What is wrong with those people who to pray to statues?

[Vinayaka]

Don't you think you sink deeper in darkness every time you worship created things?

I don't think so, no. I think life gets clearer and clearer as it goes on. The Gods have a lot to do with that. But you're free to think I am in darkness and going to hell, or whatever else you might think. On this planet we are allowed freedom of religion, in most places anyway. Hindus are a tolerant lot, and I'm no exception.

 

[sovietchild]

I don't think so, no. I think life gets clearer and clearer as it goes on. The Gods have a lot to do with that. But you're free to think I am in darkness and going to hell, or whatever else you might think. On this planet we are allowed freedom of religion, in most places anyway. Hindus are a tolerant lot, and I'm no exception.

Don't you think its better If you don't worship the created and worship the Creator?

 

[Vinayaka]

Don't you think its better If you don't worship the created and worship the Creator?

Obviously no, not exclusively. Haven't you been reading what I have been saying? You see, in Hinduism, and many other non-dual paths, Creator and Created are the same. God doesn't create, he only extends himself, or manifests Himself, or emanates Himself. There is no Creator God in Hinduism, at least my version. In no way do I expect you to understand this, even tolerate it.

Still, my God loves you ... unequivocally.

Thanks for the great conversation. It might just be 'enlightening' for those folks who feel all religions are the same, or that there is 'unity' in religious beliefs.

 

[Twilight Hue]

And if actually praying to a statue, how is praying to a statue praying to their own self?

Atoms

 

[columbus]

Don't you think you sink deeper in darkness every time you worship created things?

I have more problem with people who worship the characters from ancient literature. Those are just as created and people have a way of putting words into their mouths.
Allah comes to mind as the current worst problem, but Yahweh and Jesus certainly had their days as well.
Tom

 

[SomeRandom]

Don't you think you sink deeper in darkness every time you worship created things?

Technically every God is created. If the common belief is that we're too limited to understand God then it stands to reason every way we happen to view God is created by us. Through our minds through our (man made) scriptures and through our man made traditions. You may see that as somewhat blasphemous, but I just see it as people trying to contextualise something greater than themselves. Whether you want to call that God, Allah or even just the Universe.

 

[1137]

What is wrong with those people who encourage people to worship idols? Don't they know that it can't help them, guide them or talk to them?

Except it can, in fact more than prayer because it's a direct placebo/magical effect rather than going and waiting. Before going forward you should really look into studies on things like good luck charms, or check out some occult forums.

Don't you think you sink deeper in darkness every time you worship created things?

I sure hope so! Imagine you are trapped alone in a forest with nothing but a flash light. Are you just going to sit there looking around or playing with the light you have, or use that light too expand out in to the darkness and find something better?

Shake off the stagnation of waiting in the light and evolve, Xeper!

I have thrown Osiris to the ground, I have left Horus behind me. Nuit opens the heavens to me and places me among the imperishable stars. I look down upon Osiris, I stand far from him. I am not of them, I shall not be of them. Let not Osiris come in his evil coming, do not open your arms for him, let him be gone.

Don't you think its better If you don't worship the created and worship the Creator?

It's not worshiping a piece of matter, the matter is symbolic, a dwelling place for the abstract Neteru/Form/god.

 

[Kelly of the Phoenix]

What is wrong with those people who encourage people to worship idols? Don't they know that it can't help them, guide them or talk to them?

Some people think that about prayer to begin with, whether you're doing it in front of something physical or not. If God hates art, why does He make artists? Do you have photos of yourself or others? Do you worship them? Seriously, for God's sake (so to speak), it's just art.

 

[syo]

There was a huge conflict like this in past times https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byzantine_Iconoclasm Instead of statues they attacked icons.

 

[syo]

Don't you think you sink deeper in darkness every time you worship created things?

how about bring Iconoclasm in modern times, this time with statues. what do you say?

 

[sovietchild]

Persons afflicted with schizotypal personality disorder (SPD) appraise themselves with paranormal abilities. They truly believe that they possess special powers that influence their behavior (odd beliefs, magical thinking, superstitiousness, belief in Clairvoyance or sixth sense).

Narcissistic Personality Disorder is where a person is in love with themselves, they actively worship themselves; they are their own gods. They never grow up, they stock in their 12 years old ways thinking they are special.

Don't you think there is some kind of similarities between SPD/NPD and Idol worshiping? Instead of thinking they have powers they think that created Image of themselves have powers. And If they are worshiping themselves then its kinda of like a narcissist who worships him self.

 

[syo]

Persons afflicted with schizotypal personality disorder (SPD) appraise themselves with paranormal abilities. They truly believe that they possess special powers that influence their behavior (odd beliefs, magical thinking, superstitiousness, belief in Clairvoyance or sixth sense).

Narcissistic Personality Disorder is where a person is in love with themselves, they actively worship themselves; they are their own gods. They never grow up, they stock in their 12 years old ways thinking they are special.

Don't you think there is some kind of similarities between SPD/NPD and Idol worshiping? Instead of thinking they have powers they think that created Image of themselves have powers. And If they are worshiping themselves then its kinda of like a narcissist who worships him self.

the created image is a portal to God

 

[sovietchild]

how about bring Iconoclasm in modern times, this time with statues. what do you say?

If you shatter a statue could it help it self? If the answer is no then how can It help you If it can't help it self? If you can't help your self then how can you help others? If you can't guide your self, then how can you guide others?

If you are stock and you can't move and you are a leader, then you are stocking everyone else who is following you, they are stock just like you are. Like a narcissist who is stock in his childish ways.

 

[syo]

If you shatter a statue could it help it self? If the answer is no then how can It help you, If it can't help it self? If you can't help your self how can you help others? If you can't guide your self, then how can you guide others?

the "help" that a statue gives me is that it is a portal. that's all.

 

[Etritonakin]

The practice of idolatry is wrong because it is not the ideal situation.
False gods are false because they have limited power and knowledge at best -no power or knowledge -or have some power and knowledge, but are not concerned with your overall well-being and future -or have evil intent toward you, at worst.

Having no other gods than God -not taking his name in vain -is simply acknowledging the true -albeit presently elusive -nature of things.
That is necessary for beneficial order throughout eternity.

Only God is able to do certain things -only God is able to provide certain things -only God is capable of correctly governing all.
The present state of the world shows that many ideas of God, reality, morality, etc., only leads to conflict.

God created beings capable of dissenting -which is essentially using their creative power in a disorderly manner for whatever reason -inexperience, ignorance, evil intent, etc. -and is fast-tracking the experience base necessary to remove that dissent. God as much as states that he allowed the present situation so that we may eventually know him -by experience, rather than simply by his own words. We are experiencing the fact that his words are true -though it is not always immediately apparent.

God explained many things to many -but nothing teaches like experience.
When he has prepared us to receive what he has to give without rejecting it, he will repair all that has been destroyed, give us great power and access to the universe.
He has not done so yet, because the universe would resemble present-day Earth.

A statue cannot resurrect you. A statue did not cause you to exist. A statue cannot make you immortal. A statue cannot heal.
A statue does not listen as you describe being overwhelmed by your circumstances -nor does it have power to order circumstances to benefit you.

God essentially left us to be overwhelmed by disorder -as we do not have what it takes to maintain order -after we continually rejected him and the necessity for his order.
That is the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

 

[GoodbyeDave]

Well, this thread is a dialog of the deaf! Nevertheless, I'll state my position:

1. I don't pray to statues, I pray to gods. The god may manifest in the statue: certainly one of the gods on my altar had very definite ideas about how his image should be painted!

2. Should I be praying to the creator? I don't have any evidence that the creator gets involved in the world: I suspect she just likes to watch it all happening.

3. Is it a sin to worship created beings? Well, it may say so in the Bible and the Quran, but what evidence is there that these are not pure delusion? "By their fruits ye shall know them" and the fruits of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have been bigotry, persecution, and genocide.

4. Who says that the gods can't help me or guide me? Experience shows that they can and do.

5. I don't need to be made immortal: my soul already is.

 

[syo]

A statue cannot resurrect you. A statue did not cause you to exist. A statue cannot make you immortal. A statue cannot heal.
A statue does not listen as you describe being overwhelmed by your circumstances -nor does it have power to order circumstances to benefit you.

You think people give statues that much credit? that statues are God?

 

[Sleeppy]

It's natural to want to direct your attention towards something, when speaking, i.e. praying. God knows this.

Prayer itself is a form of autolatry. You are worshipping a mental image; a limited perception or judgement of what God is, in an attempt to change God- to inform God etc.

 

[Etritonakin]

You think people give statues that much credit? that statues are God?

Some likely have -but mostly they are viewed as representations of something else -which either is nonexistent, or is not as it seems.
There are plenty willing to step in and act like -or in the name of -an actually-nonexistent god -spirits and humans alike.

 

[syo]

Some likely have -but mostly they are viewed as representations of something else -which either is nonexistent, or is not as it seems.
There are plenty willing to step in and act like -or in the name of -an actually-nonexistent god -spirits and humans alike.

maybe there are people who take statues literally as gods. I've never met anyone though. who knows?

as for "fake representations, well that's another religion. perhaps?