Are all believers in God automatically idol worshipers?

[Greatest I am]

Are all believers in God automatically idol worshipers?


All believers in God are following an entity that they only know by what other people have said about that God. Few, if any, know their God from apotheosis or first-hand information.


That fact makes whoever that God is, an idol.


It must be so, as what is believed is not a known or real entity. Believers have no real or personal knowledge or experience of their God. All a believer can have is faith in whichever God they are idolizing based on what others have said.


Do you, as a believer, recognize that you are an idol worshiper?


Regards

DL

 

[Terese]

Define 'idol worshipper'.

 

[Greatest I am]

Define 'idol worshipper'.

The theology, philosophy or ideal, or the one giving it, which you hold in highest esteem.

Regards
DL

 

[Sunstone]

I think there's something to the OP. So far as I can see, a lot of believers hold their notions of deity in higher esteem than they hold the notion deity is beyond their comprehension.

 

[atanu]

Are all believers in God automatically idol worshipers?
All believers in God are following an entity that they only know by what other people have said about that God. Few, if any, know their God from apotheosis or first-hand information.
That fact makes whoever that God is, an idol.
It must be so, as what is believed is not a known or real entity. Believers have no real or personal knowledge or experience of their God. All a believer can have is faith in whichever God they are idolizing based on what others have said.
Do you, as a believer, recognize that you are an idol worshiper?
Regards
DL

I think you are correct in a way.

In my understanding, those who consider the body as the generator and seat of self awareness, and therefore do whatever they do from the perspective of generating benefit for their body, are the idol worshippers.

 

[Quintessence]

All believers in God are following an entity that they only know by what other people have said about that God. Few, if any, know their God from apotheosis or first-hand information.

Considering mysticism exists in all religious traditions that I'm aware of, and mystical religions are not exactly uncommon, I find the initial premise here to be flawed. You also seem to be assuming by default that the knowledge others have gained about the gods is not accurate and cannot be trusted.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Are all believers in God automatically idol worshipers?


All believers in God are following an entity that they only know by what other people have said about that God. Few, if any, know their God from apotheosis or first-hand information.


That fact makes whoever that God is, an idol.


It must be so, as what is believed is not a known or real entity. Believers have no real or personal knowledge or experience of their God. All a believer can have is faith in whichever God they are idolizing based on what others have said.


Do you, as a believer, recognize that you are an idol worshiper?


Regards

DL

Yes. All people who worship god automatically make their god an idol. Not everyone does that; so, it would be "some" people rather than all.

Edit.

That, and I think maybe specific that the OP is more towards Abrahamic religions and the like. God isn't really a good phrase unless defined in the OP (I believe in spirits/entities and I don't believe in god(s)). What is the nature of this entity? Definition? Another word for spirit or creator?

When I practiced Catholicism, I never knew god/Jesus from the Bible. I knew him first hand via the Eucharist. That's how people experience god (abrahamic general terms) and idolize him (in the definition you use) because of their direct experience. If it was through a third person experience, I would never ever choose to be Christian because I dislike how people in the Bible interact with their god. If it were third-party, than people wouldn't trust their own direct experience until they have the same one as Moses or Muhammad. I don't hear many people of creator-beliefs try to mimic their experiences with people they hold at more value. It's more of a direct experience that, from their creator, they hold at value.

Since god means person or object of worship, automatically, whoever worships god makes him an idol-worshiper. Other than that, if someone has a different definition of god, then that may not be true.

It depends.

 

[Kelly of the Phoenix]

I DO experience God, though. But, yeah, a lot of "Gods" in people's hearts are actually idols, a character in a book they have to read because they don't feel like they have an actual relationship with God. It's like they are reading the wiki about the Grand Canyon instead of going to it.

 

[Greatest I am]

I think there's something to the OP. So far as I can see, a lot of believers hold their notions of deity in higher esteem than they hold the notion deity is beyond their comprehension.

I agree.

Seems it is easier to follow someone else's idea of a God instead of doing as Jesus urged. To seek God.

That is the difference between sheep and goats, to use biblical descriptions.

I see that idol worship as a mental cop out.

Regards
DL

 

[Greatest I am]

I think you are correct in a way.

In my understanding, those who consider the body as the generator and seat of self awareness, and therefore do whatever they do from the perspective of generating benefit for their body, are the idol worshippers.

Indeed, and since religions, at their roots, are tribal units, they speak to the body and not to the spiritual nature of mankind.

That is why religions like Christianity and Islam have grown themselves by murder and war instead of good deeds.

Regards
DL

 

[Greatest I am]

Considering mysticism exists in all religious traditions that I'm aware of, and mystical religions are not exactly uncommon, I find the initial premise here to be flawed. You also seem to be assuming by default that the knowledge others have gained about the gods is not accurate and cannot be trusted.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mysticism

"Mysticism is popularly known as becoming one with God"

Look again for the first time at Christianity and Islam.

Those Gods never promise our becoming one with him.

In those creeds, we are either under their Gods in heaven or hell.

We are to always be his subjects and never his equal.

That is why I prefer the Jewish and Gnostic Christian view of God. That God is a human.

As above, so below.

The strong are serve the weak and not the weak serving the strong.

God is to be slaved to mankind and not mankind slaved to God.

Jesus reinforced that notion by saying that the Sabbath was created for man and not man for the Sabbath. The same applies to religions and Gods. They are both created by us to serve us and not us to serve them.

Regards
DL

 

[Desert Snake]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mysticism

"Mysticism is popularly known as becoming one with God"

Look again for the first time at Christianity and Islam.

Those Gods never promise our becoming one with him.

In those creeds, we are either under their Gods in heaven or hell.

We are to always be his subjects and never his equal.

...

That is why I prefer the Jewish and Gnostic Christian view of God. That God is a human.

huh?

As above, so below.

The strong are serve the weak and not the weak serving the strong.

God is to be slaved to mankind and not mankind slaved to God.

Jesus reinforced that notion by saying that the Sabbath was created for man and not man for the Sabbath. The same applies to religions and Gods. They are both created by us to serve us and not us to serve them.

Regards
DL

 

[Greatest I am]

Yes. All people who worship god automatically make their god an idol. Not everyone does that; so, it would be "some" people rather than all.

Edit.

That, and I think maybe specific that the OP is more towards Abrahamic religions and the like. God isn't really a good phrase unless defined in the OP (I believe in spirits/entities and I don't believe in god(s)). What is the nature of this entity? Definition? Another word for spirit or creator?

When I practiced Catholicism, I never knew god/Jesus from the Bible. I knew him first hand via the Eucharist. That's how people experience god (abrahamic general terms) and idolize him (in the definition you use) because of their direct experience. If it was through a third person experience, I would never ever choose to be Christian because I dislike how people in the Bible interact with their god. If it were third-party, than people wouldn't trust their own direct experience until they have the same one as Moses or Muhammad. I don't hear many people of creator-beliefs try to mimic their experiences with people they hold at more value. It's more of a direct experience that, from their creator, they hold at value.

Since god means person or object of worship, automatically, whoever worships god makes him an idol-worshiper. Other than that, if someone has a different definition of god, then that may not be true.

It depends.

What instruction or insight did God personally give you?

If you believe in a creator God, can you explain why he created what is shown in this link?

If you cannot explain it, then how can you adore a God who would create such abominations for what scriptures say is God's creative pleasure. What pleasure did God gain from creating such?

Regards
DL

 

[Greatest I am]

I DO experience God, though. But, yeah, a lot of "Gods" in people's hearts are actually idols, a character in a book they have to read because they don't feel like they have an actual relationship with God. It's like they are reading the wiki about the Grand Canyon instead of going to it.

I am pleased that you can experience God but that is not the same as knowing God as it could be construed as delusional thinking.

Knowing God is knowing how he thinks as we are to emulate God.

Please see the link just above and tell us what God was thinking or trying to convey to us by creation the abominations shown.

Regards
DL

 

[idav]

Believers are idol worshippers?
I could see that since atheists are probably closer to not violating the first commandment. With all the various forms of god that are out there, 99% of believers may put strange gods before God.
However I'm not sure belief in something means it needs to be worshiped and many can be agnostic about what god really is.

 

[Greatest I am]

...


huh?

The oral Jewish tradition has always maintained that a Rabbi can overrule the written tradition and Gnostic Christians call God, I am, and really mean ourselves.

Here is some biblical references for you to ponder.

Matthew 6:22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.

John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

Luke 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Here is a link that also might help your thinking.

Regards
DL

 

[Orbit]

Are all believers in God automatically idol worshipers?


All believers in God are following an entity that they only know by what other people have said about that God. Few, if any, know their God from apotheosis or first-hand information.


That fact makes whoever that God is, an idol.


It must be so, as what is believed is not a known or real entity. Believers have no real or personal knowledge or experience of their God. All a believer can have is faith in whichever God they are idolizing based on what others have said.


Do you, as a believer, recognize that you are an idol worshiper?


Regards

DL

An idol is an image that is worshipped, like a statue. Therefore, your premise is flawed.

 

[Greatest I am]

Believers are idol worshippers?
I could see that since atheists are probably closer to not violating the first commandment. With all the various forms of god that are out there, 99% of believers may put strange gods before God.
However I'm not sure belief in something means it needs to be worshiped and many can be agnostic about what god really is.

God as you indicate, is to be the epitome of who we take guidance from. That would be to worship his ways and put them above all others.

If one believes in God and hell, then it is not too likely that they will do anything to send themselves to hell.

People usually do what is beneficial to them and not what would condemn them to unpleasant circumstances.

Regards
DL

 

[Greatest I am]

An idol is an image that is worshipped, like a statue. Therefore, your premise is flawed.

I disagree.

God is a mental construct built frominformation you got from everywhere but God.

That mental construct is what you idolize, if you are a believer.

Are you a believer and who is your God?

Regards
DL

 

[Unveiled Artist]

I believe in spirit/entities and I don't believe in god(s). I don't worship anyone.

What instruction or insight did God personally give you?

If you believe in a creator God, can you explain why he created what is shown in this link?

When I was Catholic? To die in my sins, live a better life and resurrected in a new life. It's a lifestyle experience not a conversation or instruction.

I don't care for how the people in the Bible interact with god. To me, god would be a personal and direct experience. That's where the experience and worship of god is from, direct experience. Why trust something you haven't experienced yourself?

If you cannot explain it, then how can you adore a God who would create such abominations for what scriptures say is God's creative pleasure. What pleasure did God gain from creating such?

How can he find pleasure in something he hates or considers abomination?

I don't believe in a god/creator; so, this question is running through my head with question marks up top.

How can a believer adore a god who creates something he hates and calls disgust? I don't know. In Christianity, he offers salvation in exchange of his hatred (forgiveness). In Islam, as I understand, it's obedience.

I disagree with the video. God didn't create these things. It's Life. God is Life. No more no less. It's up to us to live within life, take care of ourselves, others, environment, and so forth. It's how we relate to life and how we measure what lessons life gives us and we can give in return. All of those things in the video makes me see why I love life so much.

God has nothing to do with it.

Letter B.