Idolators - ALL

[RamaRaksha]

Hindus get a lot of flak - mocked as Idolators - but a simple thought experiment proves that we are ALL Idolators

Imagine God deciding to come down to earth to visit us

For Christians He must come down as a tall, young, handsome blond male and answer to the name Jesus. A bit of magic, miracle and we will sing his praises
But what if He comes down as a Woman or a black man? Will Christians refuse to acknowledge God?
And what if He comes down as a Brown man and says His name is Rama? Christians might try to kill him!

BTW in the above instance only Hindus would not have a problem - God can take any form - it does not matter - God Rama is Jesus is Allah is the Buddha is Yahweh is Durga......and so on. Sadly, only a Hindu would be comfortable with the above sentence

And for Muslims God, since he is formless, might come as a Bright light and speak with a booming voice, male, of course

it shows that Idolatry can take many forms and that we are ALL Idolators

 

[SalixIncendium]

Imagine God deciding to come down to earth to visit us

Why is Earth "down?" Where is God in relation to Earth?

 

[Rival]

For Christians He must come down as a tall, young, handsome blond male and answer to the name Jesus. A bit of magic, miracle and we will sing his praises

Huh?

Christ was a Jew.

 

[Tamino]

Hindus get a lot of flak - mocked as Idolators - but a simple thought experiment proves that we are ALL Idolators

I am a pagan polytheist, and I have no issue calling myself an idolator.
I think it's perfectly fine to experience and adore the divine according to our human nature - and that means using images and archetypes that are meaningful to us.
I also think that the deities purposefully choose such forms and images to communicate with us, and They certainly don't mind if we use our imagination and invent stories/myths to relate with Them.
In my tradition, there are specific words to describe the relations of the deities and their material forms. Like "Ba", for an animal representing the living soul of a god, or "Kheper" for a specific shape, or the phase "khay em", "appearing as"

Imagine God deciding to come down to earth to visit us

Aren't They among us every day?

it shows that Idolatry can take many forms and that we are ALL Idolators

I agree. Our brains just work that way. And that's okay.

 

[Secret Chief]

I idolise cake. Nothing else.

 

[SalixIncendium]

I idolise cake. Nothing else.

That could be a problem...

 

[Vinayaka]

Why care what others think? Let them have their views. It's only when it gets to "Kill the infidels!" that we need to worry.

 

[RamaRaksha]

Huh?

Christ was a Jew.

Come on - seeing the trees and missing the forest
That is not the point - the point is that Christ must look like a white man and that too good looking
If he came down as a not-so good looking person - say a hairy body, short, thick nose with a belly - I am guessing few would care for him

 

[RamaRaksha]

Why care what others think? Let them have their views. It's only when it gets to "Kill the infidels!" that we need to worry.

It does matter - it shows bias - even at the highest levels of academia
I submit this post to newspapers - NONE will print it
This post is not liking to Christians and Muslims and since they control the media, they censor it

 

[Rival]

Come on - seeing the trees and missing the forest
That is not the point - the point is that Christ must look like a white man and that too good looking
If he came down as a not-so good looking person - say a hairy body, short, thick nose with a belly - I am guessing few would care for him

This is not remotely true.

 

[Viker]

Idolatry is only the half of it with me. Try diabolism and diabolatry.

 

[1213]

For Christians He must come down as

...he has told he will do. That is why I think God and Jesus are great, they announce long before what will happen, which is why people can then recognize them.

BTW in the above instance only Hindus would not have a problem - God can take any form - it does not matter -

How would Hindus know I am not the God?

 

[osgart]

Idolatry
IDOL'ATRY, n. L. idololatria. Gr. idol, and to worship or serve.

1. The worship of idols, images, or any thing made by hands, or which is not God.

Idolatry is of two kinds the worship of images, statues, pictures, &c. made by hands and the worship of the heavenly bodies,the sun, moon and stars, or of demons, angels, men and animals.

2. Excessive attachment or veneration for any thing, or that which borders on adoration.


I'd go further and say that idolatry is to worship and serve that which is vain and worthless.

Afaik of many atheists, they don't worship anything.

Me I would worship perfect character and virtue. However there is nothing here like that.

I don't idolize anyone nor anything.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

For Christians He must come down as...

BTW in the above instance only Hindus would not have a problem ...

All Christians?
Only Hindus?

 

[chinu]

Why is Earth "down?" Where is God in relation to Earth?

Earth is down human feet, whereas God is top at human head.

 

[SalixIncendium]

Earth is down human feet, whereas God is top at human head.

Unfortunately, much of my "God" has fallen out over the last several years.

 

[RamaRaksha]

This is not remotely true.

View attachment 90696​

You can point to this one picture or that - that's not making a case
Tell me if God comes down as a brown man and says his name is Rama - will Christians, Muslims accept him?

 

[RamaRaksha]

All Christians?
Only Hindus?

Of course it is never ALL - there are always exceptions to every rule - but in general most Christians will refuse such Gods unless he comes down in a form that is pleasing to them
Same with Hindus - not every Hindu will agree but most will
A Hindu woman sits in a Temple, praying to God - the first words out of her mouth....

 

[mangalavara]

For Christians He must come down as a tall, young, handsome blond male and answer to the name Jesus.

A few Christians would want that. Most Christians are not white racists, by the way.

God Rama is Jesus is Allah is the Buddha is Yahweh is Durga......and so on. Sadly, only a Hindu would be comfortable with the above sentence

Some Hindus would be comfortable with that statement, but I’m not. The god of the Qur’an approves of murdering cows, Buddha was a man who did not even pay lip service to the Vedas, and the god of the Hebrew Bible does not acknowledge the existence of Durgā and Rāma.

 

[Vinayaka]

A few Christians would want that. Most Christians are not white racists, by the way.



Some Hindus would be comfortable with that statement, but I’m not. The god of the Qur’an approves of murdering cows, Buddha was a man who did not even pay lip service to the Vedas, and the god of the Hebrew Bible does not acknowledge the existence of Durgā and Rāma.

I'm not comfortable with it at all either, just so YOU know. But most likely you knew that already. But as far as this 'debate' goes, I'm out. (I'm obviously wrong, so why bother?)