Dolls - Graven Images, Idols, or Simple Kids Toys?

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TheCookieMonster

Guest
#1
#1
Okay, so I've kinda been worried lately. Since I'm a teen, my house is filled with a bunch of dolls that I had kept from my childhood. From Teddy bears to sharks and even Pokemon... (I used to be a gamer with an unhealthy obsession... I've changed though. Hehe!)

So I was on the internet and searching about graven images and so on and so forth, when I stumbled into this very interesting article. It was about the 2nd Commandment God had given to Moses: Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Exodus 20:3-5 and Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the LORD your God. (Lev. 26:1)

Now, funny thing is, the article stated that the point of this Commandment is that you are not to keep any graven images (toys, statues, figures, etc. that resemble living creatures, the sun, the moon, the stars, basically almost everything natural in this world.) and that heavily offends God. When I made even more research, I found out that not only that article was supporting that philosophy - a lot of them were. Of course, that made me REALLY worried - my Catholic school never told anything about having cute dolls and cups as graven images!

Even more, one article even stated that animated movies (something like Rio, Secret Life of Pets, Frozen, etc.) were ALSO to be considered graven images. (But, most didn't, so... :p)

I also found this article that went really in-depth about it and I can see the point, but... just to be safe, are dolls, statues, etc. graven images?

Please let me know what you think! I really need your help.
 
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Tintin

Guest
#2
#2
Are you serious? No. The Bible forbids graven images. Images that are created to be worshipped. Otherwise, Moses and King Solomon buggered up big-time when they and their artisans created the Tabernacle and the Temple.
 
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TheCookieMonster

Guest
#3
#3
Tintin said:
Are you serious? No. The Bible forbids graven images. Images that are created to be worshipped. Otherwise, Moses and King Solomon buggered up big-time when they and their artisans created the Tabernacle and the Temple.
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That was pretty short but sweet. I did some more research and now I've found out when God said "graven images" He meant images that depicts Him and SHOULD be worshipped. Oops.

Any more thoughts, people?
 
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Ariel82

Guest
#4
#4
No need to worry, unless you bow down and worship them like they are gods or make sacrifices to them.

Idols are worshipped.


Brace for the storm, you mentioned the Catholic church.

They wouldn't teach you about idols, because they have "holy relics" that people worship and shouldn't. Also the practice of praying to Mary and the saints have been co-opted by some pagan religions to have them worship the local demonic deities under new names.

However that being said, there are still some truly wonderful people in the Catholic church seeking after God and His will for their life. Who don't how down to idols.
 
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pottersclay

Guest
#5
#5
No need to worry, everyone had a hobby, just keep it as such. I have transformers and ninja turtles from my last born, the originals.
Thanks for asking and watch your searching on the net, could be confusing and cause a stumbling block.
 
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TheCookieMonster

Guest
#6
#6
Ariel82 said:
No need to worry, unless you bow down and worship them like they are gods or make sacrifices to them.

Idols are worshipped.


Brace for the storm, you mentioned the Catholic church.

They wouldn't teach you about idols, because they have "holy relics" that people worship and shouldn't. Also the practice of praying to Mary and the saints have been co-opted by some pagan religions to have them worship the local demonic deities under new names.

However that being said, there are still some truly wonderful people in the Catholic church seeking after God and His will for their life. Who don't how down to idols.
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Okay, thank you!

And I really know that this is getting off-topica Poptropica (game referenced, lol!) but most Catholics I know don't pray to Mary or the Saints, they simply ask through Christ for them to pray for us here on Earth. Just a little clarification for the common misconception Christians have against Catholics. It's like sending a message from Earth to Heaven with the "mailman" being Christ. They just ask the Lord to send the message to Mary and the saints (but they still pray to only God, though!) :)
 
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TheCookieMonster

Guest
#7
#7
pottersclay said:
No need to worry, everyone had a hobby, just keep it as such. I have transformers and ninja turtles from my last born, the originals.
Thanks for asking and watch your searching on the net, could be confusing and cause a stumbling block.
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Haha, thanks! And amen!
 
Yonah

Yonah

Senior Member
#8
Oct 31, 2014
1,074
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#8
Exo 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
 
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KenAllan

Banned
#9
Sep 16, 2014
1,278
23
0
#9
Let me ask you a question. Do you look to your toys as your god? Do you bow down to your toys asking them the help you or do things for you?

A statue of Mary is a graven image. Because people bow down to this image worshiping the image as a god.

So the answer is no, your toys are not graven images.
 
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KenAllan

Banned
#10
Sep 16, 2014
1,278
23
0
#10
Mary is dead and in the grave TheCookieMonster. She cannot hear our prayers and she cannot answer our prayers.

This is a very good example of a Graven image we are to avoid.
 
jsr1221

jsr1221

Senior Member
#11
Jul 7, 2013
4,265
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#11
Are you bowing down and praying to your dolls, acting as if they are your God? If not, then you have nothing to worry. Dolls. Action figures. Stuffed animals. Whatever. They're all toys. Anything else is just silly.
 
jsr1221

jsr1221

Senior Member
#12
Jul 7, 2013
4,265
77
48
#12
Yonah said:
Exo 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
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She already had this verse in her op, so not sure why you're requiring her. It also doesn't answer her question.
 
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Tintin

Guest
#13
#13
TheCookieMonster said:
That was pretty short but sweet. I did some more research and now I've found out when God said "graven images" He meant images that depicts Him and SHOULD be worshipped. Oops.

Any more thoughts, people?
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Now, I'm even more confused. You speak about doing more research, but how much more can you do in the 2-3mins since I posted? Also, God doesn't want us to make graven images at all. He doesn't want us to worship images of Him. Moses and King Solomon and their artisans created images to be used as aids in the worship of God, nothing more.
 
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TrailofTruth

Guest
#14
#14
Like God said in that verse you quoted, "to bow down to it". If your image is not for religious reasons, or you do not intend to worship your image, you're ok. I had this same question about the Christmas tree. If you don't worship your Christmas tree, it is just as ok to have that as it is to have a lamp (unless you worship your lamp).

It is good for a little girl to have a doll, to promote nurturing, it is what she will do someday, and she can't practice with a real baby. Children's play is actually job training for the future- to do things God planned in advance for them to do.

I appreciate that you are open minded enough to consider what they had to say, but hope that you see what they said doesn't really match what the bible is saying.
 
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TheCookieMonster

Guest
#15
#15
Tintin said:
Now, I'm even more confused. You speak about doing more research, but how much more can you do in the 2-3mins since I posted? Also, God doesn't want us to make graven images at all. He doesn't want us to worship images of Him. Moses and King Solomon and their artisans created images to be used as aids in the worship of God, nothing more.
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Actually... I didn't. I did before you posted.
And, I wasn't denying your statement. I was just saying that it's a short but sweet explanation.
I never said that those images should be worshipped. What I meant was that if the iamge is to be worshipped, then it would count as one. Oops. Sorry for the misunderstanding!
 
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TheCookieMonster

Guest
#16
#16
KenAllan said:
Mary is dead and in the grave TheCookieMonster. She cannot hear our prayers and she cannot answer our prayers.

This is a very good example of a Graven image we are to avoid.
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Actually, it's not about praying to Mary, it's about praying to God so that God would send the message to her and she'd consider praying for us to the Lord. That's it.
(Plus, she isn't dead, I mean she did accept Jesus as the Savior, so I don't find a reason for her not to go to Heaven!)
But, since you said so... I'll think about it.
 
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Tintin

Guest
#17
#17
TheCookieMonster said:
Actually... I didn't. I did before you posted.
And, I wasn't denying your statement. I was just saying that it's a short but sweet explanation.
I never said that those images should be worshipped. What I meant was that if the iamge is to be worshipped, then it would count as one. Oops. Sorry for the misunderstanding!
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Okay, sorry about that. The wording of your post just confused me. No harm.
 
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TheCookieMonster

Guest
#18
#18
jsr1221 said:
Are you bowing down and praying to your dolls, acting as if they are your God? If not, then you have nothing to worry. Dolls. Action figures. Stuffed animals. Whatever. They're all toys. Anything else is just silly.
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Okay then. Amen!
 
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TheCookieMonster

Guest
#19
#19
Tintin said:
Okay, sorry about that. The wording of your post just confused me. No harm.
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It's okay, it was partially my fault too! Sorry!
 
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