Let's just leave it that we see this bowing before idols of wood, plaster ,and whatever material made of by men, from differing perspectives.
To you and others there might be an inner need to have these before you in order perhaps to heighten your worship in some way. perhaps a sense of comfort or that one is not alone...much as a youngster might need a soft teddy-bear or an oldster a warm blanket type of feel. I have heard some speak of that. But for others not only are these monuments and forms unnecessary but they are an intrusion into the free-flowing communication between Christ and the individual....more a distraction.
Frankly I am not one who enjoys the Renaissance art works from which many of these art forms are taken...although I can appreciate the style of the artist as has been seen in other works not depicting a religious figure or person, but they sometimes are actually disfigured and odd looking.
Come to think of it there is quite a bit of nudity and seductive poses in much of the art work and figures in catholic cathedrals and churches... which if one thinks about the celibacy requirements for Priests, and those with homosexual issues this isn't exactly the best art work to be hanging around. Just a thought as we all know men are visually stimlated./p> So you see we view this from a different perspective so if these art forms give you a sense of comfort etc. well there really isn't anything wrong with that I suppose.
Frankly I am not one who enjoys the Renaissance art works from which many of these art forms are taken...although I can appreciate the style of the artist as has been seen in other works not depicting a religious figure or person, but they sometimes are actually disfigured and odd looking.I agree. That's why Rembrandt was one of the greatest painters in history, and was more a post-Renaissance painter who painted as a reaction to the florid Renaissance rather than to join it.
The difference between the Renaissance artwork and those of the later and post Renaissance is that the earlier, Italian artwork encouraged men to bow down to the artwork itself, while the artwork of the Reformation denied that belief and merely portrayed religious figures with a new type of realism.
This photo was found on a website under the heading, "Best Places to Pray in St. Peter's."
You don't find anyone falling to their knees and praying to this painting of Christ by Rembrandt...
Come to think of it there is quite a bit of nudity and seductive poses in much of the art work and figures in catholic cathedrals and churches... which if one thinks about the celibacy requirements for Priests, and those with homosexual issues this isn't exactly the best art work to be hanging around. Just a thought as we all know men are visually stimlated
You probably mean that somewhat in jest, but there is a lot of truth to that observation. There's something untoward about the following photos...
“Let’s just leave it that we see this bowing before idols of wood, plaster ,and whatever material made of by men, from differing perspectives.”
Sorry, but I must insist that your opinion is incorrect.
“To you and others there might be an inner need”
There is no “need.” The idea that there might be seems to me an outgrowth of the protestant “either-or” perspective, as against the Catholic “both-and” perspective.
I, and I presume all Catholics, often pray when there is no religious art in sight. Religious art merely serves to prompt thought and contemplation, and to help us get in the best possible disiposition to pray.
“much as a youngster might need a soft teddy-bear or an oldster a warm blanket type of feel.”
You just can’t help but wax insulting, can you? You might want to think about that inability.
“But for others not only are these monuments and forms unnecessary but they are an intrusion into the free-flowing communication between Christ and the individual....more a distraction.”
That’s only because those others have been taught falsehood. The fault lies with protestant doctrine, not with religious art.
“Come to think of it there is quite a bit of nudity and seductive poses in much of the art work and figures in catholic cathedrals and churches.”
You see it that way, do you? I suppose you’d like to have great art draped to conceal the last nipple, eh? That’s why the Puritans had to flee to America. Every other place in Europe had run them off for that kind of nonsense.
“Just a thought as we all know men are visually stimlated.”
I have yet to be “stimulated” by religious art.
“if these art forms give you a sense of comfort etc.”
I’m sure it’s been explained to you many times. If you refuse to get it, well, there’s nothing more I can do.
“well there really isn’t anything wrong with that I suppose.”
Nothing wrong with praying in the vicinity of religious art?
Careful, you’ll get yourself shunned.”