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1 year ago ::
Jan 04, 2011 - 11:24AM
#1
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I was reading a post recently which referred to Hindu people as 'idol worshippers' - and I wondered what you think of that description of yourselves? How accurate is that, or is it a misrepresentation? Do you consider it disrespectful? And what would you want to say to such a person? My own impression was that it's not very accurate, but I admit I know very little of the Hindu faith.
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1 year ago ::
Jan 05, 2011 - 4:28AM
#2
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It's a common misconception stemming from Abrahamic traditions. I refer such persons to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murti (through en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idol ). Book of Deuteronomy 12:2-4 warns to not confuse proper and improper images. Hope this helps. Hare Krsna Your servant, bh. Jan www.vrindavan-dham.com www.veda.harekrsna.cz dvaitaM bandhAya mokSAt prAk prApte bodhe manISayA bhaktyarthaM kalpitam dvaitaM advaitAd api sundaram "Duality is bondage before moksa and wisdom after realization. The duality accepted for the purpose of bhakti is sweeter than even non-duality." (from mangalacarana to Advaitasiddhi sara sangraha by Madhusudana Sarasvati, former advaitin)
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1 year ago ::
Jan 05, 2011 - 9:55AM
#3
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The term idol worship is a pejorative term in the western culture. I do not see why Hindus should accept such a pejorative term to describe them. What Hindus worship is God through consecrated images and not mere idols. Actually no one worships idols.
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1 year ago ::
Jan 05, 2011 - 7:22PM
#4
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Many thanks for the references! I feel I should apologize to everyone for even quoting that phrase : (( I much appreciate your not 'shooting the messenger' in this instance. I will try to make it clear - politely! - to this other person that what they said was *not* OK and maybe we can educate them : )) I have learned to try not to decide for others whether their relationship with Deitiy is 'effective' or 'right' for them. Everyone's religion has elements which 'unbelievers' find incomprehensible - and yet there are underlying similarities which resonate as well. 'Scuse my rambling there.....I just find our species to be fascinating : ))
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1 year ago ::
Jan 07, 2011 - 5:34AM
#5
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LeahOne: Welcome.
You'll get different answers from different "hindus"! That is the hallmark & beauty of hinduism.
To set matters right, even within hinduism there are branches which do not believe in idol worship, with this difference - they do not mock at others who worship differently!
Coming to the point, 1.Mind, when awake always "thinks" ceaselessly. [It is like a mad house or a drunken monkey let loose] 2. Mind CANNOT think without words/names & figures/shapes. [If a mind can think without shapes & names, that mind doesn't require anything be it religion or even god! That mind is already self-realised] This can be tested- just close your eyes and try to think without words/figures.
Given the above FACT, what does a non-idol worshipper do when he prays? Does his/her mind cease to "create" or "function" during prayer? The answer is NO. What they do in reality is having an image of almighty as they conceive it to be in their mind and pray to that! Now if somebody else makes a picture or statue of that concept of almighty and prays to it, what is wrong with it? Is it not sheer hypocrisy for the non idol worshipper to mock the other?
Next time when you meet that person ask him how does he pray? whether his mind is completely blank, without shapes/words? Then ask him to try and think without words and shapes. Perhaps then he may understand, unless he is a blind follwer of his faith.
Love & God Bless.
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1 year ago ::
Jan 07, 2011 - 6:07AM
#6
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I was reading a post recently which referred to Hindu people as 'idol worshippers' - and I wondered what you think of that description of yourselves?
How accurate is that, or is it a misrepresentation? Do you consider it disrespectful? And what would you want to say to such a person?
My own impression was that it's not very accurate, but I admit I know very little of the Hindu faith.
Hello Leah :) As a Catholic who knows little about Hinduism, I can't give a satisfactory answer. But I've a Hindu uncle, and he doesn't equate the icons/statues of the deities with the deities themselves. Some of his icons, interestingly, are of the Mother and Child Jesus, so assuming that this poster is Christian I would find it even more amusing that my uncle is an 'idol worshipper.'
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1 year ago ::
Jan 07, 2011 - 11:50AM
#7
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Absolutely brilliant Samst!
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1 year ago ::
Jan 07, 2011 - 12:14PM
#8
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Samst, thank you for the welcome : )) Interestingly enough, if you ask different Jews the same questions you are likely to get very different answers, too. Because I know that your faith and mine use different 'idioms', I'm going to have to study a bit before I can really udnerstand your answer to me. Which is fine with me...there is too much commotion going on here now, cats stampeding and all, for me to focus : (( Judaism has as one of our few 'doctrines' that GOD is Spirit alone - whcih makes forming a visual image rather difficult. I tend to think of Him (which again is 'allegorical' ) as a *feeling* and that's what I focus upon.
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1 year ago ::
Jan 07, 2011 - 12:15PM
#9
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Hiya, Bezant : )) So you've got a Hindu uncle.... your family must be as interesting as mine is : )) No Hindus here, but a couple of Buddhists....
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1 year ago ::
Jan 07, 2011 - 12:54PM
#10
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Samst, thank you for the welcome : )) Interestingly enough, if you ask different Jews the same questions you are likely to get very different answers, too.
Because I know that your faith and mine use different 'idioms', I'm going to have to study a bit before I can really udnerstand your answer to me. Which is fine with me...there is too much commotion going on here now, cats stampeding and all, for me to focus : ((
Judaism has as one of our few 'doctrines' that GOD is Spirit alone - whcih makes forming a visual image rather difficult. I tend to think of Him (which again is 'allegorical' ) as a *feeling* and that's what I focus upon.
>>>>>>>> Speaking as a non-hindu, I know couple of things about Hinduism. The term "Idol worshipper" is used to describe how a common hindu appears to someone who do not know about Hinduism. Our visual perception has a strong influence on our perception. This goes for all faiths and many subjects we deal everyday. However if you look into Hindu religious scriptures, you will discover that, core teaching of Hinduism [ Specially veda--most important Hindu scripture!] describes "God" which is close to how Abrahamic faiths described God [ In OT, NT and the Qur'an]. Many people from Abrahamic faith tradition who do not know enough about Hinduism says ignorant things about Hindus. Unfortunately like most people of faith, we do not know our own scriptures!! I have read about life of "Lord Krisna" and his life story is very close to prophet Moses of Islam [ PBUH]. Like Nimrod, young Krisna's uncle Kansa wanted to kill baby boys but God saved him. Scholars of "Hinduism" also objected to the term "Hindu". Because it was a name given by Muslims to people who followed traditional faith in India. Hinduism is often referred to as Sanātana Dharma (a Sanskrit phrase meaning "the eternal law") by its adherents. So if you study Hindu scriptures, it is not hard to find common grounds with people of Abrahamic faiths. Personally I think being a "God loving person" is most important. If we remember God in all steps of our lives, it will be hard for us to do immoral things in the name of God! Peace.
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