Idolatry
January 11, 2012 at 9:16 pm
(This post was last modified: January 11, 2012 at 9:21 pm by Jackalope.)
Here's something I have wondered for a long time.
The ten commandments forbid idolatry:
St. John asserted that it was not permissible to depict the invisible god, but that it was OK to depict Jesus (as he was embodied in flesh).
That being the case....
How come Pope Julius II commissioned Michaelangelo to create his iconic "Hand of God" fresco on the ceiling of the Sistene Chapel?
Yeah, I know, he's the pope, and he's infallible on matters of doctrine - but how is this NOT idolatry? Exodus 20:4 and Deuteronomy 5:8 appear to be clear on the subject: one is forbidden from making any image of anything found in heaven (or under earth or water for that matter). EX20:4 and DEU5:9 are concerned with worship, which appears to be a separate sin.
How is that images of god, angels, cherubim, etc. are not considered idolatry? Yes, I'm aware of the division between Catholics and Protestants on this matter. I know plenty of Protestants who see no problem with keeping pictures / figurines / etc of angels and cherubim around the house.
The ten commandments forbid idolatry:
Exodus 20:4-5 Wrote: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:
5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me
Deuteronomy 5:8-9 Wrote:8 Thou shalt not make 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 waters beneath the earth:
9 Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me
St. John asserted that it was not permissible to depict the invisible god, but that it was OK to depict Jesus (as he was embodied in flesh).
That being the case....
How come Pope Julius II commissioned Michaelangelo to create his iconic "Hand of God" fresco on the ceiling of the Sistene Chapel?
Yeah, I know, he's the pope, and he's infallible on matters of doctrine - but how is this NOT idolatry? Exodus 20:4 and Deuteronomy 5:8 appear to be clear on the subject: one is forbidden from making any image of anything found in heaven (or under earth or water for that matter). EX20:4 and DEU5:9 are concerned with worship, which appears to be a separate sin.
How is that images of god, angels, cherubim, etc. are not considered idolatry? Yes, I'm aware of the division between Catholics and Protestants on this matter. I know plenty of Protestants who see no problem with keeping pictures / figurines / etc of angels and cherubim around the house.
