Graven images? (Page 2): What is the purpose of religious artworks?

Michael Rich Loc: Lapine Oregon

Rose42 wrote:

No, they are simply artwork. Nothing to revere

What is the purpose of religious artworks?

Rose42

Michael Rich wrote:

What is the purpose of religious artworks?

I was raised a Catholic but left Catholicism long ago. Catholicism has many idols but not all Catholics revere them. An idol can be many things not just artwork. Anything you spend too much time on.

Artwork in and of itself is not the problem. The problem is in how you think of it. Some churches I’ve been to have no artwork in them at all.

Roamin' Catholic Loc: luxurious exile

Michael Rich wrote:

What is the purpose of religious artworks?

To tell the story. To capture your imagination. A picture is worth a thousand words.

For most of history people were illiterate. Visual art, music and oral tradition were the only things we had to record and pass on important events.

Catholic monasteries were the only institutions of higher learning, and in the age of the Renaissance many monasteries became the first universities. 💒

Canuckus Deploracus Loc: North of the wall

Roamin' Catholic wrote:

To tell the story. To capture your imagination. A picture is worth a thousand words.

For most of history people were illiterate. Visual art, music and oral tradition were the only things we had to record and pass on important events.

Catholic monasteries were the only institutions of higher learning, and in the age of the Renaissance many monasteries became the first universities. 💒

Good point

Michael Rich Loc: Lapine Oregon

Rose42 wrote:

I was raised a Catholic but left Catholicism long ago. Catholicism has many idols but not all Catholics revere them. An idol can be many things not just artwork. Anything you spend too much time on.

Artwork in and of itself is not the problem. The problem is in how you think of it. Some churches I’ve been to have no artwork in them at all.

Children get the idea that we know what Jesus looked like and the images are a false representation.

Michael Rich Loc: Lapine Oregon

Roamin' Catholic wrote:

To tell the story. To capture your imagination. A picture is worth a thousand words.

For most of history people were illiterate. Visual art, music and oral tradition were the only things we had to record and pass on important events.

Catholic monasteries were the only institutions of higher learning, and in the age of the Renaissance many monasteries became the first universities. 💒

Can anyone show me in the Bible where fake pictures of God are ok?

Canuckus Deploracus Loc: North of the wall

Michael Rich wrote:

Can anyone show me in the Bible where fake pictures of God are ok?

What fake pictures of God???

Rose42

Michael Rich wrote:

Children get the idea that we know what Jesus looked like and the images are a false representation.

Then when they get older they realize we have no idea what he looked like.

Singularity

Canuckus Deploracus wrote:

What fake pictures of God???

Mine from childhood had illustrations of paintings.

Christ crucified between two thrives....

The good shepherd...

Moses' whole seasons' stash ablaze at one party....

Mose descending from the mountain with God's glory still blazing above and the Hebrews cavorting with their golden calf causing Moses to break all ten commandments at once...

And for some reason, a beautiful shot of a tall specimen of lily of the valley.

Note this is all from memory.

Michael Rich Loc: Lapine Oregon

Rose42 wrote:

Then when they get older they realize we have no idea what he looked like.

But the false idea (graven image) is planted in the impressionable young mind.

And then we tell the same kid lying is wrong.

I fail to see the in innocence in it.

Michael Rich Loc: Lapine Oregon

Canuckus Deploracus wrote:

What fake pictures of God???

Canuck....you're playing games.

""Everyone has seen images of artists conceptions of God.

Roamin' Catholic Loc: luxurious exile

Michael Rich wrote:

But the false idea (graven image) is planted in the impressionable young mind.

And then we tell the same kid lying is wrong.

I fail to see the in innocence in it.

An image has to be literally worshipped (knelt or prostrated before, believed to be MORE than just an image, object or statue, it's the actual Deity) for it to be Graven.

If an image is not worshipped, like a photo of your wife is not actually your wife it's just a photo, then it's not GRAVEN.

And a false idea is not a graven image.

Poorly presented art is not a sin. But children need to be taught by parents. And parents need to educate themselves to keep up with the times.

Roamin' Catholic Loc: luxurious exile

Michael Rich wrote:

Canuck....you're playing games.

""Everyone has seen images of artists conceptions of God.

Yes. And they should know that it is an artists conception of God, not ACTUALLY GOD.

If someone is very deranged and let's say, looks up to the dome of the Sistine Chapel and sees Michelangelo's painting of God reaching out to Adam, and thinks that is ACTUALLY GOD up there, and grabs a scaffold and starts climbing up there to touch God, well then that poor soul is worshipping a graven image.

But the rest of us looking up and appreciating the artist's work, are not worshipping a graven image.

And God will forgive the climber because of mental illness causing the illicit act.

Rose42

Roamin' Catholic wrote:

An image has to be literally worshipped (knelt or... (show quote)

Well put.

Roamin' Catholic Loc: luxurious exile

Michael Rich wrote:

Children get the idea that we know what Jesus looked like and the images are a false representation.

Then the parents are not doing a good job teaching them. Oh yes, it is first and foremost the parents responsibility to teach their children well.