2.6 how incarnation affects attitudes towards religious art

• what do Islam and Judaism say about religious art?


  its an offence to show God in any form as nobody knows what he truly looks like
• Why does the Catholic church believe it is acceptable to use religious art?


  God showed himself on earth as a human in the incarnation therefore it is acceptable to use images to depict God
• what does it mean that it isn't possible to portray God accurately?


  Infinite God cannot be accurately represented using finite
• what does it mean if art can mislead people about what God is like?


  art cannot portray God accurately
• what does it mean if praying in front of a statue may mislead people?


  impression that the image or statue is being worshipped as a God
• what does it mean if it is against the second commandment?


  • the second commandment forbids people to make statues of paintings of God
  • ' You shall noy make for yourself an Idol ' ( Exodus 20:4 )
• What does the church teach about religious art?


  • inspires people
  • gives people something to focus on as they pray
  • help people to learn about the aspect of Gods work
  • has a positive role in religious life
• Why does the Church use Jesus being fully human as an acceptable reason for religious art?


  • acceptable to show Jesus in human form
  • he was a man with human qualities
• Why does the Church use Jesus being fully God as an acceptable reason for religious art?


  God revealed himself on earth int he form of a human, it is fine to depict him in that form
• Why does the Church use Jesus died to save all of humanity as an acceptable reason for religious art?


  • can be shown as a member of any ethnicity
  • as all people were affected by his death