Quote Originally Posted by theveed
Another thing I wonder...

Diba di pwede magworship ng anybody other than God diba... especially inanimate objects...

Why do people cradle/kiss rosaries, friggin statues made in Tayuman of Sto. Nino, Mary etc???

Kinda contradicting isn't it?
That's a different issue. People use those inanimate objects simply to draw or enhance their inspiration. Idolatry is worshipping the wooden statue itself as god. Christians know that the Jesus Christ inside the churches is NOT the actual Jesus Christ - it's just a piece of wood.

Just the same way that you have a photograph of your wife and kids on your office table because you want to be inspired at work everytime you see them. It's the same way with the rosary or the statues. Everyone knows they're just friggin statues anyway.


Quote Originally Posted by theveed
Why do you have to pray to Mary or any other saint, can't you go straight to God himself or may kailangan pang daanan like government offices?

Labo.
Now THAT is a "culture" promulgated by the Catholic Church. Let's not confuse religious culture with the actual faith itself. But I agree that sometimes, these cultures of the Roman Catholic church are getting in the way and is missing the point.

Example, praying the rosary. Is repeating the same prayer over and over again have more effect than if you recite that prayer only once? But then again, if repeating a prayer will strengthen a person's faith that a positive outcome will come out of it, then I won't stop him.

Another religious culture by Catholics - religious ceremonies are very SCRIPTED. Even your response to a written question by the priest is already written on the piece of booklet handed out to you during church service.

It's a culture and tradition. People should know the difference.