What is wrong with idol worship?

[ax0547]

Originally Posted by want to be hindu

The complete works of Swami Vivekanada is a good place to start. I dont see the need for you to read about Hinduism. Sikhism is a full enoght philosophy for any one.

Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda

can prvide where Ican find the translations of the vedas and all that! This kind of summary!

[mohe3439]

Personally I don't see anything wrong with idol worship, but it si deemed wrong in some religions because you are worshipping somethign that is ment to repersent god and part of god is the fact that it can not be repersented in a physical form so basically the only problem with idol worship is that other belief look down on it.

[ax0547]

Originally Posted by mohe3439

Personally I don't see anything wrong with idol worship, but it si deemed wrong in some religions because you are worshipping somethign that is ment to repersent god and part of god is the fact that it can not be repersented in a physical form so basically the only problem with idol worship is that other belief look down on it.

I respect your opinion but who is following reality, essentialy?

[want to be hindu]

Originally Posted by ax0547

can prvide where Ican find the translations of the vedas and all that! This kind of summary!

Try this

Hindu Upanishads - Upanishads Chandogya Upanishad

[ax0547]

Originally Posted by want to be hindu

Try this

Hindu Upanishads - Upanishads Chandogya Upanishad

are grifith translations considered good!

[Suraj]

are grifith translations considered good!

Nope they are not. I have answered this question for you in Women in Hinduism thread.

[ax0547]

Originally Posted by Suraj

Nope they are not. I have answered this question for you in Women in Hinduism thread.

well i don't want summaries - i want the whole word by word translation.

[YmirGF]

Originally Posted by ax0547

I guarantee you worship Idols!lol - don't be offended!

And you would be very wrong, as I no longer worship anything. I am well beyond feeling the need to worship. To be truthful, I am on record for asking why worship is even reasonable to begin with.

[gnostic]

As far as I can understand it, the idols are merely images or representations of the gods (and goddesses). The idols are not deities themselves. I supposed that misconception that Abrahamic religions have with polytheistic religion. They simply don't understand.

Some people find it also easier to pray in front of the images, where they can concentrate what they are saying in prayers, without distraction.

It like a person practising his speech, but needs audience, so that person concentrate his speech in front of a mirror or something.

Another example is that some people sing or dance without music, but some can't.

Hit it, Eddie.

[Odion]

It doesn't always have to be the Abrahamic religions, though. It seems a bit extreme to say it's only people who follow the Abrahamic religions. I'm sure some people can argue that Catholics "worship idols", whereas the Catholics would say they "venerate icons".

I can understand why people would pray towards the statue the same as why Zoroastrians pray towards a flame, it's a focal point, something for them to concentrate on as they pray. I don't know how many people of the past used to think that their idols were the gods, they worship, but that seems a strange thing, so who knows, it might have just been slander.

I have had a few Muslims tell me before that anyone who prays in front of anything is a worshipper of that thing, which is "why Zoroastrians are "fire worshippers""...

If that kind of belief is used (which is faulty) on every religion, then anyone who prays towards an icon would be an idol worshipper, but also Muslims would be "Kaaba worshippers", Sikhs would also be considered "idol worshippers" (because of the Guru Granth Sahib and the bowing to the "Ek Onkar" in the Gurdwaras), Catholics "Mary and Saint worshippers", etc. We all know this is definitely a gross misunderstanding.

I'm a big fan of religious icons ("idols") for their beauty, but personally I don't like the idea of praying towards them, but for some, they need something more tangible, and that is fine with me.