Abrahamic faiths have strict codes against idol-worshipping, however it is not clear how one defines idol-worshipping. The author wrote this article to stimulate discussion on this topic, including the author’s personal life experiences.
Padma Kuppa in her Patheos article wishes Hindus to distance themselves from the terms “polytheist” and “idol-worships.” Her concern is to find a proper fit with monotheist exclusivist Christians, Jews and Muslims (Abrahamics) in America.
As per descriptions in the Bible and Koran and also in a practical sense, Hindus are polytheist, idol-worshippers and pray to “other gods.” Actually, in the author’s view, Christians are also polytheist (believing in the trinity; LORD God, Jesus as a Son-God and the Holy Spirit) and idol-worshippers (wood and gold crosses, idols of baby Jesus, Mary, John, Paul, Peter, Santa and so on). If so, how are Christians different from Hindus? Why it is bad to use an “idol” to help us focus on God? Who is to decide that it is wrong to see God in different forms?
Just like anyone else, the author is a man with a wandering mind and he needs a focus point to pray to God. When the author visits any Hindu temple, he expects to take “darshan” (vision of the divine) of multiple idols (deities) and will bow to every one of them. If this is not enough “idolatry” for the author, he also visits Jain and Buddhist temples and bows to many more “idols.” Further, the author has bowed to Jesus and Mary’s “idols” and has eaten Jesus’ body (bread)! The author has also prayed in a mosque and in the direction of the Islamic “idol,” the Kaaba (Black Cube). The author was disappointed by not finding a focus point in synagogues. However, the author later learned that Jewish people use a candle or Star of David (idol) to pray at the Sabbath time.
The word idol can be defined very broadly. A Christian radio described “idolatry” as being “idle,” praying to the cross without faith, being alcoholic and drug addict and so on. If so, the author is absolutely not an idol-worshipper. He rarely watches television and loves to live a very active life. The author prefers to spend time for the betterment of society rather than spend time in religious institutions trying to please God. However, to an intolerant Abrahamic who is allergic to the word idolatry, the author would gladly profess that he is a proud idol-worshipper.
Hindus have the complete liberty to pray to God in any and every which way that works for them. Mount Kailash, the river Ganges, the monkey God Hanuman, the elephant God Ganesh, the Sun and Moon, the Mother Earth and many plants and animals are all sacred to Hindus. It is the feeling of reverence for creation that counts, not the names and forms or their labels.
During his childhood, the author has seen his mother go every morning to several temples, put flowers on some sacred stones, tighten a red thread around a Pipala tree trunk, water a holy Tulsi shrub and when returning, bow and feed a cow. Whatever her approach may have been to connect to God, the author certainly learned from her to respect any and every one, including Mother Nature and animals.
The Hindu greeting of “Namaste” means “I see the divine in you and bow to it.” How beautiful! The author is so proud to have been taught the Hindu philosophy of seeing God in every one, be that my boss or servant. Respect for others and nature around us will certainly make this world a better place to live, rather than being exclusivist and human-centric.
By the law of association, the material image calls up the mental idea and vice versa. That is the way we ALL use an external symbol when we worship. If someone can realize his divine nature with the help of an idol, would it be right to call that sin?
Swami Vivekananda had no reservation associating with the word idol. He has stated, “If such (his guru) Ramakrishna Paramahamsas are produced by idol-worship, what will you have—the reformer’s creed or any number of idols? Yes idolatry is condemned! Why? Nobody knows. Because some hundreds of years ago some man of Jewish blood happened to condemn it? That is, he happened to condemn everybody else’s idols except his own.”
By reading the Bible and Koran, the author learned that Abrahamic faith scriptures provided no or less tolerance for the believers in “other gods.” It is basically a war of “us” against “them.” The first of two of the Ten Commandments state that there is no god other than LORD God and if you pray to other gods, the LORD God will punish you for several generations. The Bible states, “Our God is greater than all gods.” Jesus said, “Who is not with me is against me.” Further, He added, “No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
As discussed in earlier sections, Jesus claimed that he is the Son of God, while Allah (God) forbids that He Himself should beget a son! Allah said, “believers take neither Jews nor the Christians for your friends.” Reverend Franklin Graham claimed, “Muslims do not worship the same God the Father I worship. I think Mohammad only leads to the grave. I don’t believe that you can get to heaven through a Buddhist or Hindu faith.” Richard Land called the Mormon religion a cult. So, where will these “us against them” debates end?
To add to the debate, Lord Krishna also stated “I am the beginning, the middle and also the end of all beings,” and “those who are devotees of other gods and who worship them with faith actually worship only Me, but they do so in a wrong way” and “As all surrender unto Me, I reward them accordingly. Everyone follows My path in all respects.” In this case, is Krishna’s message any less exclusivist than that of Christ and Allah?
Scriptures cannot be changed now, but we have to learn to interpret the scripture in its context and historical significance. It is possible that Jesus may have made a few exclusivist statements but others may have over-interpreted him. Actually, Jesus himself never used the word “idol” or “other gods” in any of his direct messages. It is difficult to believe that Jesus, who changed the Second Commandment of jealousy and anger to—“Love thy neighbor” —would ever recommend sending Mahatma Gandhi to hell just because Gandhi was not baptized or did not endorse Jesus as the true savior.
Are LORD God, God the Father, Jesus as the Son of God, Allah, Krishna, Goddess Laxmi, Buddha, the Golden-Calf and many more deities just different forms of the SAME God, or are they different super powers? Whose claim on God is right and true?
Is my idol better than yours? Is my Barbie doll better than yours? Instead of fighting, why not go and play with all dolls, if allowed to? It is time to give up childish talk and be a true pluralist.
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