About Catholics and Statues

The short answer: We have statues of the people we look up to not unlike having a picture on the wall of a long dead grandparent.

Here is some more detail that you might be interested in reading: Do Catholics Worship Statues?

Thanks for answering Rick! (I haven't seen you around for a long time heh!)

I'll take a look at the link you provided.

I'm around...but "invisible" - lurking in the shadows

LOL! I haven't seen you posting that is to say. Now now, I don't want to hijack my on thread, Cya then! I'll have a look at the link. There's pretty much to read...

Unknown008,
Yes Rick provided some excellent links to ponder with.
An idol is something that is worshiped such as in paganism.
Catholics do not worship statues just as people in a city park do not worship the statue of some person or hero that has been placed there.
The statues you might see in a cathedral are representative of saintly people held in high esteem.
Peace and kindness,
Fred

Hi, Unknown008!

My own, personal view on this, is that statues and any other representations of things or people in the form of statuary, paintings, ornaments, altar decorations and ornaments, chancel decorations and ornaments, rosaries, etc. That are placed in and around church buildings, in cemeteries, etc. Can also be viewed as works of art. They most often are used as remembrances, commemorations and things to have to help us to be "in touch" in some tangible way with the things that we might believe as a matter of faith.

Works of art can be and are reflections of something that has happened in the past, how people feel or felt about something, how people might perceive things to be in their "world", or in the "world" of others and many other things.

Centuries ago, people in many different faiths didn't have cameras, t.v. Or any of the other modern ways was "capturing" something, other than writing it down, so that it would stand the test of time. So, creating works of art, was a way of being able to have something that would last into the future so as to help generations in the future to be reminded of an historical event; somebody that should be remembered and thought about because of what that person taught and/or believed; to be reminded of the reasons as to why people of any certain faith might believe what they do and why they do things the way that they do in the practice of their faith, etc.

How people created their art because a matter of custom and tradition.

Examples of what a couple works of art within the Christian tradition might represent:

Paintings, pictures and statuary of praying hands is a reminder of a way to pray, and also to pray.

Paintings, pictures and statuary of Jesus hanging on the cross, are reminders of the suffering that Jesus went through to redeem us from our sins. In many denominations, Jesus is shown on the cross, but represented in such a way as showing that he had power over sin and death.

What those things represent, will also vary, depending on the belief of the individual.

Different denominations have different traditions that they like to continue over time. This is even true between different congregational bodies within a single denomination.

Thanks!

The point is that, here, not only do Catholics kneel to the statues (which I just read that is does not necessarily mean that they worship the statue) but they do also mention the name of for example, Virgin Mary, look after us.... Etc. The fact that they strike the statues, give them offerings, pray to them is what makes me think that they are worshipping idols.

Then maybe not all Catholics are like that, as I understand from the link given by Rick, and thanks again for that. I did think all Catholics were the same everywhere (silly me). The link made things clearer, as well as your answers. But I also think that in my country, there are some, is not most, catholics who are 'extremists'.

Fred an idol is something that takes the place of God, this is why the people were told not to make images, because God didn't want them using someoneelse's image when they were relating to him. Today people have many idols but this whole statue thing has missed the point, the relationship is supposed to be one on one with God, there isn't supposed to be anyone else in the picture. Just another case of tradition nullifying the Word of God.

In this case the Catholic Church threw away one of God's commandments

Fred's answer was perfectly understandable. You have managed to twist it into something it was never intended to be. Obviously, the Catholic Church did not "throw away one of God's commandments". Equally obviously, you have a thing re the Catholic Church. One would think, in the 21st century, the canard about Catholics worshiping statues would be finally put to rest. Apparently not in your world.