GM writes: "My mother and I got into a discussion about idolatry a few weeks ago. She seems to think that having pagan artwork in the home isn't idolatry, and I can't help but feel like it is, although the extent of it is a rendering of a buddha by my sister, and a couple buddha statues in opposite alcoves in our entryway. What is Church teaching regarding this?"
We took a call on our radio show last week from a woman asking about a ceremony known as “Receiving the Tao.” She claimed to know someone who had been involved in this. Because I had not heard of this before, I promised to do some research for her on what this might be. What I found is disturbing, especially for Catholics who may be getting involved in this.
MJ asks: "What can you tell me about Sunship Earth, a program for middle school pupils? How does it extol New Age concepts? The program has a funeral for a leaf and one to become a squirrel that loses its habitat. What New Age objective is fulfilled in this type of activity?"
A hard-hitting commentary recently published in The Catholic Gentleman asks some serious questions about how the New Age has become so fascinating, particularly to millennials, and if dumbed-down Christianity may be at least part of the blame.
JB writes: “There is a new Disney movie for which I have seen a short preview. It is apparently based on the Mexican Day of the Dead. Is this the same as All Souls Day? Or does this movie have something to do with "Saint Death", which clearly isn't good or of God. . . . Catholic and Christian symbols are often mixed with new age items, so I am confused. Would you please clarify the meaning of this movie for me?”
Parents are suing a school in British Columbia after it forced their children to take part in a religious “cleansing ritual” that was based on the beliefs of the tribes of the Pacific Northwest known as Nuu-chah-nulth.
In the wake of the election of a Republican to the highest office in the land, some of the liberal elite are looking for guidance among the rocks and canyons of Arizona.
LR writes: "A First Nation person told me that, although a lot of native Christian people use native art (totem poles, dances to the spirit world, symbols of eagles, ravens, whales, wolf) etc., these are not of God, not sanctioned by God and should be avoided (and burned if you have them). She said these represent old pagan beliefs (God is all creation, when a raven speaks to you it is sharing of creation). Is there a problem wearing a sweater with a large eagle native form on the clothes, and such?"
JS writes: "My son recently was given "BeyBlades" for his birthday. They are quite popular and based on the Cartoon Network show BeyBlades. There are different symbols on each of the beyblades and I was wondering if this toy and show are tied to the occult."
GM writes: "My mother and I got into a discussion about idolatry a few weeks ago. She seems to think that having pagan artwork in the home isn't idolatry, and I can't help but feel like it is, although the extent of it is a rendering of a buddha by my sister, and a couple buddha statues in opposite alcoves in our entryway. What is Church teaching regarding this?"
