In association with all the books recommended by Spirituality Stories.

I asked on a christianity board whether christians teach to isolate:

 "The issue at question is one that I find difficult to respond to. Historically, christianity has taught to isolate. Of course, this was not the agenda of the early church. A brief perusal of the book of Acts lends credibility to this statement. They were hardly isolated; on the contrary, they were very visible and much involved in the world around them.

Yet, as time went on, the realization that Christ was not going to return any time soon, as well as the influx of false teaching (by their preception) caused the church to retreat into isolation. Consequently, you see the church practicing asceticism, almost in preverse ways, in order to keep themselves, and their doctrines, from being tarnished by the world.

Unfortunately, this type of mentality has saturated much of what is called "christian" even to this day.

 Recently, I was listening to a nationally syndicated christian broadcast in which a caller was facing a dilemma. The caller's sister was getting married to a man that she had lived with for several years. The caller did not approve of the relationship and felt that she should boycott the marriage as a matter of principle. I understand this type of religous conviction, however, I think this type of attitude exhibits the heart of the spiritual isolationist. It says that since I have it all together and have all the answers, I cannot fellowship with you. This spells P-R-I-D-E!!

Christ had it all together as well as all the answers, yet, he did not hesitate to dine with sinners, talk to women, touch lepers and the dead, etc. Yes, I think that christendom has taught isolation; and this to it's own demise. Do you suppose that this sister will ever desire to know her sibling's god? I doubt it.

In contrast, ecumenical christianity has made great strides in countering this religous bigotry. Keywords such as love, aceptance and inclusion has dominated this movement. Freedom to grow and understand God in a personal way is valued. I think this has been very benefical to the church as a whole. Although I differ greatly, in my personal convictions, with much of what constitutes ecumenical christianity, I do think that the tolerance and personal freedom that is interwoven within its framework is a very positive thing that I can benefit from greatly.

I pray that the church can learn from Christ, the master teacher, not to isolate themselves and others. We must value each person as well as each one's spiritual journey. We may not understand, or even agree, yet we must love and allow each the freedom to grow as a person in the way that most enhances their experience. ckeel

Catholic teaching regarding religious freedom.

The Church reproves, as foreign to the mind of Christ, any discrimination against men or harassment of them because of their race, color, condition of life, or religion. On the contrary, following in the footsteps of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, this Sacred Synod ardently implores the Christian faithful to "maintain good fellowship among the nations" (1 Peter 2, 12), and, if possible to live for their part in peace with all men (14), so that they many truly be sons of the Father who is in heaven (15).

The Roman Catholic Church sees value in non-Christian religions. On 1965-OCT-28, following the Vatican II meeting of the leaders of the church, the Vatican issued a "Declaration on the Relation of the Church to non-Christian Religions." 10

Some important passages of the Declaration Nostra Aetate are: "The Catholic Church rejects nothing that is true and holy in these religions."

"The Church therefore, exhorts her sons, that through dialogue and collaboration with the followers of other religions... they recognize, preserve and promote the good things, spiritual and moral, as well as the socio-cultural values found among these men." "The Church regards with esteem also the Moslems."

"Since the spiritual patrimony common to Christians and Jews is thus so great, this Sacred Synod wants to foster and recommend that mutual understanding and respect which is the fruit, above all, of biblical and theological studies as well as fraternal dialogues."

Catholic priests, like Fr. Charles L. Moore, teach Shamanism, and admire Wicca.

Tara wrote me that pagans are idol worshippers.

Do Catholics Worship Statues?

Anti-Catholic writer Loraine Boettner, in his book Roman Catholicism, claims that it is a sin to have statues because "God has forbidden the use of images in worship" (p. 281). Many Protestants embrace this claim, yet if they were to "search the scriptures" (cf. John 5:39), they would find that exactly the opposite is true. Not only did God never condemn the use of statues in worship (though to be sure he did condemn the worship of statues), he actually commanded their use!

GOD SAID TO MAKE THEM

While Protestants and others quote Exodus 20:4-5 to bolster their charge of Catholic "statue worship," they forget about the numerous other passages where the Lord commands the carving of statues: "And you shall make two cherubim of gold [i.e., two carved statues of angels]; of hammered work shall you make them, on the two ends of the mercy seat. Make one cherub on the one end, and one cherub on the other end; of one piece of the mercy seat shall you make the cherubim on its two ends. The cherubim shall spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, their faces one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubim be" (Ex. 25:18-20).

David gave Solomon the plan "for the altar of incense made of refined gold, and its weight; also his plan for the golden chariot of the cherubim that spread their wings and covered the ark of the covenant of the Lord. All this he made clear by the writing of the hand of the Lord concerning it all, all the work to be done according to the plan" (1 Chr. 28:18-19). Note that all this was directed according to divinely inspired writing. Ezekiel 41:15 describes graven images in the Temple: "on the walls round about in the inner room and [on] the nave were carved likenesses of cherubim."

 THE RELIGIOUS USE OF IMAGES

During a plague of serpents he sent to punish the wicked Israelites, God told Moses to "make [a statue of] a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and every one who is bitten, when he sees it shall live. So Moses made a bronze serpent, and set it on a pole; and if a serpent bit any man, he would look at the bronze serpent and live" (Num. 21:8-9). The fact that one had to look at the bronze statue of the serpent in order to be healed shows that statues could be used ritually, not merely as religious decorations.

Catholics use statues, paintings, and other artistic devices to recall the person or thing depicted. Just as it is helps to remember one's mother by looking at her photograph, so it helps to recall the example of the saints by looking at pictures of them. Catholics also use statues as teaching tools. In the early Church they were especially useful for the instruction of the illiterate. Many Protestants themselves have pictures of Jesus and other Bible pictures in Sunday school for purposes of teaching children, especially those who haven't learned to read. Catholics also use statues to commemorate certain people and events, much like Protestant churches that have three-dimensional nativity scenes at Christmas.

If one measured Protestants by the same rule, then by using these "graven" images, they would be practicing the "idolatry" which they accuse Catholics of practicing. But the fact is, there's no idolatry going on in these situations. God forbids the worship of images, but he doesn't ban the making of images in general. If he had, movies, videos, photographs, manger scenes, paintings, drawings, and all sorts of things would be banned, since they too are images.

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