Catholics vs Christians

I have been a member of the Catholic Church and on Idol worship I have to defend it. Some of the Catholic church does parctice this, in error. I believe in the mercy of God as I'm sure you do Dreamer. God judges us according to our heart. If in our heart we feel guilty for doing a thing, it is because we know it is a wrong. But if a person does a wrong and does not know it is wrong, they do not feel guilty and are not judged by it.

Mother Theresa practiced this, and I don't think God even blinked. A portion of Catholic church has realized its error and has organized a program called the renew program. This program is so protestant, you wouldn't even know it was Catholic. It has been many years since I've been envolved in it. So I don't know how strong it ever became, but I do know changes came from it.

"A fool says I know and a wise man says I wonder."

I know you are correct that if someone does not know, then they are not judged by it.

Idol worship was not something Mother Theresa did.

Idol worship is in fact, a completely different thing than what today's mankind understands it to be.
For instance, stamps could be an idol. Or guns, or beer or wine. Anything that is more important than God, is idol worship.

If you take time out to 'collect' something, and it involves a full day to do so. Or anything you do above and beyond contemplating God, or giving thanks and praise to Him, is idol worship.

People believe it is about statutes, and icons. In fact, they are harmless because they might sit in someone's house. They might have an honorable spot in someone's house, but the people are not dweeling on them, praying TO them as though they are their gods. They are there for reflection and remembrance for the 'RETURN PATH' I call it, that involves people to remember to stop, ponder, and reflect on all that God gave us.

So which is more harmful Okcity?
A statute that gives brief reflection back to Heavenly things, which is a return path to God, or a complete collection of guns?

Not that I am against guns. What I am saying is that anything that consumes you more than God, is an idol.
Computers for some, is an idol.
Porn is an idol, well, I could make my list go on, but basically it comes down to how we tend not realise just what worship is outside of God.

Pagans worshipped statutes, true, but they truly offered up items, prayers, alms, and such TO the stututes and they did NOT believe in the single God. But many. They erred and made God jealous. They believed that 'Venus' gave them Love. When in fact, God gave us His love, and that Zeus was father to gods, when in fact God our Father.

Today we might not necessarily 'have god and goddess' statutes...but look around the world today.
Many left the churches, and they have 'hobbies' that they put far above God. They would rather be an avid movie goer, and make the screen their god, because it is more pleasurable to them to seek this entertainment than to attend a congregation or a mass to worship the true, and the only God. Who requires at least 52 hours out of the year, as a return for proof we do thank Him and care.
In return He gives us water, air, animals, flowers, sunshine, stars, oceans, food. The list is massive.

Let me ask, did I make the point I was trying to?

"Even though is difficult, I can still dream."

Yes - you made a good point.

Now - to dig deeper - Why do we believe in one God?

You don't have to answer that - I don't know the answer - Just curious.

But for the record - I don't believe God gets jelouse. I think God is bigger than that, I don't know why the scriptures say that?

"A fool says I know and a wise man says I wonder."

quote:

---

Now - to dig deeper - Why do we believe in one God?

---

"Even though is difficult, I can still dream."

quote:

---

Pagans worshipped statutes, true, but they truly offered up items, prayers, alms, and such TO the stututes and they did NOT believe in the single God. But many. They erred and made God jealous. They believed that 'Venus' gave them Love. When in fact, God gave us His love, and that Zeus was father to gods, when in fact God our Father.

---

"Terrorist or tyrant, few may come to the Truth that both are poor choice."

Pagans are a general term from WAY BACK..and not necessarily those used now to wiccans. Etc.
Idols are a form of worship in many ways besides statues these days. Anything or one who replaces God, and is worshiped in clever ways above God.
I think I am not clear. Sorry.

"Even though is difficult, I can still dream."

I have heard some conservative christians call nature worship idol worship. This is what the pegans did, they worshiped nature. However - the indians had the "the spirit" and there were others who had a single entity that they worshiped.

My arguement is: "We don't know what God is?" We can decide for ourselves what we think, but we're not smart enough to tell another that they are mistaken. Christianity today teaches the trinity, Islam calls this an abomination and so do some Jews. But if we can believe in the trinity, why can't we believe in seperating the one God into tenths, or even hundredths.

Anyways - In nature I have found God. To me, nature is a mirror image of God. To understand God more fully, one must study nature. I kind of appreciate any religion that has nature as its basis.

Concerning the old (pegan) religions. We really don't know what they believed. Just like the Gnostic religion. It's all guess work putting the small scraps that are left together. I'm sure that what is practiced today is nothing like yesterday. Some of these Pegan religions were vary violent. The Vikings (they believed in one God), they had some very horrible traditions.

"A fool says I know and a wise man says I wonder."

"We don't know what God is?"

God is an enigma. There is no absolute. But He did make man in His image.
Read Wisdom, it might help you understand God.
He is one with 3 natures. Natures as in JOBS blended with beings.
Not an easy concept to render to ourselves. But neither is omnipotent, nor alpha and omega.

Nature is OF God, so it would be natural to find him in it.

Indians were completely wonderful. How astute they were.

Concerning the old (pegan) religions. We really don't know what they believed.
http://www.roman-empire.net/religion/religion.html

http://www.bulfinch.org/

"Even though is difficult, I can still dream."

quote:

---

I have heard some conservative christians call nature worship idol worship. This is what the pegans did, they worshiped nature.
Concerning the old (pegan) religions. We really don't know what they believed. Just like the Gnostic religion.

Pagans are a general term from WAY BACK..and not necessarily those used now to wiccans. Etc.
Nice link but I had to cut& paste to access the link

---

"Terrorist or tyrant, few may come to the Truth that both are poor choice."

Anything that chnages the nature of the One God, or is put above God is worship of Idols.
To change the nature of God to make Him feminine is seriously changing the nature of God.
In the original and longest standing scrolls, and thus turned into a text, called the bible, shows positively He is male. But His nature is NOT against woman. He has made man of His image and her of man's. So she too is part of God's image. But His nature is male.

"Even though is difficult, I can still dream."

"Pagans worshipped statutes, true, but they truly offered up items, prayers, alms, and such TO the stututes and they did NOT believe in the single God."
They give it to their gods through the intermediary of the statues. They don't give it to the statue, but to whichever god the statue represents.
The statue is just a symbol for the god, much like the cross is for the christian God.

"Durch Nacht und Blut das Licht"

But the gods are false gods. Therefore they worship false gods, idols.

"Even though is difficult, I can still dream."

Well they believe those gods as are real as your God.
If God is false, would you be worshipping idols?

"Durch Nacht und Blut das Licht"

quote:

---

Well they believe those gods as are real as your God.
If God is false, would you be worshipping idols?

---

"Even though is difficult, I can still dream."

I don't see how pagan statues are different. They're just reminders of their own gods.
But this is pretty off topic so we might want to let it die.

"Durch Nacht und Blut das Licht"