Introduction: A Common but Flawed Accusation
One of the loudest accusations against the Catholic Church is that it is a pagan religion because Catholics use statues, images, and mention saints in prayer. Critics often quote Exodus 20 while ignoring the rest of Scripture and Church history.
Ironically, the Bible itself names many pagan gods—yet no one accuses Scripture of being pagan.
This article demonstrates that:
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Naming or depicting something does not equal worship
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Scripture itself names false gods
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Catholic teaching strictly rejects idolatry
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Sacred images are biblical and apostolic
I. The Bible Explicitly Names False Gods
The Bible does not avoid naming idols. Instead, it exposes them to show their falseness.
A. Canaanite and Semitic Gods (Old Testament)
| Name of God | Bible Verses | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Baal | Judges 2:11–13; 1 Kings 18 | Storm/fertility god |
| Asherah (Astarte) | Judges 3:7; 2 Kings 23:4 | Fertility goddess |
| Molech (Moloch) | Lev 18:21; Jer 32:35 | Child sacrifice |
| Dagon | 1 Sam 5:2–7 | Philistine god |
| Chemosh | Num 21:29; 1 Kings 11:7 | Moabite god |
| Milcom | 1 Kings 11:5 | Ammonite god |
| Rimmon | 2 Kings 5:18 | Syrian god |
| Nisroch | 2 Kings 19:37 | Assyrian god |
📌 Apologetic Point:
The Bible names these gods but never worships them.
B. Egyptian Gods
📖 Exodus 12:12
“I will execute judgments on all the gods of Egypt.”
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Apis (Bull deity) – implied in Exodus 32
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Ra, Horus, Isis – implied through the plagues
📌 The plagues were judgments against named deities, not endorsements.
C. Babylonian and Persian Gods
| God | Bible Reference |
|---|---|
| Bel (Marduk) | Isaiah 46:1; Jeremiah 50:2 |
| Nebo | Isaiah 46:1 |
D. Greek and Roman Gods (New Testament)
| God | Bible Reference |
|---|---|
| Zeus (Jupiter) | Acts 14:12–13 |
| Hermes (Mercury) | Acts 14:12 |
| Artemis (Diana) | Acts 19:24–35 |
📌 Even the New Testament names pagan gods explicitly.
II. Naming Is Not Worship (Biblical Principle)
📖 1 Corinthians 8:4–6
“An idol is nothing at all in the world… there is no God but one.”
📖 Psalm 96:5
“All the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.”
📌 The Bible:
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Names idols ✔
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Explains their origin ✔
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Condemns their worship ✔
👉 Therefore, naming or depicting ≠ worship.
III. God Commanded Sacred Images
If images were automatically pagan, God would contradict Himself.
Biblical Examples
| Image | Verse |
|---|---|
| Cherubim on the Ark | Exodus 25:18–22 |
| Bronze Serpent | Numbers 21:8–9 |
| Temple Angels | 1 Kings 6:23–29 |
📌 The sin was never the image, but treating it as a god (2 Kings 18:4).
IV. Catholic Teaching on Images (Not Idolatry)
📘 Catechism of the Catholic Church §2132
“The honor paid to sacred images is a respectful veneration, not the adoration due to God alone.”
Catholic Distinctions
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Latria | Worship (God alone) |
| Dulia | Honor (saints) |
| Hyperdulia | Special honor (Mary) |
Catholics do not believe statues hear prayers or possess power.
V. Early Christian Use of Images
Archaeological Evidence
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Roman Catacombs (2nd–3rd century)
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Images of Christ as the Good Shepherd
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Jonah, resurrection symbols
📌 These Christians were anti-pagan and often martyred.
VI. Church Fathers on Images
St. Basil the Great
“The honor given to the image passes to the prototype.”¹
St. John of Damascus
“I do not worship matter… but the Creator of matter.”²
St. Gregory the Great
“Images are the books of the unlearned.”³
VII. The Incarnation Makes Images Logical
📖 John 1:14
“The Word became flesh.”
God became visible.
Denying sacred images after the Incarnation risks denying that Christ truly became man.
VIII. Historical Development (Not Pagan Corruption)
Timeline
| Century | Development |
|---|---|
| 1st | No public images (persecution) |
| 2nd–3rd | Symbolic art |
| 4th | Public Christian worship |
| 787 | Council of Nicaea II |
📜 Nicaea II affirmed images while condemning idolatry.
IX. Final Apologetic Conclusion
The Bible itself:
✔ Names false gods
✔ Explains their emptiness
✔ Uses images commanded by God
Therefore:
Calling Catholicism “pagan” misunderstands both Scripture and history.
Catholics do not worship images—
they worship the one true God revealed in Jesus Christ.
Footnotes (Chicago Style)
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Basil of Caesarea, On the Holy Spirit, 18.45
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John of Damascus, On the Divine Images, I.16
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Gregory the Great, Epistle to Serenus of Marseilles
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Catechism of the Catholic Church, §§2129–2132
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Pelikan, Jaroslav. The Christian Tradition, Vol. 1
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Hurtado, Larry. Lord Jesus Christ
IF YOU ARE A DEVOTED CATHOLIC AND HAPPY TO DEFEND YOUR CATHOLIC FAITH, YOUR SUPPORT TO CONTINUE OUR MISSION TO DEFEND THE CATHOLIC FAITH, REALLY MATTERS AND WILL ALWAYS BE VALUED AND REMEMBERED!
READ ALSO:
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