Bowing down to a likeness that you take to be a god is a violation of commandment.
I agree with you on that.
Yet, at the same time, Wm, I’ve been amused at Christmas time for it is “protestant icon hour”. They pull out the stops with “Nativity Scenes”. Large ones, small ones, plastic ones, carved ones, lighted ones, living ones, and fabulously arrranged ones.
Entire programs are built around coming to ooooh and aaaaahh over the Graven Images of Mary, Joseph, Shepherds, Christ Child, etc.
What if Catholics simply oooohhh and aaaahhh all year long instead of just at Christmas?
I agree with you on that.
Thank you
Yet, at the same time, Wm, I’ve been amused at Christmas time for it is “protestant icon hour”. They pull out the stops with “Nativity Scenes”. Large ones, small ones, plastic ones, carved ones, lighted ones, living ones, and fabulously arrranged ones.
I understand your "amusement". It's disconcerting that so many "Christians" put so much energy into Jesus' birthday but nowhere near as much into Resurrection Sunday.
I do note a big difference though. In the case of "protestant icon hour" I don't believe we have protestants bowing down and praying to these icons with the expectation that their prayers will be heard and given special treatment because they went through the icons. IOW, the protestants don't subscribe god like powers to their icons.
What if Catholics simply oooohhh and aaaahhh all year long instead of just at Christmas?
If the RC's were simply ooohhing and aaahhing it might be called gaudy, but it wouldn't be idolatry and heresy. However, a rudimentary examination of the Marian practices shows that's not the case.