Graven Image? – a cathedral in Lisbon

Lisbon, Portugal

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Mark Beauvais

Looks like several, actually…

Michael C

Definitely ‘grave’ = a What skils involved, and energy!

Definitely an ‘image’ = b Not one, but many. Everywhere!

a + b = c

graven image = c Oh, but, gee, no harm here. It’s all harmless!

Yeah. Uh huh.

May be badly applied logic to mathematics, however,
it certainly fits in my mind.

Gary Predoehl

I wonder what God thinks of these massive cathedrals supposedly built to him and for him? They are awe inspiring when you walk in to them, but they also sure “feel” devoid of the Spirit…especially with the numerous graven images that are typically found within them and on them.

Michael

Cross = 400

Door = 4

House = 2

Hand = 10 = Commandments = God

Michael

CrossHairs = 007 = Licensed to Kill 🙂

Pam

I once loved these shrines. Now they make me nauseous. How tragic that the ability given to mankind for the purpose of glorifying his creator should be used to glorify His enemy.

Carolyn Camfield

Ostentacious. Yuk!

Michael

“Ostentacious. Yuk!”

Hi Carolyn,

With all due respect to the photographer

Yuk would probably not be your response if you saw this cathedral in person

The first time I saw cathedrals like the one above I fancied myself

As something of a Sartrean atheist existentialist about 30 years ago

However I quickly realized that creators of the buildings were either inspired by God

Or from another planet 🙂

elisa sekula neuman

I see how God gives each of us very special gifts, and talents. My heart, is that the artist and stained glass expert, is able to have an enlightning experience by whatever instrument, God chooses to do or allow and bring them into truth, so that the beautiful effort in which the artist, trys to demonstrate his or hers adoration to God, will be out of a relationship with Father God, instead of a religious service, if indeed the artist is lost, like I once was!

Thomas Elsinger

Yes, I agree, a graven image. And yet God will meet with and work with someone anywhere. I first came to repentance in a setting like the one above, praying, and frustrated that my prayers weren’t going anywhere, at least not to God! I turned myself away from the images and toward the blank wall, and that’s where I learned repentance. I understood that the statues, images, and whatnot were blocking my access to God, but I didn’t realize why. Much later, I came to understand the truth about the second commandment, and then I understood how these adornments were hindering my walk with God. And, yes, with that knowledge, I walked away from that kind of worship, and I’ve never looked back.

Ester

Not sure, Skip. Artistry or creativity may be of YHWH, but if it lifts up man’s own talent/s, and not Him, can it come from another source, beautiful and exquisite though the art may be.
E.g. the golden calf in the wilderness, will that be of YHWH or man?

Tim

Question…how does this compare to the Temple that Solomon built described in 1Kings 6-8 and which YHVH himself consecrated and approved of in 1Kings 9?

Michael

“how does this compare to the Temple that Solomon built”

Hi Tim,

I’ve never seen the Temple that Solomon built, but I would not be surprised

If the aesthetic/spiritual experience of the Cathedral in Lisbon were equally awe inspiring

One could theoretically have a similar experience of the poem below IMO

The world is charged with the grandeur of God.
It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;
It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil
Crushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod?
Generations have trod, have trod, have trod;
And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil;
And wears man’s smudge and shares man’s smell: the soil
Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod.

And for all this, nature is never spent;
There lives the dearest freshness deep down things;
And though the last lights off the black West went
Oh, morning, at the brown brink eastward, springs —
Because the Holy Ghost over the bent
World broods with warm breast and with ah! bright wings.

God’s Grandeur
BY GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS

Michael

Hi Skip,

Is the “craven image” of the god above the beautiful painting

Son + Father + Spirit (like Sun) as in Sunday?

Michael

The photo on my laptop is small and not very clear on the image of the “sun”

Between the two graven statues above the beautiful blue painting

My mind sort of projects a crucifix on the “spikes” emanating from the yellow “sun”

It looks like a head/face is at the top of the “cloud” below rays of sun

Based on my experience in Catholic churches, this is not a typical image of Jesus

But it looks like it is sort of combining a-sun like image of God with his “son”

Somewhat trinitarian

Chris Burgess

Question: Is a plain cross a graven image?