tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-820798894846245311.post1138068195384091769..comments2024-02-03T20:47:08.995-06:00Comments on This Side of the Pulpit: What Is Idolatry?: Images in Paganism & ChristianityChristopher D. Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03906949438584923588noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-820798894846245311.post-39421195363596086502007-11-10T13:40:00.000-06:002007-11-10T13:40:00.000-06:00Emily,That "oddness" factor was just what I was wo...Emily,<BR/>That "oddness" factor was just what I was wondering about. It doesn't make sense to call such an object "a god." But obviously, idolatry was more than that, and involved the idea of representation, and some sort of sacramental aspect as well.<BR/><BR/>What's interesting is that it was Jews and Christians who invented the world idolatry. To everyone else it was simply "worship" or "latria."Christopher D. Hallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03906949438584923588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-820798894846245311.post-50445405733598098922007-11-09T11:13:00.000-06:002007-11-09T11:13:00.000-06:00Very good point, Emily. As I read the part about ...Very good point, Emily. As I read the part about <I> the mentality is that if you *do* something...you can force the god to do something for you </I>, it sounded very familiar.<BR/><BR/>You hear that very thing in the practices of Christians who buy into the "Theology of Glory" and especially in the teachings of the "Prosperity Gospel". Both seem deeply rooted in this false mindset of appeasement and the forceful control of God.Mike Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09202275259518132834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-820798894846245311.post-58375752725282382372007-11-09T10:54:00.000-06:002007-11-09T10:54:00.000-06:00It always seems a little odd to me that someone wo...It always seems a little odd to me that someone would make something and proceed to worship it. Odd, until I think of a lucky rabbit's foot, manufactured by men, and the accompanying thought that if you rub it Lady Luck will smile on you. The mentality is that if you *do* something (banana-wise or not), you can force the god to do something for you, turn the favor in your direction. That's quite the opposite of lighting a candle in front of an icon or elevating our offerings. Those are offered in humilty for what God has done for us and are not offered in the hopes that we can forcefully turn God's hand by our earthly actions.Emily H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12987266098792021337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-820798894846245311.post-85717285486913674332007-11-09T09:31:00.000-06:002007-11-09T09:31:00.000-06:00Is burning an incense stick in front of a stutue d...Is burning an incense stick in front of a stutue different to lighting a candle in front of an icon?<BR/><BR/>Representations of god may be idols themselves, but if we use them are we worshipping the idol or the God it represents?<BR/>D.P.Doorman-Priesthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06407399232593479871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-820798894846245311.post-10833421297884433502007-11-08T17:10:00.000-06:002007-11-08T17:10:00.000-06:00Pastor Hall,What do you think of the very common p...Pastor Hall,<BR/><BR/>What do you think of the very common practice in our churches of elevating the our offerings and either placing our bananas on the alter or near the foot of the cross? Is that different? And if so, how?Mike Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09202275259518132834noreply@blogger.com