why do catholics kneel before all those idols and have all these rituals?
397120
As a Catholic, I do not believe they are idols.  Let me ask you a question....Do you carry around a picture of a loved one in your wallet, perhaps take it out and look at it.  Are you then worshiping a photo?  No, of course not, the photo is only a representation of the loved one and so it is in Catholic life.  We have pictures, statues and medals as holy reminders to us.  They are not worshipped, they are a means to bring and keep us closer to our God in all word and deed and also serve as examples to us in our desire to follow Jesus.
676144
Catholics are christians.
1006472
Technically, we are asking the saints to intercede with God on our behalf, not praying to them. You are correct, though, most people don't get it and that is a problem. Most people go to church out of habit and just do things without thinking about them--not a good practice at all! There is a fine line between worshiping Saints and asking for intercession!
995917
No, they really don't,  and sadly, i doubt they ever will.  It's a fundamental part of their religion now, not to understand what they do.  Nowhere in the Bible does it say to worship saints, or to confess to another sinner about your sins--whether he's wearing a fancy robe or not.\n\nThat's why I'm non-denominational, I go to a Bible Church and I read exactly what the English translation says.  Nobody has a right to teach their own opinions on God and what he says and does.\n\nAnd Catholics worship Mary becausethey think that Jesus is God, and Mary was the mother of Jesus, so Mary is the mother of God.  Hate to break my tone of intelligent commentary, but that's just silly.  Mary was a sinner like everyone else, she was probably thinking when they kicked her out of the inn, "buncha l3@$T@ l^D$, i'm about to pregnant with your savior and you can't find room!?  Well then kick somebody out, I'm Mary dammit!"\nShe was just the mortal chosen to bring him into the world, that's all.\nIt was a holy game of chess, and Mary was a pawn used to put the king of the red team in check and send him running in fear behind his last pieces, but that doesn't mean the pawn deserves any worship--she's just a pawn.  She followed God's will, (she's so lucky).  No crying he makes!? WTF!, that's not fair at ALL!  she got to be the mother of the perfect child, not the well behaved one, not the nice one, not the smart one; she got to be the mother of the perfect child, that should be payment enough for her.
972142
Spanish people wear the Rosary. Mostly it is a cultural thing but, normally, no, you should pray it and not wear it because it gives the idea that it is jewelry. I noticed that Bono wears a Rosary and I wonder if he prays it or if he is part of the New Age thing where all Religions are fine.
1037802
as far as i'm concerned, i cannot see how its breaking any of the 10 commandments.  \n\nas soon as you do it instead of going to church, i suppose you could be worshiping a false idol in some peoples eyes.  but they're dorks.  \n\nits also considered a sin to walk around naked to some people.  \n\ndidnt god make us in his image?  why are we ashamed of what god gave us?  seriously!  it doesnt make any sense.  Christians are always going back on what they say.  its just dumb.
517196
Hindus do not worship idols any more than a Christian who wears a crucifix worships a piece of metal. They worship Gods and use statues as perpetual reminders and symbols. Furthermore, Hinduism is a vast range of practices and beliefs that are far more complex than your simple, uneducated presentation acknowledges.
604010
I don't really think any of those things could be considered idol worship.  Unless you actually worship a crucifix, KJV bible and spaghetti monsters.\nAnyway, putting anything before God is really a form of idol worship, and any form of idol worship is wrong.
66191
Maybe everyone's form of prayer is different. I was brought up catholic and was taught a specific way to pray but I've long abandoned that and simply have a one on one with the man upstairs when I'm in a position to fully appreciate the beauty of the creation before me, like when I'm walking in the park and the sun is setting or when the waters of a lake are so still it seems like someone laid a giant mirror on the ground. I also write on my computer and confide to God all the things I would a very close friend. Prayer doesn't have to be on your knees with your hands folded. It can be as simple as a thought. Possibly even an action. I think many people have forgotten to seek God within ourselves rather than extrovertly.
264875
It's not a custom but a conviction to your religion.  If you don't have strong roots about your religion, you'll never understand why this is done. \n\nPenance my dear, penance.
523110
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.
99839
Basically because the Catholics blindly believe their religion without studying the Word of God.  I used to be a catholic until I read the Word of God for myself and saw all the contradictions that the catholics do.\n\n The Catholic Church gives honor and adoration to Mary that the Scriptures do not; she is readily referred to as "holy," the "Mother of God," and has been dubbed the "Co-Redemptrix," thereby making her an object of idolatrous worship (e.g., the rosary has ten prayers to Mary for each two directed to God). In 1923, Pope Pius XI sanctioned Pope Benedict XV's (1914-1922) pronouncement that Mary suffered with Christ, and that with Him, she redeemed the human race. And Pope Pius XII officially designated Mary the "Queen of Heaven" and "Queen of the World." Catholics claim not only that Mary was perfectly sinless from conception, even as Jesus was (doctrine of Immaculate Conception, proclaimed by Pope Pius IX in 1854), but that the reason she never sinned at any time during her life was because she was unable to sin (cf. Lk. 1:46,47; Rom. 3:10,23; 5:12; Heb. 4:15; 1 Jn. 1:8,10). Catholics also believe that Mary was a perpetual virgin (cf. Ps. 69:8; Matt. 1:24,25; 13:54-56; Mk. 6:3; Jn. 7:5), and that she was assumed, body and soul, into heaven (doctrine of Assumption of Mary, declared ex cathedra by Pope Pius XII in November of 1950 -- that Mary was raised from the dead on the third day after her death, and anyone who refuses to believe this has committed a mortal sin). The consequence of all this veneration of Mary, in effect, establishes her authority above Christ's -- Rome says, "He came to us through Mary and we must go to Him through her." All this is so obviously idolatrous, one wonders why Catholics take offense when their religious affections are called cultic.
1041021
Yes, it is idolatry and it's wrong. It's a part of the Catholic faith and what they've always done. They consider Mary holy because she was the mother of Jesus.  She was, but she should not be idolized for that fact. It is a sin.
592202
Fundamentalists challenge the Catholic practice of asking saints and angels to pray for us. But the Bible directs us to invoke those in heaven and ask them to pray with us. \n\nThus in Psalm 103, we pray, "Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, hearkening to the voice of his word! Bless the Lord, all his hosts, his ministers that do his will!" (Ps. 103:20-21). And in Psalm 148 we pray, "Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise him in the heights! Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his host!" (Ps. 148:1-2) \n\nNot only do those in heaven pray with us, they also pray for us. In Revelation, John sees that "the twenty-four elders [the leaders of the people of God in heaven] fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints" (Rev. 5:8). Thus the saints in heaven offer to God the prayers of the saints on earth. \n\nAngels do the same thing: "[An] angel came and stood at the altar [in heaven] with a golden censer; and he was given much incense to mingle with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar before the throne; and the smoke of the incense rose with the prayers of the saints from the hand of the angel before God" (Rev. 8:3-4). \n\nJesus himself warned us not to mess with small children because their guardian angels have guaranteed intercessory access to the Father: "See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven." (Matt. 18:10). \n\nBecause he is the only God-man, Jesus is the only Mediator between man and God (1 Tim. 2:5), but this in no way means we cannot or should not ask our fellow Christians to pray with us and for us (1 Tim. 2:1-4), including those Christians in heaven, who have already had their sanctification completed, for "[t]he prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects" (Jas. 5:16).
1155027
Because people are rude! Catholics are a christian denomination also like every other denomination out there. People make fun of them alot because they know deep inside that most catholics are going to be in heaven when they are not. I am not a catholic i am non denomintial but i know a catholic who has been ridiculed
336672
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.
276761
I feel your pain . . . I am a Catholic, a convert, actually, and I see this as well.  But, it is not only in the Catholic faith . . . I see it among all Christians, and I suspect it is the case with most religions (I'm just not exposed to much outside of Christianity).  Many Catholics are what I consider to be "cultural", like people talk about cultural Jews . . . they were born into a long line of Catholics, they follow the teachings of the church on the outside, but on the inside the Devil has free reign.  Not eating meat on Fridays has, unfortuanly, become a way of showing that we are "good" Catholics.  It's like Jesus told His disciples . . . pray in your inner chamber, make sure you look well when you are fasting, so that only God knows your sacrifice (sorry, my concordance is packed away, and my Bible quoting skills are lacking, but it's in there!).  Many, many people do exactly what the Jews in Jesus time were doing . . . making a show out of serving the Lord.  Just as then, we are called to sacrifice in private while preaching the Gospel. But we often fail.  It's very frustrating to me as well (not that I'm all that holy either).