As I slowly work my way through the Old Testament, I've come on many a verse in which God tries to dissuade his followers from making graven images and idols. For example, in Isaiah 44:9-10, it states:
Yet, if we look at Christendom today, it appears that his followers aren't paying attention. Many of today's churches look like the Taj Mahal! Some are decked out in gold and silver. The finest wood and stone is used. Giant crosses -- a graven image? -- adorn the sanctuary. Some even have paintings or reprints that feature pictures of Jesus (who is also God).
Some folks have gone even farther than that by erecting gigantic Jesus statues or monuments that can be seen for miles. Shouldn't all this ornateness be sacrilegious? Doesn't it fly in the face of the prohibition of idols and graven images?
To see what other questions I've asked about the Christian Bible, go here.
They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed. Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing?So, God seems really set against 1) making images of other gods (which he acknowledges the existence of early on, but later claims they do not exist) and 2) he's not too keen on graven images of himself either.
Yet, if we look at Christendom today, it appears that his followers aren't paying attention. Many of today's churches look like the Taj Mahal! Some are decked out in gold and silver. The finest wood and stone is used. Giant crosses -- a graven image? -- adorn the sanctuary. Some even have paintings or reprints that feature pictures of Jesus (who is also God).
Some folks have gone even farther than that by erecting gigantic Jesus statues or monuments that can be seen for miles. Shouldn't all this ornateness be sacrilegious? Doesn't it fly in the face of the prohibition of idols and graven images?
To see what other questions I've asked about the Christian Bible, go here.
As a former Roman Catholic, I can offer this: Catholics are often accused by Protestants of worshipping idols, but we respond that we don't pray to the statue, but use it as a reminder or a stand in for the senses, while we pray to the soul of the saint in heaven.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I'd add that for Protestants and all Christians, the Bible is the most popular idol going. Same goes for Jews and Muslims with their respective texts, and to a lesser degree to Eastern religions.
Here's an interesting page
http://www.catholic.com/tracts/do-catholics-worship-statues
Brandon is quite correct. And the faiths--RC, Protestant, Islamic, all hold The Book in greatest esteem. And mot eastern faiths are fundamentally text-based, but have buddhas and dieties and other structures to illustrate points.
ReplyDeleteI personally like the bells and smells of temples and cathedrals and mosques are awesome. I also like the natural awe of mountain, sea and desert. What's wrong with awe?
On the other hand, Bernard-Henri Levy observed in American Vertigo that today in America, all the churches look like banks and the banks all look like churches.
ReplyDelete"On the other hand, Bernard-Henri Levy observed in American Vertigo that today in America, all the churches look like banks and the banks all look like churches."
ReplyDeleteThat tells you what the average American is worshiping. $$$$$ This goes for whether you need it and want it, or if you have it and want more.