What is inaccurate with those communities who bring offerings to a sculpture?

[sovietchild]

Where have you seen that?

Thailand.

 

[The Emperor of Mankind]

Who gives money (energy) to The Might One?

Muslims in the form of zakat, Christians in the form of tithing or whatever a particular denomination. Other groups too, probably.

 

[The Emperor of Mankind]

Why do you bow to the statue? Do you think Buddha - the man who walked on this earth few thousands years ago can see you or hear you? No he is gone. He has crossed over. I'm sorry to tell you this, but he cannot see you, or hear you.

This straight from the horse's mouth. Since Buddhists believe Buddha achieved Enlightenment rather than dying and being reincarnated they presumably believe he can see & hear us.

 

[Kirran]

Thailand.

Interesting. Well, certainly, best to make the offerings genuine by giving them to God appearing in other people and in animals and nature. But that doesn't mean there's anything wrong with offering them up in surrender to God as manifest in idols.

 

[sovietchild]

This straight from the horse's mouth. Since Buddhists believe Buddha achieved Enlightenment rather than dying and being reincarnated they presumably believe he can see & hear us.

Hate to break it to them, but he has crossed over. He cannot see them or hear them. Just like Kim Jong-il.

 

[SomeRandom]

Hate to break it to them, but he has crossed over. He cannot see them or hear them. Just like Kim Jong-il.

That's your belief not theirs. You don't get the right to dictate to Buddhists what they believe happened to Buddha. Hate to break it to you, you're not that special.

 

[buddhist]

Why do you bow to the statue? Do you think Buddha - the man who walked on this earth few thousands years ago can see you or hear you? No he is gone. He has crossed over. I'm sorry to tell you this, but he cannot see you, or hear you.

My post you quoted addressed why I bow, and it also addressed everything else you just brought up.

 

[George-ananda]

What is incorrect with those communities who bring offerings to a sculpture?

In order to get something, you need to invest in something. What kind of investment is bringing an offering to a sculpture? What kind of a profit will they have in return? Is it a game of skill or is it a game of stupidity – lottery?

“Your trash is someone else’s treasure.” Those communities might as well give it to 3rd world countries, if they have it so much. The Prophet Muhammad said, Allah said: “Spend [on charity] O son of Adam, And I shall spend on you.”

I grow up in Ukraine. When I was a kid we didn’t have much food on the table. Sometimes I had to go to the neighbors back yards just to collect some apples and cherries because we did not have any food at the house. My mother would make some pancakes to sell it on the streets just to survive another day. Why do those communities investing ‘energy’ in sculptures when they could instead invest it in 3rd world countries? What are they doing? There is much greater profit if those communities would collect all the food that they don't need, and then give it to the others who are in need. Those sculptures are useless, they have no profit. Those communities are not deceiving no buddy but themselves.

“Those who spend in charity will be richly rewarded.” Quran 57:7

I have no problem with idol offerings myself. They are not giving more than they can afford and the idol represents an unseen deity. It is hard to focus on an invisible god. The grace and peace they get from this ritual worship can be both real and comforting.

Side question: Wow, in what timeframe were things that bad in Ukraine. How do you think things are now for people?

 

[Satans_Serrated_Edge]

I used to think SC was a really terrible troll.

I've come to realize he is in fact a sublimely talented troll.

Hats off to you sc

 

[Quagmire]

A bit greedy don't you think? Giving something to a statue but not to the needy one. I'v seen it before, the food gets rotten or gets eaten by birds.

Birds and bacteria have to eat too.

 

[sovietchild]

Side question: Wow, in what timeframe were things that bad in Ukraine. How do you think things are now for people?

In late 90's. I'm not sure how things are now but I think it's the same or worse. The prices are higher. Before the civil war, the currency used to be 8 to 1 dollar and now it's 27 to 1 dollar. The average monthly salary is $200. To heat up the house at winter costs about 100$ a month I hear.

 

[FearGod]

Islam's sculpture & focus of worship:

IT IS ONLY A direction

 

[Tumah]

First of all, the best charity is when it's done in privet (no one knows about it). Secondly, if you don't have a room for a family member then how can you have a room for a stranger?

Privet means hello in Russian sovietchild. Private is the word you're looking for.

 

[DragonHawk1959]

What is incorrect with those communities who bring offerings to a sculpture?

In order to get something, you need to invest in something. What kind of investment is bringing an offering to a sculpture? What kind of a profit will they have in return? Is it a game of skill or is it a game of stupidity – lottery?

“Your trash is someone else’s treasure.” Those communities might as well give it to 3rd world countries, if they have it so much. The Prophet Muhammad said, Allah said: “Spend [on charity] O son of Adam, And I shall spend on you.”

I grow up in Ukraine. When I was a kid we didn’t have much food on the table. Sometimes I had to go to the neighbors back yards just to collect some apples and cherries because we did not have any food at the house. My mother would make some pancakes to sell it on the streets just to survive another day. Why do those communities investing ‘energy’ in sculptures when they could instead invest it in 3rd world countries? What are they doing? There is much greater profit if those communities would collect all the food that they don't need, and then give it to the others who are in need. Those sculptures are useless, they have no profit. Those communities are not deceiving no buddy but themselves.

“Those who spend in charity will be richly rewarded.” Quran 57:7

They don't bring offerings to the sculpture. That is the fallacy in calling a religion idolatrous.
They bring offerings to that which the sculpture represents.
I.E.
Bringing an offering before the statue of the Virgin of Guadalupe is an offering to the Virgin.

 

[DragonHawk1959]

A bit greedy don't you think? Giving something to a statue but not to the needy one. I'v seen it before, the food gets rotten or gets eaten by birds.

If the fruit is eaten by birds it isn't wasted.

 

[Vinayaka]

In mystic Hinduism (and other mystic traditions in other faiths, I suspect) there is a lot more to it than 'what the statue represents'. There is other stuff going on, and one purpose is to bring that out, or closer. Think of lifting the veils between worlds, and doing things to cause or help that process.

 

[Quintessence]

A bit greedy don't you think? Giving something to a statue but not to the needy one. I'v seen it before, the food gets rotten or gets eaten by birds.

You've been told this several times, but you apparently need to be told again.

The offerings are not being given to statutes.

The offerings are not being given to statutes.

The offerings are not being given to statutes.

Read this over and over until you accept it for the fact that it is, pal.

 

[Satans_Serrated_Edge]

You've been told this several times, but you apparently need to be told again.

The offerings are not being given to statutes.

The offerings are not being given to statutes.

The offerings are not being given to statutes.

Read this over and over until you accept it for the fact that it is, pal.

You are entirely correct. Nobody is giving offerings to written laws passed by legislative bodies.

 

[Nyingjé Tso]

What is incorrect with those communities who bring offerings to a sculpture?

Vanakkam

Well, to be honest one day I woke up and I was super bored. So I wondered: "mmmh, I should to something to upset SovietChild So He can make another thread about it"
So I offered apples to an elephant statue.
And then I had an evil laugh like "bwahahaha this sure going to upset Sovietchild ! Am soooo clever!"

Then I made kompot with the apples ans sent with my day.

Then I saw sovietchild made a thread about this and now this kompot tastes like victory.

Aum Namah shivaya

 

[Mary Blackchurch]

Why dies a farmer offer water to a tree?

Because he has to go potty.