Why is it 'a statue of Jesus', but 'an idol of a Hindu God'?

Question

Why the difference in refference, is it not the same?

Answer 1

Because fundamentalist Christians and Jews are dumb enough to actually think Hindus think the statue itself is a god. Which of course is ridiculous -- they only use the statue as a way for people to help relate to their divinities better. A sort of focus or conduit for the divine. Christians believe having r engraved images is a sin so of course a statue of Jesus can't be referred to as such.

Answer 2

There is no difference except that the one of the Hindu God is actually worshiped. You will get a variety of opinions here but for myself I am a born again christian and there are no pictures or statues or figurines of Jesus in my home. Even though we don't worship them, I still don't like having them because I don't think we could ever truly depict what Christ was like. I believe each person must come to terms with how they feel about this particular subject. Have a nice day and God Bless You.

Answer 3

I know more about Christianity than I do about Hinduism, but I will guess at the answer.
I think Christians generally frown upon worship of "idols" so the word "statue" is more agreeable to describe an image of Jesus. More importantly, I think the purpose of a statue depicting Jesus would be just to act as a physical symbol.
I don't think Hinduism has a taboo against worshiping idols, but I'm not sure.

Answer 4

I've heard them referred to as "Hindu Statues" also, so it just depends on the language that the person decided to use.

I actually have some reservations about these "Jesus" paintings and statues, since in all reality we are not supposed to create graven images or likenesses of God. We have a copy in our house of that familiar painting of Jesus that everyone has seen, and I want to take it down because I don't think it's appropriate. Nobody alive on this earth today has any idea what Christ truly looked like, and it's irrelevent anyway. He transcends all of that.

Answer 5

Because if they admit it's an idol then they are idolaters.

The one that cracks me up is when they say they aren't worshipping the statue because they know it's not the God or saint but a representation. As though Baal worshippers didn't know their idols were represntations and actually worshipped stone they carved themselves. Real geniuses I tell ya.

Answer 6

Excellent question. I think they will say they don't worship the statue of Jesus. It is only a symbol. I bet the same is true of the Hindu statue or the Buddha's as well. Double standard because they can't see past the bible.

Answer 7

The difference from a Christian standpoint is that we do not worship the statute itself. It just serves as a reminder of the One we do worship. If someone were to actually worship a statute of Jesus, then it would be considered to be an idol.

Answer 8

One word, Hypocrisy. If you say you worship the god the statue represents, then it's idolatry because you do not know what Jesus really looked like, so you worship a representation of the statue. Just as the people worshiped Baal, but the statue of Baal was just a representation as they had no idea what Baal would really have looked like, it all from your imagination, your own god so to speak.

Answer 9

Well let's just look at the obvious answer.
Jesus was a real person.
The Hindu god is just what someone thought up.
The statue of Jesus is not there to be worshiped, only as a reminder of who he was.

It's like looking at a picture of someone you love. At times you may say your feelings to the picture, but it is merely a reminder of your loved one.
As opposed to looking at say a comic book hero...

Answer 10

Because we do not worship the statue itself.

If Hindu's do not worship the Statue, there is no difference.

I am not sure about the beliefs of Hindu's/

Peace!