Why are idols bad?

[Pegg]

There are so many ways Pegg. Each Hindu tradition has its preferred methods. I will list some:

1) Deity worship. Offering prayer, food, physical service such as 'waking' and 'putting to sleep' (this involved opening and closing curtains and such), singing, paying obeisance, fanning etc.

This sort of service builds a sense of servitude and devotion. The devotee develops a strong love, the type of love where you want to do whatever you can for someone in order to please them (for example, like a person wanting to make their partner happy or their child or their teacher)

2) Serving others. God is situated in the core of every living entity. By serving others we are serving the Lord. So this means being kind, doing favours where possible ,helping where we can etc. and avoiding causing offense

3) Meditation. Meditation is a very advanced form of worship. It is the deepest kind of communion. It is often said that prayer is us talking to God and meditation is God talking to us.

cheers,

i think we are on the same page when it comes to acts of kindness and putting others ahead of ourselves.

there really are many similarities, its amazing there is so much division when there is so much we have in common.

 

[Madhuri]

cheers,

i think we are on the same page when it comes to acts of kindness and putting others ahead of ourselves.

there really are many similarities, its amazing there is so much division when there is so much we have in common.

I agree that there are a lot of similarities. Consider that your religion is even more similar to Islam and Judaism and yet all these religions are in such conflict with each other.

I think there are many factors and one major one is that people usually believe that their religion is the only way and everything else is evil. Obviously this will cause..issues.

 

[Pegg]

I agree that there are a lot of similarities. Consider that your religion is even more similar to Islam and Judaism and yet all these religions are in such conflict with each other.

I think there are many factors and one major one is that people usually believe that their religion is the only way and everything else is evil. Obviously this will cause..issues.

thats very true,

Wouldnt it be better if we were all united under one religion and one supreme God....who taught us all the same.

 

[Breathe]

thats very true,

Wouldnt it be better if we were all united under one religion and one supreme God....who taught us all the same.

I don't know, Pegg, I think the diversity of languages, cultures, and religion is a beautiful thing. It makes the world more interesting.

 

[Madhuri]

I don't know, Pegg, I think the diversity of languages, cultures, and religion is a beautiful thing. It makes the world more interesting.

I don't have a problem with the idea of one religion, same God. But I like the diversity of expression and the unique forms of devotion. Kind of like how within Hinduism there is so much diversity and yet most of the groups respect each other despite the differences. If the whole world was like that, I'd be quite happy about it.

 

[Pegg]

I don't know, Pegg, I think the diversity of languages, cultures, and religion is a beautiful thing. It makes the world more interesting.

i think its entirely possible to have cultural differences under the one religion. I dont really see religion as a culture...its a belief system but it doesnt have to change a persons culture

 

[Vrindavana Das]

looks like it,

so tell me, how is the supreme Lord worshiped in hinduism? Or is he?

That is the essence of all scriptures the world over!

How I would put it is:

There are many ways of worshiping the Supreme Lord. Yet, there is only one!

He can be worshipped by following path of fruitive activities – Karma Yoga

He can be worshipped by following path of Knowledge – Gyaan Yoga

He can be worshipped by following path of Intelligence – Buddhi Yoga

He can only be worshiped by following the path of loving devotion – Bhakti Yoga.

Yet, all paths culminate in surrender with loving devotion unto the Supreme Lord. From that point on, does the worship of the Supreme Lord starts.

The Lord Himself declared to the Great Sage – Durvasa Muni, who had offended one of His great devotees – Ambrisha Maharaj:

aham Bhaktha paradheena hyasvatantra iva dhvija
sadhubhih grastha hrudhayah bahkthairbhaktha jaanpriyah
naahamathmanam aasase madhbhakthai saadhubhirvinaa
Sriyam chathyanthakeem brahmanyesham gathiraham paraa​

O Great Sage! I am deeply attached to my devotees. In fact, I am controlled by them. Therefore I am incapable of doing anything out of my own volition in such cases involving offenses to my devotees. My love for my devotee is greater than that for Myself or My consort, Lakshmi.

sādhavo hṛdayaḿ mahyaḿ
sādhūnāḿ hṛdayaḿ tv aham
mad-anyat te na jānanti
nāhaḿ tebhyo manāg api​

The pure devotee is always within the core of My heart, and I am always in the heart of the pure devotee. My devotees do not know anything else but Me, and I do not know anyone else but them.

You can find the whole story here: Ekadashi

So, we see that the Supreme Lord Himself declares that the path of devotion – Bhakti Yoga is the highest and super-excellent platform for worshiping Supreme Lord.

 

[Breathe]

I don't have a problem with the idea of one religion, same God. But I like the diversity of expression and the unique forms of devotion. Kind of like how within Hinduism there is so much diversity and yet most of the groups respect each other despite the differences. If the whole world was like that, I'd be quite happy about it.

I think that would be pretty nice, too. The only thing I'm thinking of, would it stay that way? The idea of one universal religion is something I still feel quite nervous about.

i think its entirely possible to have cultural differences under the one religion. I dont really see religion as a culture...its a belief system but it doesnt have to change a persons culture

It is possible, I think so too, but there are many times when religion and culture are significantly more difficult to separate. Religion and culture are often interwoven with one another, for better or worse.

The only religions I think are exceptionally skilled at separating religion and culture are Christians, Buddhists, and the Bahá'ís; I've seen some Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, and so on who have a significantly harder time separating their religion from their culture. Not to say it's impossible, and I think this is probably a form of ego in itself, but it's often the case from my experience.

 

[Madhuri]

No, of course not. Religion evolves over time like everything else. If it didn't, the whole world would still be Vedic

 

[sojourner]

I am sorry to say this but do not certain Christian community's do the same for example they have idol's and images of Jesus(p) in there churches and then pray in the name of Jesus(p)... towards Jesus(p).

Maybe i am confused but i am certain the Roman Catholics do use Idols as worship..

1) You are confused.
2) No, they don't.

 

[Jainarayan]

Don't you think that God is beyond being inside a mere idol?

Wouldn't it be more fitting to say that God is great and 'everywhere' (literally from a Hindu perspective) and just pray in the open without directing your prayer to a specific lifeless idol?

Your point is well-taken, on the face of it. However, Sri Krishna Himself says:

"For those whose minds are attached to the unmanifested, impersonal feature of the Supreme, advancement is very troublesome. To make progress in that discipline is always difficult for those who are embodied." Bhagavad Gita 12.5

Therefore, the bhakti-yogi accepts the Deity of Krishna as worshipable because there is some bodily conception fixed in the mind, which can thus be applied. Of course, worship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His form within the temple is not idol worship. Bhagavad Gita 12.5

 

[Jainarayan]

the elephant headed god springs to mind

An elephant is not elevated to a level of a god. The form of Lord Ganesha represents aspects of His divinity. Here is a detailed description of why He looks the way He does Ganesh forms (1)

 

[Jainarayan]

The Hindu concept of murti would, I think, not be translated well as "idol" for a Christian audience. Rather, a better translation is "icon".

Actually "murthi" (moort-hee) means "form".

 

[Konjim]

Namaste

I do not understand the vehemence with which some religions talk about idols. What, exactly, about idols is bad? As a Hindu I use a murti (what Abrahamics would call an idol) in my worship. This 'idol' is not God but it represents God and the many forms God takes. How is this bad?

No one I know worships the actual idol; we worship the force that the idol embodies. Why these harsh injunctions against anyone who does this? Why is it considered bad?

yes i am agree with you according to Hindu religions we use idol for worship , and we believe that this represents God,
It all depends upon religions what they believe , i do not think harsh injunctions against anyone , most of religions believe on Idol worships . so why you thinking that it is considered as bad .
http://krishna333.com

 

[somethingNiftyhere]

Idols are a manifestation that helps to focus the believers mind on those intangibles their faith asks them to believe in sight unseen.

If Idols were bad then the Bible should be an object of criticism in that respect.
Especially amid those who make statements like: "I believe in the Bible."
When the Bible is a guide to finding God,Jesus and Salvation. Those are what are to be believed in by those faithful to them. Not the Bible. The Bible does not do anything for the faithful save lead them to God through scripture.
However,when God is said to be omnipresent, which is another word describing animism, one doesn't need the Bible in order to find God. So then the idol would be life and earth and everything that exists. Because all that God created is possessed of his essence as creator and source of and for it.

Idol - any person or thing regarded with blind admiration, adoration, or devotion:

 

[sojourner]

Namaste

I do not understand the vehemence with which some religions talk about idols. What, exactly, about idols is bad? As a Hindu I use a murti (what Abrahamics would call an idol) in my worship. This 'idol' is not God but it represents God and the many forms God takes. How is this bad?

No one I know worships the actual idol; we worship the force that the idol embodies. Why these harsh injunctions against anyone who does this? Why is it considered bad?

The difference between an "idol" and an "icon" or "image" is that the idol is the god -- not merely a representation of the god. Your murti isn't an idol -- it's a representation.

 

[Vinayaka]

There are two (maybe more) views within SD. One is that the murthi is a representation, and the other view is that the energy of God inhabits the stone or brass icon, even if temporarily. So in that sense, the idol is God, just as we are God .... not the complete God, but a portion of God ... same energy. This is a more mystical interpretation, like the taste of an apple inhabits an apple.

So the way the statue/idol/murthi whatever you want to call it is treated will vary because of these two views.

 

[Vrindavana Das]

I am not sure about the stand of Bible on Idol worship. In Sanatan Dharma, there is a difference between an 'idol' and a 'Deity'.

Idol worship is condemned in the scriptures.

However, we must not consider the Deity Form (archa vigraha) as an ordinary metal object.

The Lord's incarnation as Deity (archa avatara) is a special manifestation of the Lord's mercy towards neophyte devotees. They are unable to perceive the Lord in His eternal abode, and therefore the Lord descends as the Deity form.

Deities are of two kinds:-

Prakasha Incarnation: These are sculptured. Later, through Vedic mantras, life force is installed in them, to accept various services of the devotees.

Swayam-prakasha Incarnation: These are self-manifested. They are not sculptured. The Lord, under the influence of the love of a particular devotee manifests Himself as a Deity to reciprocate loving exchanges.

 

[dgirl1986]

I have never understood it either. To be honest, I dont see it being any different than someone praying to a statue of mary or jesus.

 

[Jainarayan]

I have never understood it either. To be honest, I dont see it being any different than someone praying to a statue of mary or jesus.

When you use a telephone, you are speaking to a person at the other end, not to the telephone. When praying at an image, icon, idol, murthi, you are not praying or speaking to that image, but to the deity it represents through the image. The image is a conduit. Sri Krishna says: "The obstacles facing those devoted to the Impersonal Absolute are far greater; for the way of any unclear ideal is difficult for an embodied being to understand or follow." Bhagavad Gita 12.5

What this means is that with our limited (human) capabilities, it is difficult to connect with God who does not have a form native to this world. We need to use our senses, because we are sense-beings. Our minds are not developed to understand what we cannot see, touch, feel, hear.

The same verse with commentaries: Bhagavad-Gita: Chapter 12, Verse 5

Oops, I already commented on this http://www.religiousforums.com/forum/2908110-post151.html