I am just curious of everyone's opinoin on icons. I used to be quite against them, but have gradualy come to accept them as just another form of worshiping God. I particularily like the Sinai Christ icon and most related to the transfiguration.
None at the moment. I've only attened an Anglican mass during Advent and a RC midnight mass at Christmas. I've read about others, but I've yet to attened enough varying services to make a desicion of where I'd like to attend regular services. I have "Catholic" in my profile because I think it is stupid that they are split up from "Christians" on a regular basis...I alos may end up get Christened into the Catholic Church (I am going to be baptized by one of my friends hopefully this summer).
Well I'd hardly cll Buddhism a "religious sect" I'd call it a faith, religion, or spiritual path or whatever. Zen Buddhism I'd consider a sect of Buddhism. I think it is obvious that I am a Christian, so I went to the next deepest explanation that I do not belong to any particular sect of Christianity at the moment, although I am getting more into the Eastern Rite way of doing things at the moment (Julian calander, the "Khyrstos Voskres" in my sig etc) because I am immersed in it everyday for my summer job.
EDIT: And now that my thread has officially been derailed, I hope someone posts to get it back on topic, even you...
I don't know, I really wish he PM'd me... That is why I edited my post...I think I may take that whole thing out and jus PM him.
Not even one reply in, and it was derailed I never really liked the crucifixs either. If any I do like the Orthodox crucifix with the titilus bar and the slanted bar on the bottom. For me, it does more than just serve as a symbol of the faith (as the latin cross does) or show Christ in agaony and suffering (as some bloody Chrsit icons do IMO), it tellsthe story of the Passion in one image. The INRI tells of how he was mocked, the arm bars are self explanitory, and the slanted bar tells of his power to save as he did with the good theif.
By "icon" I mean drawn/painted/etcr or molded images that represent Jesus or the saints or the Holy Spirit or whatnot. The English class definition of a "icon" is somethign that is representative of an object or person or idea that is recognizable as that thing. For example, the man or woman on a bathroom door LOOKS sort of like what it is supposed to be. EDIT: Acctually I think learning that English defintion of icon contributed to my acceptance of them. But my jury is still out on molded images, paintings and whatnot I am OK with--heck, look at my sig
I figure whether it's a molded, 3D image or a painting, drawing, stained glass art... it's all the same. And I don't see the utility in banning a picture of your god or saint; it's a natural human impulse to want a physical, visual image of what we love and care about the most, it makes it more accessible. Obviously the picture isn't the god, even Hindus recognize that. It's a focal point for prayer/meditation, a reminder. Besides, if you're not worshipping an image, it's just as easy to find something else: money, power, sports, TV, the internet, etc etc. Distractions abound in life. I like what Fed said about the church and the priests being icons. I'd add that the bible too can be an icon/idol, as many Christians seem to worship it. (God didn't end with the last book of the Bible, ya know?)
