Are all believers in God automatically idol worshipers?

[Desert Snake]

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

From Scripture one can infer that Jesus /the man,, was a Rabbi. That being said, merely the fact that a Rabbi can attempt to overrule written tradition, does not mean that every Rabbi attempting this, is correct. So, we can infer that the said Rabbi, is not actually overruling G-d's word, but merely overruling or attempting to overrule, mans words, ie the written tradition in question.

 

[Sees]

I'm an idol worshipper but it's cool because dualism isn't present for me and...I don't mistake limited human perception for pure reality - if that makes sense. I don't just worship impersonal, unintelligible, vague principles and such or shrug off and shy away from world/human life and experiences.

 

[George-ananda]

Are all believers in God automatically idol worshipers?

Belief in God does not necessarily mean you worship God. For example I am a non-dualist (God and creation are not-two), so the concept of worship does not make sense (who is worshipping who if all is One?). So, I believe in God but I am not an idol worshipper. Self-Realization is the term I use, not 'worship'.

 

[Aupmanyav]

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 am an atheist and believe in existence of an entity which constitutes all things in the universe. That is Brahman for us and, at least at the moment, it is beyond comprehension.

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

Well, in my case, I am none other than it and so is everything else.

 

[Greatest I am]

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



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?



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.

I agree that God has nothing to do with creation.

No God would be that incompetent.

Regards
DL

 

[Greatest I am]

Belief in God does not necessarily mean you worship God. For example I am a non-dualist (God and creation are not-two), so the concept of worship does not make sense (who is worshipping who if all is One?). So, I believe in God but I am not an idol worshipper. Self-Realization is the term I use, not 'worship'.

Rather Gnostic Christian of you. Good.

Regards
DL

 

[Greatest I am]

I am an atheist and believe in existence of an entity which constitutes all things in the universe. That is Brahman for us and, at least at the moment, it is beyond comprehension.Well, in my case, I am none other than it and so is everything else.

The Eastern religions mostly make more sense than the Western or Abrahamic cults like Christianity and Islam.

You seem to follow an ideology close to Gnostic Christian thinking. Good for you.

Regards
DL

 

[Greatest I am]

From Scripture one can infer that Jesus /the man,, was a Rabbi. That being said, merely the fact that a Rabbi can attempt to overrule written tradition, does not mean that every Rabbi attempting this, is correct. So, we can infer that the said Rabbi, is not actually overruling G-d's word, but merely overruling or attempting to overrule, mans words, ie the written tradition in question.

True as no one but humans have ever spoken for God. God has never spoken to mankind as far as we can tell.
If God ever did, I think we would all know it.

Regards
DL

 

[Greatest I am]

I'm an idol worshipper but it's cool because dualism isn't present for me and...I don't mistake limited human perception for pure reality - if that makes sense. I don't just worship impersonal, unintelligible, vague principles and such or shrug off and shy away from world/human life and experiences.

Why be an idol worshiper when sages like Jesus have always preached to seek God and not be an idol worshiper?

Regards
DL

 

[Tumah]

The oral Jewish tradition has always maintained that a Rabbi can overrule the written tradition

This is, among other things, a large odoriferous pile of dung.

 

[Tumah]

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

Regards
DL

I guess your OP should be: how do you define idol-worship.

 

[Sees]

Why be an idol worshiper when sages like Jesus have always preached to seek God and not be an idol worshiper?

Regards
DL

I don't go by Jesus' theology or what he was taught...he was using a whole other framework.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Belief in God does not necessarily mean you worship God. For example I am a non-dualist (God and creation are not-two), so the concept of worship does not make sense (who is worshipping who if all is One?). So, I believe in God but I am not an idol worshipper. Self-Realization is the term I use, not 'worship'.

I agree. May I ask, why do you use the term god?

 

[George-ananda]

I agree. May I ask, why do you use the term god?

Two reasons. That is the term the OP used. And secondly, Brahman (which would have been more accurate) is not a term that many westerners grasp.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Two reasons. That is the term the OP used. And secondly, Brahman (which would have been more accurate) is not a term that many westerners grasp.

Would Brahman be somewhat near how Westerners use god? For example, Muslims use Allah regardless if we Americans use the word god. While Santeros would use Olofin even though they believe in the creator to.

Maybe personal preference or does Braham have a lot of things in common with god than using it for personal preference and understanding?

 

[George-ananda]

Would Brahman be somewhat near how Westerners use god? For example, Muslims use Allah regardless if we Americans use the word god. While Santeros would use Olofin even though they believe in the creator to.

Maybe personal preference or does Braham have a lot of things in common with god than using it for personal preference and understanding?

Good question. There is a significant difference between God and Brahman. The Abrahamic God concept is dualistic (God and creation are two things). Brahman is non-dual (God/Brahman and creation are not-two things). In non-dual (Advaita) schools, the goal is Self-realization/Brahman-realization.

 

[Brickjectivity]

Who are these 'Abrahamics'? Its a made up term that doesn't apply to any of the groups that it supposedly is about. This is no better than calling all trees 'Oaks'. In addition none of the groups (most barely even mention Abraham) agree with you about all three of your accusations, nor the definitions you use which are terrible definitions not at all accurate. There's nothing to defend against, because they just don't make sense.

 

[Brickjectivity]

Its like accusing all retail stores of selling robotic meat.

 

[Acim]

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

In a semantical way, perhaps. But with monotheism, it would be about not placing any other 'idols' before the (one) true God.

I find it abundantly silly to suggest believers have no real, personal knowledge or experience of (their) God. While that is conceivably accurate for some believers, to suggest it is true for all strikes me as lacking understanding of that God. I find it impossible to not have knowledge/experience of God, being Creator of existence/Reality, all selves, and (unconditional) Love.

A meditation or contemplation could, rather easily, take God(s) off the proverbial mental pedestal and allow believer to connect in a way that isn't about erecting a barrier between believer and psychological / spiritual experience.

 

[Willamena]

Are all believers in God automatically idol worshipers?

That depends on your image of 'god.' If your image is negatable, then probably not.

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.

I'll take your word on it.

That fact makes whoever that God is, an idol.

Even if they are one of the "few?"

It must be so, as what is believed is not a known or real entity.

Do you really believe that?

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.

If you're trying to contrast believers with some mystical 'knowers,' then good luck.

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

As far as MaYa is a necessary part of an integral whole, yes.