What you seem to not understand is that Mary isn't even someone that deserves this kind of veneration. You wanna know how many times Mary, mother of Jesus, is mentioned in the Bible? 19 times. Catholics like to revere Mary as some huge figure in the Bible who deserves much praise and respect. Mary is a mere woman. She worships God in the same way everyone else does. CCC 969, CCC 966, CCC 2677, and likely many others, are all Catholic catechisms which all involve heretical doctrines such as Mary being a Mediatrix, Mary being the bringer of eternal salvation, Mary delivering souls from death, and prayer to the saints. Such magnificent attributes of Mary are found nowhere in Scripture. Not a single one of those things are found in God's inspired word. They are, however, said to be found in the Roman Catholic Church's Sacred Tradition. A tradition, which in and of itself is STEEPED in idolatry, from head to toe. "Mother of God" "Queen of Heaven," it's all disgusting catholic rhetoric. And do I even need to mention Exodus 20:4-5? I mean that part should go without saying really, the catholic church is filled with images, statues, and likenesses of Jesus, Mary, and the saints. Isaiah 44:17, "But the rest of it he makes into a god, his graven image. He falls down before it and worships; he also prays to it and says, “Deliver me, for you are my god."" Whether its praying to the saints, or even asking that the saints (who are all dead), somehow pray for you, it's still idolatry and it's still wrong. Even the very concept of the pope is downright wrong. “The Pope is of great authority and power, that he is able to modify, declare, or interpret even divine laws. The Pope can modify divine law, since his power is not of man, but of God, and he acts as vicegerent of God upon earth...” — Lucius Ferraris.

With respect to your particular theology, and the comments of Lucius Ferraris: that shit is in open contention, and the current state of things proves that

As far as people are concerned, it isn't idolatry. End of story.

what

As far as C*tholics are concerned lol

As far as people are concerned? Since when did the opinions of men ever matter over scripture?

Since the scriptures have been interpreted

Christ, are we really going to do this shit like every other theological argument?

Y’all kneel before Mary lmao that’s fucked

I don't see what the problem is, here

The problem is that you're calling something idolatry that isn't

I didn't write the Bible, bud. Leviticus 26:1“You 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.”

Oops

So what, should we take down the Cross too?

sure, why not? It was only introduced into Christianity when the religion began to become paganized

Now this is some blasphemy

How so?

Do you truly venerate a shape that much?

Small Al on Smite Watch rn

I don't venerate a shape, but it is the symbol of the entire religion

It's a bit much to then say "tear it all down"

And even if you wanted to, the practical reality is that isn't ever happening

Bro all were saying is that you’re in direct violation of the idolatry verses

Alright and that's a fair point. That doesn't make it necessary though. Early christians certainly didn't use it. And I understand that it isn't a realistic goal to think everyone will jusst stop in their tracks, but being true to the Bible matters over wanting please everyone

I don't want to please everyone, fuck the non-Christians of the world for all I care

But to call it idolatry is also wrong

The purpose is not the veneration of the symbol

We do not worship the Cross, and if we did then I'd agree with you

These Catholics kneel before an Idol of Mary, do they not

Those Catholics are asking for intercession

Kneeling is not in and of itself worship

why ask for "intercession" when you could just pray to Jesus himself? Or did Jesus simply die so you could ask for dead men and women to pray for you?

You’re kneeling/bowing to an idol. That’s not allowed according to the text

I'm sure they did pray to Christ, as to why they would ask for intercession, it's probably because they want all the help they could get

And calling Mary a "dead woman" is just plain inaccurate

The Bile clearly says that the dead are dead

Yeah, good thing that

You’re kneeling/bowing to an idol. That’s what that is. You can argue in circles about why it’s okay, but it’s kneeling/bowing before an idol. Do you deny that?

But saying that she's a dead woman is inaccurate. That's the Virgin Mary, and that's more than just a dead woman

I deny that it is idolatry. It is asking for intercession from the Virgin Mary, which is perfectly acceptable in Catholic doctrine

And who're you to dictate the faith?