Satan’s Great Manipulation of Christians

Salaam,

I honestly feel that most Christians, Caholics or those who are adherents to the Christian faith truly worship God. I understand that there are those who worship blindly, and ignorantly but for the most part it all leads to God. Without mentioning Islam if I said I worshiped the Lord of the Universe to a priest in his mind it is obviously God.

Now only when we discuss the specifics in the nature of God such as his manifestation and so forth then we may come to differences. However Christianity is not manipulated by Satan but by man. Any deviation among the people is because of human error not because of Satan. If Satan caused so many errors in mankind how do we discern the particular actions of man from Satan?

We cannot. As Allah says in the Qur'an that all good comes from his and evil come from mankind.

In regards to the whole statue isue although I do believe that SOME Catholics venerate the saints image in their cathedrals I firmly believe that they are expressing their devotion to God through seeking an intermediary. I see this as the symbolic gesture odf not feeling worthy enough to directly communicate with God and therefore on the behalf of the human they seek the saints. As it was explained to me since the Saints are with God in the Empyrean they can be sought out as intermediaries on the behalf of those who invoke them in prayer.

However invoking those [Saints] in prayer according to some Catholics is not the same thing as invoking God. In some Catholic sermons some priest will mention the name of a a saint and say "[Saint's Name] pray for" or For example [Saint John the Baptist] pray for us etc. One thing I admire about Cathedrals is that the images are indeed beautific although perhaps inaccurate historically I do feel a spiritual presence there.

I once prayed in a Cathedral and luckily for me the east direction I was praying in did not have any of the icons in  front of me I still felt the presence of God there nonetheless.

Patty,

You are entitled to your opinion about me either by what you assume or your comments on what I posted or how you interpret what I post all is the same, an opinion. If it were someone else than you I maybe would counter or if the base of your post was not entirely an opinion of your view on me I would counter. The only reason why I have choose not to for you is based on this......from the thread that you started on Idols. Which I posted a couple times there. After all what I posted to you; You submitted a painting of Mothers of the Sea or something. Um, and that is all that I am going to say about that. But, Hemdeallah you are still here.

Bess.

My dear Suzanne, you posted this:

"You submitted a painting of Mothers of the Sea or something."  Yes, a beautiful icon painting by my husband, the Maris Stella.

If you feel so strongly against artistic works and the sinfulness of appreciating their beauty, perhaps it is a form of idolatry to have the avatar posted at your name??  Are you worshipping that avatar in some way by showing it to the world?  Just a thought.

God's Peace. 

Dear Israfil, you stated this:

"I see this as the symbolic gesture odf not feeling worthy enough to directly communicate with God and therefore on the behalf of the human they seek the saints."

No, that's not the way it is.  I pray to God all the time.  Do you know of the Our Father?  "Our Father, who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy name"....

We defininitely believe in praying to God and do it regularly.

Peace to you.