Aieno Wrote:
You interpret my posts as freely as you interpret Scripture. The use of the terms "worship" and worshipped" apply to secular situations where men showed respect for one of a higher status or authority. Jesus accepted worship due any secular king or respected teacher. The fact Peter refused to accept worship simply demonstrates his humility in a situation where he was taking the Gospel message to Cornelius as a bond servant of the Lord. The phrased "bow down" and "bowed down" carry the same distinction in Scripture. Lot bowed to angels, Abraham bowed to secular authorities, Joseph bowed before Israel, David bowed to Saul and Jonathon, and etc. Angels in John's vision refused to be worshipped, however the angels that went to Sodom did not reject worship.
First of all, unlike yourself, I do not self-interpretate scripture (2 Peter 1:20). That would be unbiblical. I rely on the teaching authority of the Magisterium, not solely on my own knowlegde (2 Peter 3:16).
I know that bowing down to someone does not necessarily mean you are worshipping them. I have been trying to get that across to you for God knows how long.
Aieno Wrote:
God does not prohibit demonstrating respect for men of high status or authority by bowing before them or worshipping them. What God prohibits is worshipping or bowing down before an image. Americans venerate George Washington, but we do not "bow down" before images of Washington. Men "bow down" to Queen Elizabeth to show respect for a secular monarch, but men do not bow down to images of the Queen.
If God does not prohibit people from demonstrating respect for each other by bowing down to them, then why (according to you) does he prohibit bowing down to images of people that have died?
Catholics bow down to images of Mary, whats the big deal? Would it make a difference if Mary was alive and you bowed down to her in person? This is illogical reasoning.