God and his compassion you display none of it. Almost every thread you create is a flamefest against Catholicism.

Originally posted by finti
Idolatry is bowing for a god

Idolatry etymologically denotes Divine worship given to an image... 🙂

And this "image" doesn't limit to God alone... it also extends to the images of Jesus, the saints and their relics, and the Blessed Virgin.

Originally posted by God Puppet
I'll say once again, I've yet to meet a person who worships the cross... 😉