What is wrong with idol worship?

[Suraj]

I don't understand why people look down on idol-worshippers, isn't it just another kind of worship, just as legitimate as any other?

[Storm]

I think it's due to misconception, thinking that you think the idols themselves ARE Gods, as opposed to representations of Gods.

[Azakel]

Originally Posted by Suraj

I don't understand why people look down on idol-worshippers, isn't it just another kind of worship, just as legitimate as any other?

I don't believe it's wrong. I do it at times.

Originally Posted by Storm

I think it's due to misconception, thinking that you think the idols themselves ARE Gods, as opposed to representations of Gods.

I agree with what Storm said, mainly people that have a problem with Idol-Worship are one that really know nothing about it, and that the Idols themselves are more of a representation of the God, and not the God itself.

[Riverwolf]

Worshiping and idol carved in the likeness of something is no different than worshiping your pencil or mp3 player.

Idolatry, to me, is NOT simply having some kind of representation of the god or whatever in the shrine or chapel or whatever, but actually worshiping it; actually thinking the man-made object to be the living god. THAT'S idolatry. In my beliefs, having a representation is okay, as long as the god it represents is worshiped and not the representation itself.

I think the reason why Yeh'vah looks down on it is because the gods cannot be represented by what we can observe with our eyes; the gods do not look like human beings at all, nor do they look like other animals or plants or other things in nature; indeed, they cannot be 'looked' at. So that's why Yeh'vah looked down on it: he didn't want his followers to view him in an image but as a force of nature.

[tomspug]

If you put your faith in something that, ultimately, will fail you, what is right about it?

Whether its a jar of rocks, the stock market, or a pop icon, and you idolize, you are setting yourself up for failure. People think that idolatry is just accrediting blame/praise to something inanimate or invisible, but it's more than that. Idolatry is ACTUAL RELIANCE, and it's foolish.

[Yid613]

Originally Posted by Storm

I think it's due to misconception, thinking that you think the idols themselves ARE Gods, as opposed to representations of Gods.

Originally Posted by Azakel

I agree with what Storm said, mainly people that have a problem with Idol-Worship are one that really know nothing about it, and that the Idols themselves are more of a representation of the God, and not the God itself.

But over time and over many generations the distinction fades and they become the gods themselves. This is what happened to the generation of the flood.

[Storm]

Funny, Hinduism seems to have escaped that fate.

[Azakel]

Originally Posted by Storm

Funny, Hinduism seems to have escaped that fate.

What Storm said. Plus I'll add Shinto, I lot of Trees in Japan have these ropes around them and are considered Holy. The Spirits of these trees are worshiped as powerful Kami. Then also seemed to escaped this fate.
Edit: Though would you call this Idol Worship?

[Riverwolf]

Originally Posted by Azakel

What Storm said. Plus I'll add Shinto, I lot of Trees in Japan have these ropes around them and are considered Holy. The Spirits of these trees are worshiped as powerful Kami. Then also seemed to escaped this fate.
Edit: Though would you call this Idol Worship?

Well... on one hand, you could say that "worshiping" other earthly forms of life, such as animals, pop stars or beloved TV shows is a form of idolatry. On the other hand, the trees themselves aren't being worshiped, but the spirits of the trees. And I think in Shintoism, it's not really the same kind of worship that Yeh'vah requires. When I look at Shintoism, it seems like the only one "worshiped" is the Emporer, who according to lore is a direct descendent of Amaterasu, who is the daugther of the two creator gods(whose names escape me at the moment.) (Am I correct?)

I guess it depends on what's being said. I know that in Japan, when people climb up Fujisan, they pray at a shrine at its base for safe passage up. (basically, "Don't erupt while I'm on you, please") Having seen Fujisan firsthand I can definitely say that she has an air of... authority, I guess. But I got a similar feeling when for a few minutes I saw Mt. Shasta.

Something about volcanoes. I don't know.

It is a very good question you've presented, Azakel, and I don't really think I can answer it at the moment. Shintoism on the surface seems to be idolatrous, but at the same time, it's the Kami being worshiped, not the actual things themselves. So...