I am not catholic. However i am a ctristain of a different denomination. If God says in his word not to make any images of him, then why do catholics do that( rosary, statues, cross)? ANd when u pray  u stand facing the cross? Isn't that gowing agaisnte God's word?
127294
I am assuming this is a question of curiosity and not of mocking Catholics.\n\nAs the other posters answered, we are not worshipping the actual statues as GOD himself but rather as a visual reminder.  \n\nIn the Old Testaments people worshipped idols, animals, etc. even though God kept sending prophets to warn them of not continuing such practices.  During the time of Moses, the people celebrated by thanking a Bull rather than God who saved them from Egypt that is when the commandments were given.\n\nI am not an expert nor someone who has such strong faith but I just tried to state the misconception of others that Catholics worships idols by having "images" in Churches.
162333
I'm not Catholic but I'd say it's a movie thing.\nTime has no meaning to God nor his son Jesus.\nThat IS biblical.
111116
You are not a homosexual. You are a person who has homosexual tendencies. I am not being picky here. There is much more to being human than any one aspect of ourselves. You ARE a Catholic who has same-sex attractions and your Church is NOT AGAINST YOU.\n\nLike every other human being, you have been blessed with existence—not because you deserve it, but because God in His generosity has given it to you. It is such a basic gift, that most of us ordinarily don’t even think of it as such. But it is. If God wanted to take it back, He would not have to do anything. He would have to STOP doing something. It’s a gift that He keeps giving or we would simply cease to exist. There is no way that we could ever pay Him for this.\n\nSo from the start, we owe Him big time. Now besides this we all have many other gifts as well. Some of us can paint portraits or play the piano. None of us has every gift. Some of the greatest gifts He gives us are the individual crosses that He places in our lives that offer us the opportunity to grow in our love for Him. \n\nSome people carry the cross of not being able to hear or see, while others, the cross of not being able to marry for any number of reasons. One could rant and complain that such is not fair. If God has chosen to create us, then He owes us the basics. At least He owes us a healthy body and psyche! But as we have seen, He doesn’t owe us anything. We owe Him. Further, He has shown us that He really cares about us and loves us with a love that is infinite—it has no limit. This is difficult for us to get our minds around since everything we experience has limits. But on that first Good Friday as He hung on the cross, He gave us a glimpse of what unlimited love is. It is there that we can come to an understanding of the value of our own crosses. They give us the opportunity to respond to such love in a concrete way that is as totally unique as the individual crosses He has given us.\n\nYou have a very special place in the Church. You have been called to have no other partner in life than Him. The world does not understand this. It speaks as if Good Friday never happened. But by the gift of faith that you do have, you know that almighty God chose to favor you with the gift of Himself in a very intimate and unique way. Selfless love is not easy for us, but He is so worth it!\n\nI would suggest that you check out this website: http://couragerc.net/\n\nCheck this website out as well--should this cross of yours be only for a temporary period of time: http://www.narth.com/docs/repair.html\n\nYou are in my prayers.
242248
Everything Catholics do, they do against Jesus Christ. The Bible says to worship and pray to Jesus Christ because He is the only one that can save you. Catholics pray to Mary the mother of Jesus. Don't you think that that's against Christ? Who came up with rosemary beads? There is nothing like that in the Bible. Their baptism is in the title words, Father, Son, and Holyghost. The Bible plainly states to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. (Acts 2:38) Also, they sprinkle the water on people's heads. The Bible also clearly states to be submerged underwater to be baptized. I do not mock the Catholic faith, but just clearly see Truth. Truth is that Jesus Christ died on the cross to save us for our dirty rotten sins. Mary, the mother of Jesus, did not die on the cross. Mary cannot save us, so why pray to her? Why does the Pope never marry? The Bible said that if a man find a wife, he has favor with God. Also, where is the pope in the Bible? Hmm? Nowhere. Praying to Mary? Nope. It's just common sense to me. If you do not believe in the Bible, then there is no explaining any truth. But if you believe in the Bible, look for yourself and you will find the true way. Have more questions? Find a Pastor in the United Pentecostal Church. That's where I go. They believe in the Bible, everything in the Bible. If things are unclear to you, talk to someone who knows the truth.
111380
I think you misunderstand teh role.  Except for priests of the Roman Patriarchate, Rome does not make rules for people.  Catholics follow the rules set down by divine revelation.  Now, for purposes of practicality, certain processes occur in a regulated manner.  For example, morning prayer is sung during the morning evening prayer isn't.  If it doesn't impact divine revelation, then it is optional.  On the other hand, if you disagree with divine revelation you will do what you want anyway, so they don't matter then.
98631
You need to understand that we do not pray to Mary and/or the Saints as a final act.  We pray to them to ask them to pray to God for us.\n\nLook at it this way. . . Have you ever been sick or ill and asked a friend to pray for you (or a loved one)?\n\nThat is basically what we, as Catholics, are doing when we pray to Mary or a Saint.  We are asking them, who are in Heaven and can see God directly, to join us in prayer for our intentions.\n\nIt has always been known that we are free to go directly to God with our prayers, but would prayers not be better served to have more people join in?\n\nI hope that I have answered your question.  If not, please post more and I will answer your questions to the best of my abilities.
506994
Here we go Again.\n\nThey are NOT prayed to, they are prayed through and with.  In the prayer Catholics ask for their help, as a mediators.  Suppose you want to meet with the Kind, can you just go directly to the Kind, walk  into his house, and ask Him for what you want! No.  Each Saint, is a patron of something.  such as Patron of children, of lost causes, etc.  If all we need is to go directly to God, then what was the need for God to send us so many Prophets, Saints, and other to aid us! think of that one!\n\nI hope that was helpful.  It is not to, but through them.  OK!
561020
This is a specifically Catholic belief and involves the conception of Mary, not Jesus.  I believe that most Protestants (only know for sure about Baptists, though), do not subscribe to that belief
180034
i ve been asking this for so long. thank god i am not alone. i am so sick of this anti-catholic bs that has no validity whatsoever.\n\nyou would expect this kind of garbage from the secular world, but i have no idea what these protestants are thinking sometimes.\n\nhere's an idea protestants...why don't you actually learn about the catholic church first. as opposed to just blurting out a bunch of nonsense like we worship mary, and the pope ,etc.  give me a break already. still goin with those arguments?? don't even waste my time then.
27731
One thing that a Catholic is not is a bible worshipper.  Catholics believe in tradition and theology practiced within the church as well.  Catholics do not get hung up in literal interpretation and therefore can often find greater meaning and application of the bible’s writings.  Also Catholics tend to observe for who, what, when, where the scripture was written and try not to mix apples and oranges to make a point (or get a donation).  \n\nMany would say... well there ya go!  Catholics DON'T believe the bible.  I would say to them... do you believe God (infinite and eternal) can be contained in a book?  Open your eyes.  The word is alive but your ears have died to the truth.  You are the temple of the Lord.  That doesn’t mean to get fit… it means the Lord is in you.  God has given you everything you need.  He has sent Jesus to awaken you but still you cannot see past the marked and worn pages of your demigod.  Catholics read and adhere to their understanding of the bible based on theology and tradition, as well as, historical fact.  But Catholics worship God and every chance they get they let Jesus into there souls through communion.  \n\nI am sorry if my rant is so negative... we just here these things over and over.  It is ignorance and fear that they preach against us.  The world has enough of that...  God bless each of you.\n\nAside:\nThe Mary stuff is the same as the saints… we ask them to pray for us.  Like you would ask a friend to pray for your Mom in the hospital.  Mary is a very special Saint and one we can all find strength in character in; she is a role model.  ‘Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and at the hour of our death.’
487071
Nope, He does't appreciate it! Jesus honored His mother, why shouldn't we? He said to imitate Him! Dishonoring His holy mother is not imitating Him! I don't get why they think we worship Mary when we tell them over and over again that we don't! \nWe pray to her because she is much closer to God than we are. If you can ask you friend to pray for you, why wouldn't you ask her to pray for you? She is the holiest person that ever lived!
169517
That was ME. I thought that you would at least be HAPPY! Jeez, I always get happy when I get chosen for a best answer. Catholics are different from Christians because of how we pray. You guys pray directly to god. We pray to statues and things like my necklace with mother mary and Jesus. \n\nOh, yeah, sorry if I am being mean here, but if you think that I am odd or stupid or any other hurtful words, then that is just your opinion. Dont worry, I am used to it. I wasnt joking when I said "sorry if I was being here". May the lord himself smite me if I do.
276704
Well many christians do assume cross has a power. \n\nWhat's with that all of the ghosts or vampire movies where they use cross to scare away the evil?\n\nSo this is very much an idol. The truth is everybody needs something  physical , which we can see, relate to god. be it a book, a cross or a candle or an icon. we assumed an imaginary time line and equater line. It simplifies the abstract this way.
143789
The Rosary is a very ancient prayer addressed to the Virgin Mary.  The reason Catholics pray to her is that She is in Heaven with Christ, her Son (who is also Our Lord and Our God).  By praying to her, we ask her to intercede for us before her Son.  All prayer is ultimately addressed to God.  But we can address Him directly or address Him through the intercession of a saint (like the Virgin Mary).  A saint is a friend of God and a friend and disciple of Christ.  God likes us to go to Him through His friends.  He allows men and women to participate in the salvation of the world by praying for one another.  That is the reality that the Catholic Church calls "The Communion of Saints".  All saints are in communion (fellowship) with one another because they are one in Christ Our Lord.  Christ Himself prayed to His Father that we may all be united (one) as He and His Father are one.\n\nWe can indeed pray for the dead, because by doing so, we ask Our Lord (directly or through the intercession of a saint) to help that person in his or her final stage of purification.  Some people go directly to Heaven, but many have to first undergo a final stage of purification known as Purgatory.  The Christian Church has always believed and taught that.  It is not a "new teaching".  What is "new" is the rejection of this doctrine in modern times (in particular since the "Reformation").  Purgatory exists because, in order to see God, one must be pure.  But complete purity is not something that many of us obtain in this life here on earth.  God does not want to condemn such people forever in Hell, so, as a marvellous demonstration of His Infinite Mercy, He allows them to undergo a final stage of purification in Purgatory.  Purgatory is a mystery of Grace, not of Punishment or the Wrath of God.  It is out of love, ultimately, that Catholics pray for the dead.  Our prayers can help them a great deal, and obtain from Heaven numerous graces for them, so that they may finally be delivered from Purgatory and enjoy the Eternal Vision of God in His Kingdom, where He lives and reigns as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, One God for ever and ever.
407303
Thank you, first of all, for understanding the difference between prayer and worship.  As for whether or not this still takes away from the glory of God, I would say no.  While they were alive, people asked the apostles and the saints to pray for them or to help them.  That does not go against the glory of God.  Catholics are just continuing this practice once these people are dead and in the presence of God.
59058
Treat it as a symbol, not an idol. Hang it on the wall and keep the dust off of it. Worship God, not his cross. You don't have any power to bless. You have the power to prey to God that it will be blessed. But think, Should we prey for the cross or for all the people in the world. Nowhere in the Bible does it say to worship the cross or bow down to Mary.
136316
I have no denomination, so I figured who better to blab and opinion? LOL\n\nI think its great for religious ppl to wear the cross, its a symbol of Christ. (Although I do not beleive in God - I have respect for those who do).\n\nI do not like to see it on ppl who wear it for style purposes though.\n\nHUGS