Seriously considering conversion - some questions

[ArmyMatt]

A graven image is 3-dimensional which we don't have. Although God did command to make statues of two-headed creatures to place in the temple.

yep there is a difference between a graven image, which is worshipped itself, and a holy image that visually aides man in his worship of God. icons also help engage the eyes in worship.

 

[FreedByte]

That's webspeak for Divine Liturgy.

Ah I see, thanks

 

[FreedByte]

yep there is a difference between a graven image, which is worshipped itself, and a holy image that visually aides man in his worship of God. icons also help engage the eyes in worship.

Well said. I think protestants should be more open to this position, especially since many protestants don't object to 2D images of Christ, like this one for example: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Head_of_Christ_by_Warner_Sallman_1941.jpg

 

[ArmyMatt]

Well said. I think protestants should be more open to this position, especially since many protestants don't object to 2D images of Christ, like this one for example: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Head_of_Christ_by_Warner_Sallman_1941.jpg

indeed, and stained glass windows, which are just holy images on another medium.

 

[buzuxi02]

Honestly this is a poor argument, the Ark was venerated because God spoke to them from between the cherubim; the cherubim themselves were not venerated.

But this is precisely what others do when they kneel in front of whatever. It is the interpretation given by their opponents, as a polemic. If someone is transported 2500 years ago and witnessed temple worship it would undoubtedly be looked upon as idolatry. You would witness mostly illiterate people kneeling in front of this ark overshadowed by large double headed statues, whose presence eclipses everything else. It would be the focal point. Thus there kneeling in front of and towards these statues, and an ornate cabinet with carvingsin the center.

Likewise in Orthodoxy, on the altar is the eucharist in a small tabernacle, and also when we consecrate the gifts we call upon the Holy Spirit to descend. Or when we have processions we kneel as the clergy process around the church while holding icons and chanting various prayers. Likewise God makes his precense in the midst of the iconostasis.

 

[MilesVitae]

yep there is a difference between a graven image, which is worshipped itself, and a holy image that visually aides man in his worship of God. icons also help engage the eyes in worship.

For the sake of clarity: in conjunction with part of what you quoted from buzuxi (that "graven images" are 3D images, i.e. statues), you sound like you might be saying that statues are worshipped of themselves, whereas icons are not. Is that what you meant, or did you only mean that what was condemned was the worship of statues/images?

 

[ArmyMatt]

For the sake of clarity: in conjunction with part of what you quoted from buzuxi (that "graven images" are 3D images, i.e. statues), you sound like you might be saying that statues are worshipped of themselves, whereas icons are not. Is that what you meant, or did you only mean that what was condemned was the worship of statues/images?

the worship of them. I will say that it does seem easier to worship something that is 3D (that is why we use icons more), although I know that RC don't worship the statues they have in their shrines, but venerate them like we do with icons.