Is idolatry a problem in all of the world's religions or a problem in Christianity only?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 14:42:03 -0400

Response by Sgt Christopher Wenzel made Jul 15 at 2016 2:43 PM

Sgt Christopher Wenzel — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 14:43:27 -0400

Mostly Abrahamic religions pick out idolatry as a sin.

Response by Sgt William Biggs made Jul 15 at 2016 3:09 PM

Sgt William Biggs — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 15:09:13 -0400

This should be fun to watch. People get up in arms about religion on here.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 15 at 2016 3:55 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 15:55:17 -0400

I believe the mind tends to objectify everything, so there really is no getting around idolatry in some form or fashion. So long as you are able to remember that the physical or mental object you have created in your mind is just partial reflection of whats real, and that it is only a tool to honor that which is real... I believe your fine.

Response by Capt Chris McVeigh made Jul 15 at 2016 4:46 PM

Capt Chris McVeigh — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 16:46:47 -0400

It is only a problem if the religion in question prohibits it. In some religions, idols are a part of it.

Response by Capt Michael Greene made Jul 15 at 2016 4:47 PM

Capt Michael Greene — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 16:47:48 -0400

It's getting better: There is some hope for the human race.

I once went to Notre Dame for Christmas mass. Beautiful, ornate Gothic architecture with gargoyles and saints with symbols of how they died, and there was the most moving organ music coming from giant brass pipes that shook the walls and filled the air. The alter was made of stone. The priests and brothers were in long robes with tall hoods that covered them completely so you couldn't make out their faces. Then I realized that there wasn't a darn thing different from a Satanic mass. They had a lot of idols available at the gift shop near the back pews.

Last year at my local evangelical church, I couldn't help but notice that the symbol of adoration, the central figure to the entire ceremony, was a man on a cross. The whole congregation was smiling and singing, focused on a statue of a bleeding naked man being tortured to death. Just seemed a little weird to me that the God of Love demanded a sacrifice.

This year, I found a group inside a church where many people in the audience spoke to the group about ways of loving people, helping others, and encouraging education. A lot of them were older, highly educated and successful. They were very dedicated to peace, and supportive of the Constitution, civil rights, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The church was called Unitarian Universalist, and the people were mostly atheists and agnostics. They didn't kill people by beheading or crucifixion, and didn't insist that everyone else believe their way or else burn in Hell

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jul 16 at 2016 9:50 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 16 Jul 2016 09:50:10 -0400

That's an interesting question, I hadn't considered the whole topic from that perspective, though I can certainly perceive the point, of course. I quite honestly don't know what to think of the whole premise, truthfully, my wife is quite devout on the whole topic, actuappy.

Response by CPT Pedro Meza made Aug 17 at 2016 7:17 PM

CPT Pedro Meza — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 19:17:07 -0400

Saints, crosses, images, etc. yep it is a problem. Now given that Jesus is Jewish and not Christian what do Jewish people say say?

Response by PO3 Phyllis Maynard made May 9 at 2018 7:33 PM

PO3 Phyllis Maynard — Wed, 09 May 2018 19:33:16 -0400

Yes, I believe all religions slant into idolotry by making a symbol, thing, or person a diety.