As the title says. I've never gotten why it is reprehensible to worship a physical object as an image/manifestation of God or gods. While this is a debate, i am not denouncing people who see idolatry as a sin. I would only like to understand why
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As the title says. I've never gotten why it is reprehensible to worship a physical object as an image/manifestation of God or gods. While this is a debate, i am not denouncing people who see idolatry as a sin. I would only like to understand why
As the title says. I've never gotten why it is reprehensible to worship a physical object as an image/manifestation of God or gods. While this is a debate, i am not denouncing people who see idolatry as a sin. I would only like to understand why
Actually we have a belief called "archa murti" which is God taking the form (avatar) of a murti (object of devotion). This happens when one worships a murti with an abundance of love. In fact, to call a murti a mere statue or wood is aparada, or offense in Vaishnavism. So yes, we are very idolatrousProperly understood, idolatry is not the mere worship of a physical object as a representation of deity. Rather, it is the substitution of a physical object for deity. In other words, it is a sin because you are no longer in any way whatsoever worshiping deity -- you have substituted the physical object for deity.
Hindus are not idolatrous in so far as they understand their "idols" are not deities in themselves. It is a misunderstanding to claim that they are idolatrous.
Because the Bible/Quran says so?As the title says. I've never gotten why it is reprehensible to worship a physical object as an image/manifestation of God or gods. While this is a debate, i am not denouncing people who see idolatry as a sin. I would only like to understand why
What of those who have Jesus on a cross in their house or an image of Mary? Do they have no power or significance?Because the item/image/whatevs is nothing more than what it is, an item/image. It should not be worshipped. As it has no power or significance on it own.
An example. Let's say your kid only talks to a photo of you. They do not talk to you or hug you, it instead they talk and hug the picture of you. This is not ok.
Under a traditional Christian view, all pagan worship is idolatrous as God alone is entitled to worship as God. Isaiah 45:5Hindus are not idolatrous in so far as they understand their "idols" are not deities in themselves. It is a misunderstanding to claim that they are idolatrous.
This was a big debate in the Orthodox Church with all those holy icons. To what extent did they represent that which was holy and to what extent were those objects themselves holy?What of those who have Jesus on a cross in their house or an image of Mary? Do they have no power or significance?
Interesting! What do you believe are "knowable proportions"? Is one who believes in a personal God reducing the divine?This was a big debate in the Orthodox Church with all those holy icons. To what extent did they represent that which was holy and to what extent were those objects themselves holy?
Idolatry for me is the act of reducing the divine to knowable proportions. Fundamentalist Christians are just as guilty of it as someone worshiping a statue. They reduce God to a 'being' in heaven who gets angry and tells them what he's thinking. They've got a pocket edition of God which they produce to berate their opponents with.
As the title says. I've never gotten why it is reprehensible to worship a physical object as an image/manifestation of God or gods. While this is a debate, i am not denouncing people who see idolatry as a sin. I would only like to understand why
Knowable proportions are what the discursive intellect can grasp. With the discriminating intellect we assign attributes, likes, dislikes etc. Buddha dharma teaches a follower to break through that barrier. As I understand it, Hinduism does the same with respect to Brahman.Interesting! What do you believe are "knowable proportions"? Is one who believes in a personal God reducing the divine?
Actually we have a belief called "archa murti" which is God taking the form (avatar) of a murti (object of devotion). This happens when one worships a murti with an abundance of love. In fact, to call a murti a mere statue or wood is aparada, or offense in Vaishnavism. So yes, we are very idolatrous
A personal God is simply a God with a personality. He has attributes like mercy, gracefulness, intelligence, radiant, etc.Knowable proportions are what the discursive intellect can grasp. With the discriminating intellect we assign attributes, likes, dislikes etc. Buddha dharma teaches a follower to break through that barrier. As I understand it, Hinduism does the same with respect to Brahman.
I don't know what a personal God is, so I can't comment on the second question.
As the title says. I've never gotten why it is reprehensible to worship a physical object as an image/manifestation of God or gods. While this is a debate, i am not denouncing people who see idolatry as a sin. I would only like to understand why
For a long time I did think that this was related to statues and to images, and I wondered why it was Ok for Christians to have photographs and to have statues. I was completely mislead, and I even encountered scary claims about statues and about objects manufactured in other places. A famous TV evangelist taught that you could accidentally buy cursed objects, and my parents believed him and destroyed some such things. It was untrue, however life was a cacophony of sounds such that we walked uncertainly. For a very long time I never knew anything about the condemnation of idolatry -- except superstition. Superstition is what you have encountered and no explanations about idolatry. Superstition fills the air and chokes us, and it quiets our questions. No one can take a step forward without exerting. We are like sheep just looking for a fuzzy butt to follow or a kind voice.As the title says. I've never gotten why it is reprehensible to worship a physical object as an image/manifestation of God or gods. While this is a debate, i am not denouncing people who see idolatry as a sin. I would only like to understand why
Would you say that the attributes are ones you project, or existing from the side of the God, irrespective of what you think?A personal God is simply a God with a personality. He has attributes like mercy, gracefulness, intelligence, radiant, etc.
I'd like to think they exist irrespective of what i think. I believe God to be both personal and impersonal.Would you say that the attributes are ones you project, or existing from the side of the God, irrespective of what you think?
I'm always aware that the 'ultimate' is without attributes and that anything I mentally project upon it necessarily places a veil over it. I guess that is what makes Buddha's teachings what they are. Buddha never left room for projection of any kind.
Ironic then that even Buddhists get accused of idolatry.