21
votes
Accepted
Did Tertullian forbid Christians from being school teachers?
Prohibition on teaching
Tertullian does indeed forbid Christians from pursuing the profession of a school teacher, in De Idololatria, Chapter 10:
Undoubtedly Christians are not allowed to be ...
- 42.3k
8
votes
Accepted
How do Catholics answer the question of idol worship within the faith?
I understand your concern, as a former Protestant, I'll do my best to be concice.
First of all, the official teaching of the Church concerning worship is as follows.
Idolatry
2112 The first ...
- 1,090
7
votes
Accepted
Why are relics that can perform miracles not idols?
Fr. Ronald Knox (a good guy to read if you're a fan of Chesterton) wrote:
In a word, we are treating material objects and vocal formulas as the occasions upon which God himself will see fit to ...
- 34k
6
votes
Is it permissible for a Catholic to pray the Salat?
It is forbidden for Catholics to engage in communicatio in sacris—joining non-Catholics in their false worship or prayer, e.g., worshiping Islam's false god Allah, who is not the Holy Trinity:
1917 ...
- 38.5k
6
votes
Accepted
Has the prohibition against construction and veneration of statues and images been abrogated?
This is about correct teaching and the meanings of latria and worship.
TL;DR(1): if the bishops do not ensure proper teaching regarding
religious images, they let the faithful down. That's where the ...
- 6,707
6
votes
Accepted
Does God will the diversity of religion?
No, the diversity of sects is due to the sin of man.
2 Peter 2:1But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there shall be among you lying teachers who shall bring in sects of ...
- 38.5k
5
votes
Is belief or faith the same as idolatry?
To paraphrase your question, it seems like you're asking if the transcendence of God precludes true knowledge of God.
The answer is no.
The transcendence of God means that God is beyond our full ...
- 19.7k
5
votes
Accepted
Why did Justin Martyr speak so harshly about Christians who ate meat sacrificed to idols?
Justin Martyr (100–165), unfortunately, doesn't provide much additional insight into his position here or in his other writings. However, his view was a common one in the 2nd and 3rd centuries, so we ...
- 42.3k
5
votes
Accepted
Where does Calmet write when idolatry began?
Dictionnaire historique ... de la Bible
Usually when someone cites Calmet, it is a reference to his 1722 Dictionnaire historique, critique, chronologique, géographique et littéral de la Bible, ...
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5
votes
Accepted
Have any Protestant leaders in Korea expressly supported the destruction of Buddhist statues?
It is hard to believe that more than a small minority of Korean Christian clergy would provide any support or encouragement for acts of vandalism against the sacred objects of another religion. ...
- 14.4k
5
votes
Are Lutherans comfortable with worshipping a consecrated host or do they consider it to be idolatry?
The Book of Concord condemns the adoration of the elements, though without specifically calling it idolatry:
On the other hand, we unanimously reject and condemn all the following erroneous articles, ...
- 19.7k
4
votes
How do Catholics answer the question of idol worship within the faith?
Whenever I defend the Catholic faith I use the specific teachings and decrees from Church councils (especially the first 8 as they came before the Orthodox split) as much as possible as they form the ...
- 41
3
votes
Why are relics that can perform miracles not idols?
Idolatry
Idolatry is, as the name suggests, that which concerns the worship of idols.
Since they (idols) are not God, idolatry is the worship of whatever is not God. That is, anything that is not God; ...
- 8,260
3
votes
According to the Roman Catholic Church, is halal meat being offered up to idols?
The Roman Catholic Church does not teach that food certified by either the appropriate Jewish authorities as meeting requirements for Kosher certification, or by Islamic authorities as meeting ...
- 5,623
3
votes
Are Lutherans comfortable with worshipping a consecrated host or do they consider it to be idolatry?
Here is a quote from a Lutheran theologian, Rev Paul T. McCain:
The Lord gave it to us to eat and to drink, not to tuck away somewhere
to “adore” it outside of its instituted use
However, here ...
- 416
3
votes
Has the prohibition against construction and veneration of statues and images been abrogated?
It seems like you want to embrace Iconoclasm, but cannot bring yourself to leave the Barque of Peter. Unfortunately, however, I cannot write anything not backed up by sources, so I fear it will be ...
- 2,795
3
votes
Accepted
Whom do Biblical Unitarians serve?
Because God (the Father) and Jesus Christ are aligned in purpose and will, and because Christ is God in the sense of representation, and because Christ has been granted Vice-regency (Kingship) by God ...
- 6,568
3
votes
Whom do Jehovah's Witnesses serve?
Jehovah’s Witnesses worship only Jehovah God. They neither worship nor pray to Jesus. Here is an extract from their official web site that may help to shed light on the subject:
Jehovah's Witnesses ...
- 29.7k
3
votes
Arguments for and against images of God
I couldn't find in the Bible the words of Elijah that were paraphrased in that book about him. Someone else may find them and quote them from the Bible. However, the prophet Isaiah wrote many ...
- 27k
2
votes
Accepted
Why do Syrian Orthodox churches use only paintings and not sculptures, unlike Catholic churches?
I am, in fact a Catholic. I was intrigued by your question and so I decided to do some religious research with my Catechism books. So according to the books: The first commandment forbids the making ...
- 180
2
votes
Accepted
Does St. Thomas Aquinas think idolatry is the main cause of homosexuality?
St. Thomas Aquinas treats the causality of homosexuality in his exegesis of Romans 1:24, cap. 1 l. 7:
139. But since impurity of this kind is a sin, it seems that God would not give men over to it: ...
- 38.5k
2
votes
Accepted
Is it permissible for a Catholic to pray the Salat?
Ask your priest. There are a lot of good reasons for attending non-Catholic religious ceremonies and Islamic ones are no exception. Your key concern-- whether or not the actions you are considering ...
- 1,527
2
votes
How do Catholics answer the question of idol worship within the faith?
From the good 'ol Catechim of Trent (or Catechism for Parish Priests; issued 1566) (under the First Commandment):
The Above Words Do Not Forbid All Images
Let no one think that this ...
- 8,260
2
votes
Does God will the diversity of religion?
He says; religions, race colour, sex, and languages.
This gives a definitely heretical meaning, as false religions lead souls to hell and are a work of darkness, but race, colour and sex are ...
2
votes
Accepted
What is the difference between obeisance and worship?
The best way to address this question is to start with definitions.
Definition of obeisance
1 : a movement of the body made in token of respect or submission : bow
//After making his obeisances he ...
- 4,693
2
votes
Where in the Bible does it show the Israelites worshiping gods on their way to the promised land?
Well, the BIG one is the golden calf they worshiped at mount Sinai. You can read about that in Exodus 32.
I wasn't able to find any other Moses-era or Joshua-era instances of ACTUAL idolatry, though. ...
- 121
2
votes
How do Unitarians understand 1 Corinthians 1:2?
The answer depends on the type of Unitarian one means. Christian Unitarians often believe that salvation involves accepting Jesus and "calling on his name," while rejecting the idea of the ...
- 5,320
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