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==Bowing and kneeling: Worship?==

==Bowing and kneeling: Worship?==

According to the Bible, the act of bowing and kneeling in reverential respect is a way to show the worship of ''dulia'' in giving "honor to whom honor is due". Only the [[fallacy of analogy]] falsely equates all bowing and kneeling of ''dulia'' with the properly exclusive worship of ''latria'' due to God alone, and falsely condemns any and all bowing and kneeling to others as proof of committing the fatally demonic Satanic sin of [[idolatry]]. Saint Peter's command to '''τόν βασιλέα τιμάτε''' "Honor the emperor" (''dulia'') <ref>''ton basilea timate'' [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/2_peter/2-17.htm 2 Peter 2:17 (interlinear)]</ref> is not the same as commanding '''τόν βασιλέα προσκυνούντας''' "Adore the emperor" (''latria'') <ref>[http://biblehub.com/greek/4352 Strong's number ''4352'' '''προσκυνέω''' ''proskuneo'' "''kiss, fawn, crouch'' to, (literally or figuratively)''prostrate'' oneself in homage (do ''reverence'' to, ''adore''):— worship" (as God).</ref> The Jewish and Christian scriptures demonstrate clearly that according to God the Holy Spirit, bowing and kneeling is not strictly limited in meaning to the unique worship of ''latria'' due to God alone, but is approved by the Lord as showing the appropriate worship of ''dulia'', as seen in the following Bible passages (King James Version):

According to the Bible, the act of bowing and kneeling in reverential respect is a way to show the worship of ''dulia'' in giving "honor to whom honor is due". Only the [[fallacy of analogy]] falsely equates all bowing and kneeling of ''dulia'' with the properly exclusive worship of ''latria'' due to God alone, and falsely condemns any and all bowing and kneeling to others as proof of committing the fatally demonic Satanic sin of [[idolatry]]. Saint Peter's command to '''τόν βασιλέα τιμάτε''' "Honor the emperor" (''dulia'') <ref>''ton basilea timate'' [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/2_peter/2-17.htm 2 Peter 2:17 (interlinear)]</ref> is not the same as commanding '''τόν βασιλέα προσκυνούντας''' "Adore the emperor" (''latria'') <ref>[http://biblehub.com/greek/4352 Strong's number ''4352'' '''προσκυνέω''' ''proskuneo'' "''kiss, fawn, crouch'' to, (literally or figuratively)''prostrate'' oneself in homage (do ''reverence'' to, ''adore''):— worship" (as God).</ref> The Jewish and Christian scriptures demonstrate clearly that according to God the Holy Spirit, bowing and kneeling is not strictly limited in meaning to the unique worship of ''latria'' due to God alone, but is approved by the Lord as showing the appropriate worship of ''dulia'', as seen in the following Bible passages (King James Version) in which "obeisance" means "fall down flat, prostrate, worship"''':''' <ref>[http://biblehub.com/hebrew/7812.htm Strong's number 7812 '''ש֪ח֪ה''' ''shachah''; to ''depress, prostrate'' (in homage to royalty or God):—bow down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, worship.]</ref>

*[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=genesis%2037:7&version=KJV Genesis 37:7]; [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=genesis%2041:43&version=KJV 41:43]; [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=genesis%2043:28&version=KJV 43:28]

*[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=genesis%2037:7&version=KJV Genesis 37:7]; [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=genesis%2041:43&version=KJV 41:43]; [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=genesis%2043:28&version=KJV 43:28]

*[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=exodus%2018:7&version=KJV Exodus 18:7]; [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=exodus%2020:12&version=KJV 20:12]

*[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=exodus%2018:7&version=KJV Exodus 18:7]; [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=exodus%2020:12&version=KJV 20:12]

===The appearance of evil in worship: Iconoclasm===

===The appearance of evil in worship: Iconoclasm===

Protestants have been taught to "avoid every appearance of evil" <ref>1 Thessalonians 5:22</ref>. This includes the appearance of idolatry. They respond that whether idolatry is intended in the heart or not, the very '''''act''''' of bowing and kneeling before images and representations of God, the Persons of the Holy Trinity, of Jesus, Mary and the saints, and what many people regard as the "ghoulish" and "loathsome" veneration of pieces and parts (relics) of the dead bodies (corpses) of the saints, is ''[[ipso facto]]'' of itself, by the very fact of the action itself, an undeniably clear cut '''''act''''' of idolatry and a superstitious worship of the dead, which God condemns and abhors as an [[abomination]], whether or not they admit it. This has been the motivation for all the various, recurring campaigns of [[iconoclasm]] throughout history. Catholics respond to the charge of idolatry with the words of Jesus in the Gospel: "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment" John 7:24 (KJV). They say that since they do not intend to commit idolatry, therefore they don't. They claim they have been wrongly judged.<ref>See Revelation 22:11</ref>

Protestants have been taught to "avoid every appearance of evil" <ref>1 Thessalonians 5:22</ref>. This includes the appearance of idolatry. They respond that whether idolatry is intended in the heart or not, the very '''''act''''' of bowing and kneeling before images and representations of God, any one of the Persons of the Holy [[Trinity]], of Jesus, Mary and the saints, and what many people regard as the "ghoulish" and "loathsome" veneration of bits and pieces and parts (relics) of the dead bodies (corpses) of the saints as sacred remnants of the temple of the Holy Spirit and parts of the body of Christ, is ''[[ipso facto]]'' of itself, by the very fact of the action itself, an undeniably clear cut '''''act''''' of idolatry and a superstitious worship of the dead, which God condemns and abhors as an [[abomination]], whether or not they admit it. This has been the motivation for all the various, recurring campaigns of [[iconoclasm]] throughout history, which was condemned as [[Heresy|heretical]] by the [[Ecumenical council|Seventh Ecumenical Council]]. Catholics respond to the charge of idolatry with the words of Jesus in the Gospel: "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment" John 7:24 (KJV). They say that since they do not intend to commit idolatry, therefore they don't. They claim they have been wrongly judged.<ref>See Revelation 22:11; 1 Peter 2:11-17; Romans 14:1–15:13</ref>

==See also==

==See also==