Is taxidermy a sin

[FriendlyJosh]

Commandment 4..[*]4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

 

[WisdomTree]

Commandment 4..
[*]4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

That is an interesting question... I think different translation says "idol" instead of "graven images", but they really mean the same thing. I don't think taxidermy constitute idolatory cause they are not being used as idols of any sort.

PS It's the second commandment, not the fourth. Also in the Catholic and Lutheran Bibles, it is part of the first commandment.

 

[MoreCoffee]

...
PS It's the second commandment, not the fourth. Also in the Catholic and Lutheran Bibles, it is part of the first commandment.

Yay Lutherans! Kudos for numbering the commandments correctly

1. No fake gods, even if they have fancy idols, they just do not make the grade.
2. No treating my (God's) name like dirt, I get all mean when folk do that.
3. No working on Saturdays if you are an Israelite, I want you Israelite folk to rest on Saturdays and you gotta let your slaves and servants rest too!
4. Be good for your Mum and Dad, they did good for you so you gotta do good for them.
5. No killing people.
6. No sex outside of marriage.
7. No theft.
8. No accusing folk of things they didn't do.
9. No envying other people's wives (or husbands).
10. No envying other people's property and servants and stuff like that.

 

[FriendlyJosh]

PS It's the second commandment, not the fourth. Also in the Catholic and Lutheran Bibles, it is part of the first commandment.

thanks for the correction, I copy pasted that from some other forum, I should of double checked it.

 

[benedictaoo]

Oh come on... you're kidding, right?

The problem is literal interpreting. Is a picture of yourself idolatry? Come on...

 

[MoreCoffee]

Oh come on... you're kidding, right?

The problem is literal interpreting. Is a picture of yourself idolatry? Come on...

Some might say a mirror is idolatry

 

[WisdomTree]

Some might say a mirror is idolatry

I reflect, therefore I am god?

 

[MoreCoffee]

I reflect, therefore I am god?

Well, not exactly, but some say all sorts of strange things

By the way, if you reflect then at least you're not a vampire

 

[WarriorAngel]

Commandment 4..
[*]4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

Only if the 'animal' becomes the item of worship.

Thats all that means - taking an image of a non - god and making it into one and worshipping it.
Not images themselves - but idols.
Thats what the verses really mean...

God Himself gave them a serpent to kiss to be healed - so its not the idea of an image existing - rather what ppl think of the image/idol and how they misuse them as a god.

Never take things [per the English translation] at face value.
This is one of the most misunderstood Bible verses - which has created so many sects to teach erroneously - because its not any ol' image - its the ones who are made into gods.

 

[WarriorAngel]

History - the Jews would often fall into 'false god worshiping' because they saw their pagan neighbors doing it and succeeding.
They would believe there is One God - but that didnt stop them from borrowing lesser gods to help them with - for instance - their harvest.

In their mind there was one True God - and the rest did little things.
They fell into this trap several times - and even made a Mrs True God in their worship. Believing God was married because the pagan gods had wives... not to be out done - they did the same. [per archeology they discovered this]

The graven image of the 'calf' wasnt to make a calf - but to make an image and see what they would get and therefore what they got would be their god because 'it was a sign' and they did this because Moses was gone so long and they were left to their own devices. Borrowing from the pagan Egyptian ideas.

God was angered because He showed so many signs thru Moses. They still had problems breaking away from the old mindset of pagan gods.

It wasnt the image itself - it was the fact they made them their god to be worshiped.
Which we know [now] is ridiculous - since there is One God - [Who is Triune] - Who gets all worship and praise for what He has done.

They were judged immediately based on the fact God saved them and opened the waters for them to escape - gave many signs - passed over the homes with blood per His request etc.
So they were vincibly judged based on all the signs and being saved.

An allegory to faith in Christ BTW. Who gave many signs.

 

[FriendlyJosh]

I ask because I want to check out the amc tv show immortalized which is about taxadermist but I don't want to watch it if it were a sin, but since it's not i'll check it out, thanks.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

That is an interesting question... I think different translation says "idol" instead of "graven images", but they really mean the same thing. I don't think taxidermy constitute idolatory cause they are not being used as idols of any sort.

PS It's the second commandment, not the fourth. Also in the Catholic and Lutheran Bibles, it is part of the first commandment.

Not numbered in Scripture, but numbered this way in orthodox catholic traditions; as it makes sense.

Yay Lutherans! Kudos for numbering the commandments correctly

1. No fake gods, even if they have fancy idols, they just do not make the grade.
2. No treating my (God's) name like dirt, I get all mean when folk do that.
3. No working on Saturdays if you are an Israelite, I want you Israelite folk to rest on Saturdays and you gotta let your slaves and servants rest too!
4. Be good for your Mum and Dad, they did good for you so you gotta do good for them.
5. No killing people.
6. No sex outside of marriage.
7. No theft.
8. No accusing folk of things they didn't do.
9. No envying other people's wives (or husbands).
10. No envying other people's property and servants and stuff like that.

An excerpt from MC's Catechism? ...Good explanation BTW!

 

[MoreCoffee]

Yay Lutherans! Kudos for numbering the commandments correctly

1. No fake gods, even if they have fancy idols, they just do not make the grade.
2. No treating my (God's) name like dirt, I get all mean when folk do that.
3. No working on Saturdays if you are an Israelite, I want you Israelite folk to rest on Saturdays and you gotta let your slaves and servants rest too!
4. Be good for your Mum and Dad, they did good for you so you gotta do good for them.
5. No killing people.
6. No sex outside of marriage.
7. No theft.
8. No accusing folk of things they didn't do.
9. No envying other people's wives (or husbands).
10. No envying other people's property and servants and stuff like that.

Not numbered in Scripture, but numbered this way in orthodox catholic traditions; as it makes sense.



An excerpt from MC's Catechism? ...Good explanation BTW!

Yep!

I like to paraphrase and shorten. I imagine somebody will tell me off for doing so

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

Commandment 4..
[*]4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

I think it could be a sin, but not one of idolatry, but one of pride.

Only if one were to pray to one's trophy, would it be idolatry.

For many, it is bragging about luck or flaunting their ability as a hunter/fisherman. (A compensatory thing maybe; "mine is bigger than yours"). In this case, it would fall under the 9th and/or 10th commandment I think.

Many collections at museums were collected and are maintained so that many can study these creatures. I think this is a good thing.

I think, if a hunter or a fisherman has something stuffed to commemorate a good hunt or great vacation, that it's ok too. My friend and I caught a huge Muskie once. It was not our first and only Muskie, but it was the biggest. We have it mounted, so that we could share the awe that we felt when we boated it, and every time we look at it, we recall the excitement and the joy we felt at our good fortune. The only way that we would ever get another one mounted would be if we were unable to live release it, and it were a whole lot bigger. If it were smaller, or only a bit bigger and we were unable to release it live; we would eat it instead.

 

[WarriorAngel]

It would be idolatry if it 'substituted' for God.
IE - a hunter who becomes obsessed and hunts Mon - Sun for trophies to fill his home to show off. Skipping worship of God.
Then the hazy stuff comes in.
But watching a tv show about it - not so much.

Here is something to ponder.

Hubert was reportedly a great lover of pleasure and his chief passion was the chase, to which he devoted nearly all his time. According to the legend, Hubert was afield the morning of Good Friday (while the faithful were crowding into church) and he was participating in the chase of a deer on horseback with his famous hounds.
The Catholic Encyclopedia states: As he was pursuing a magnificent stag, and in a clearing in the forest, the animal stopped and turned. Hubert was astounded at perceiving a crucifix suspended between its antlers, while he heard a voice from the figure of Christ say, "Hubert, unless you turn to the Lord, and lead a holy life, you shall quickly fall into the abyss of Hell!"
Hubert dismounted immediately from his horse, fell prostrate on the ground and asked, "Lord, what would you have me do?"
He immediately received the reply, "Go and seek Lambert and he will instruct you."
At the time, Lambert was the Bishop of Maastricht, who kindly received Hubert and became his spiritual advisor. Complicating matters even further, Hubert lost his wife during the childbirth of their first son shortly after his vision in the woods. Hubert decided to renounce all his honors, titles and military rank. Plus he relinquished his birthright as heir to the Duchy of Aquintaine, giving it to his younger brother Eudon, whom he also made the godfather of his infant son, Floribert.
Hubert, Patron Saint of Hunters - Written by Mitch Ballard.

Patron Saint of hunters.
We need to keep it in perspective... hobbies are good. Hunting is fine. [See St Peter's vision to get up and eat and call nothing uncommon]

Note that God doesnt care if we stuff the animals we kill - tho it could be difficult to get the meat to eat doing this. [It depends on the procedure in which it is done and how quickly]
But ppl stuff their pets - and dont worship them.

We just simply cannot replace our worship of God - with hobbies or anything or that too becomes an idol.
Not just images we fall into worship.

Anything - or anyone that keeps us away from worshiping God - where we lay our faith - or happiness - becomes n idol.

 

[WarriorAngel]

Even working on the Lord's day - can be idolatry if you prefer and want to do so to make money [mammon] instead of going to Church.

As an example - you have Sunday off - but you opt to head to the nearest 'flea market' and sell goods. You arent desperately in need of making the money - its just something fun to do.
If you skip Church and didnt make provisions [such as attending sat night] - and again - not in serious need of the money - you just love making money - you have made mammon aka money your idol.

 

[Michie]

Commandment 4..
[*]4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

It's all in the intent. Why is it being fashioned?

Are museum pieces idols? Leather coat & boots?

 

[stone]

Some might say a mirror is idolatry

i've actually seen a priest teach that for woman, or maybe some men, as some may be today, to spend 3 hours in front of a mirror could be idolatry.

 

[Elysium]

u know if ppl took that verse seriously then wed never have statues or paintings or even pictures displayed anywehre ever

i dunno about taxidermy
it freaks me out
but using that verse without qualifying it leads to troubel

 

[Brooklyn Knight]

'This is a lovely room of death' - YouTube