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Originally posted by Adrift
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In your experience as a Catholic, have you ever come across a fellow Catholic that had what you would consider an...unhealthy understanding and devotion towards religious statues and figurines?
I certainly have run across people like that on the Protestant side. For instance, I know a lot of people who would consider themselves Christian because they believe in what basically amounts to a sort of cosmic karma. Their understanding of Christianity is essentially limited to the idea that if they're relatively good people (compared to those really bad people out there) then they'll go to heaven one day, and meet a God who has a white beard, and wears white robes, and they'll float into the sky and sit on clouds talking to their family members for all eternity. The significance of the cross, their own sin, and Jesus' death is completely lost on them. I think this sort of karmic version of Christianity-lite that they believe in his potentially damning, yet, I don't think they're stupid for holding these views, only misinformed. I know other people who would consider themselves a sort of Protestant who believe in a sort of New Age angelology, and have a very unhealthy devotion towards angels. In fact, some of that devotion can get downright demonic in my opinion. Again, I don't think these people are stupid, just ignorant of the truth.
I'm not sure the pre-New Covenant people "required" any such thing. On the other hand, I think it is quite beneficial, even under the New Covenant, to have more than the written and aural word. When I attend Protestant services now, they seem "flat" to me.
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