Sure, the art can be beautiful, but I’m not sure of the relevance here? Doesn’t change that people pray to them all the time, in direct contravention of one of the Commandments of their religion, not does it unmolest a single child.
My personal take is that Jesus was a cool dude with some good ideas, but the majority of people who claim to follow his teachings don’t, and that’s why we are where we’re at.
The relevance is that conflating idolatry with the majority of Western art over the last two millennia is a little hyperbolic.
There is a lot of beautiful Catholic art. I understand the Muslim argument against portraying the human form, and they have some beautiful art and architecture.
The statues or paintings (or reproductions) aren’t necessary to the prayers any more than the rosary beads are. I doubt you’ll find many Catholics who would claim the objects held much importance other than being something to look at or hold. The same goes for the candles, incense, and vestments. They’re fun props, but most people understand they’re only that.
Some people don’t like them, and that’s okay too. I don’t understand the appeal of Southern Baptist services or church buildings.
My reading of the text forbids praying to gods other than the One True God or to graven idols, rules which the practices of Catholicism break on the regular. That’s my opinion, based on the text as written, and it’s not changing unless the text does.
As to the practice itself, I couldn’t give a shit beyond the fact that it makes Catholics who pray to saints hypocrites. If you want to defend it, defend it to your god, but I’m pretty sure he’d prefer the rampant child abuse to be taken care of first.
I love all the statues, paintings, and knickknacks. They’re not necessary for prayer, but they can be nice when they’re well done.
I saw El Greco’s Assumption of the Virgin in Chicago a few weeks ago. It was really stunning.
Sure, the art can be beautiful, but I’m not sure of the relevance here? Doesn’t change that people pray to them all the time, in direct contravention of one of the Commandments of their religion, not does it unmolest a single child.
My personal take is that Jesus was a cool dude with some good ideas, but the majority of people who claim to follow his teachings don’t, and that’s why we are where we’re at.
The relevance is that conflating idolatry with the majority of Western art over the last two millennia is a little hyperbolic.
There is a lot of beautiful Catholic art. I understand the Muslim argument against portraying the human form, and they have some beautiful art and architecture.
But I like Christian art too.
Good thing I didn’t do that, then. I’m referring to the literal prayers to Mary, uttered before literal statues of Mary.
The statues or paintings (or reproductions) aren’t necessary to the prayers any more than the rosary beads are. I doubt you’ll find many Catholics who would claim the objects held much importance other than being something to look at or hold. The same goes for the candles, incense, and vestments. They’re fun props, but most people understand they’re only that.
Some people don’t like them, and that’s okay too. I don’t understand the appeal of Southern Baptist services or church buildings.
My reading of the text forbids praying to gods other than the One True God or to graven idols, rules which the practices of Catholicism break on the regular. That’s my opinion, based on the text as written, and it’s not changing unless the text does.
As to the practice itself, I couldn’t give a shit beyond the fact that it makes Catholics who pray to saints hypocrites. If you want to defend it, defend it to your god, but I’m pretty sure he’d prefer the rampant child abuse to be taken care of first.
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