Why do Catholics indulge in idol worship?

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   Vegas Eliasposted 13 years ago

   Why do Catholics indulge in idol worship?
   
   When idol worship is forbidden for Catholics why do they have so many statues in the Church and why do they garland the statues, or light candles in front of them or even pray standing in front of them? Is this not idol worship?

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   ackman1465posted 13 years ago

   If'n I were charged with assigning "headlines" to submittals.... for this one I would have made it:   Why do Catholics indulge in idle worship?".....

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      lstCitizenposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Better yet: Why are people falsely lead to believe that Catholics indulge in idle worship?

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      Vegas Eliasposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Hi Ackman, I am closing this question out of respect to the feelings of people like Mr.Larry Wall who has given a very neat and clear explanation to what looks like 'idol worship'. I don't feel further discussion is required.

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   lstCitizenposted 13 years ago

   Catholics do not worship idols.  Where did you get that idea?  Anyway it is completely false.

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      Vegas Eliasposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I think bowing down front of idols of saints, lighting candles in front of them, kissing the idols and standing and praying in front of them means worship; I got the idea from what happens in Catholic Churches all over India.

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      Larry Wallposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Catholics have over the centuries assigned certain tasks to various saints. St.Jude is the patrol saint of hopeless causes. Catholics do not pray to saints, they ask the saints for their intercession. Do not confuse reverance with worship.

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   ElleBeeposted 12 years ago

   If people pray to and worship the saints themselves, then yes this would be idol worship.  But that is a bit of a misunderstanding about what Catholics do.  As Larry Wall said below, Catholics have assigned certain tasks to various saints, and we revere - not worship - those saints. 
   
   For Catholics saints play two major roles - first they are our role models, second we ask them to pray for us.  In order to even be considered for sainthood these individuals had to lead good and pious lives wherein they sought to have a relationship with God and to make the world a better place for the people around them.  They are our role models in how to follow Christ.
   
   Second, assuming you are Christian, if you had a problem, would you ask your friends to pray for you?  This is what Catholics do with the saints.  We ask people who were great role models of what it means to have a great relationship with Christ to pray to Him for us!  And I don't know about you, but I need all the prayers I can get!

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   Larry Wallposted 12 years ago

   All right, it has been stated that Catholics do not worship idols. Requests to the Saints and to Mary are for intercession with God, asking them to put in a good word for you or someone you care about.
   
   Yes some Catholics do stand in front of statues and put there hand on it. That is not encouraged. It is an old custom that got started way back when. Some people do it to put their thoughts in the proper perspective.
   
   You can pray anywhere, people in a lot of faiths, feel they have to be in a Church to pray--it puts them in the right frame of mind, there are less distractions and they feel they can be closer to God.
   
   Catholics light candles. Big deal. The Candle is not much different than putting flowers on a Grave. It is simply a form of remembrance for a person who may be going through a difficult time, is facing a difficult decision, etc. The candle does not do anything, but in the moment you are lighting the Candle you are saying a prayer.
   
   Prayer is what it is all about and ultimately all prayers are to God. Sometimes people go through the practice of intercessory prayer. I learned that when I was a Baptist.
   
   I do not know how many times I have explained this in different questions, forums or comments.
   
   It is hard to believe that there is such a anti-Catholic mindset in existence today.
   
   Before you say it, yes the Church has made some serious mistakes in the past, mistakes the church has admitted to and works diligently to make sure they do not happen again. However, there has been such abuses, and instances of infidelity and other offenses in almost every religion. The Catholic church, being a world wide and so recognizable  is the poster child for those who want to put down believers in God.
   
   You have the right to practice any religion nor no religion. The Constitution guarantees it. You do not have to bash the Catholic church for things you do not understand. There is much about the Jewish faith, the Muslims and Buddists that I do not understand. I do not make fun of their practices. I may not agree with them and would possibly pursue a one-on-one discussion with them.
   
   I would do my home work first. You could have Google your question and gotten a lot more information.
   
   Finally, the the person who use the term "idle worship." Praying to God,  no matter what path you take to do it, should ever be thought upon as idle.
   
   God bless you.

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      Vegas Eliasposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Larry, I respect your feelings but as a Catholic I found no priest or church leader taking pains to explain things to the laity. Many ignorant Catholics at least in India are actually doing idol worship by actually worshiping statues  of saints.

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