ok, well I'm sure many of you expect this to be a "how can I love god better" thing, but it isn't. what I'm asking is why so many of you call Buddhism Idolatry?
now some of you will say "because it is"
but please give me a real argument for your case.
2006-09-20 07:13:05 · 30 answers · asked by Ryan M 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
People misread and misquote the Bible. Idolatry is worshipping statues, trees, etc. People who use "idols" in their worship, such as Buddhists, Wiccans, etc., are not worshiping the statue itself, but using the statue to focus the mind to more directly commune with the respective god or goddess.
2006-09-20 07:19:10 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Buddhism is idolatry first because it's blatantly worshiping a statue. Looking to something other then God Himself for help is idolatry. Secondly, it is a false god. Buddha, or the philosophy of Buddhism, was just man's own "good ideas" on how to live a moral life. Whereas the life, teachings, dead, and resurrection of Jesus Christ can be backed up historically and scientifically. Therefore, Christ's claims to be the Son of God are authentic. We can either take it or leave it.
2006-09-20 07:19:15 · answer #2 · answered by stpolycarp77 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Greetings,
For one thing Buddha is not God! For another to worship a statue as a god is called idol worship and scince buddhists worship them then they are called idolators. also Catholics may be categorized in this same genre. Why just pick on one religious faction. If memory serves Buddha did not command his followers to obey his laws and commandments and then you will be with him for eternity;the God of the Jews and Christians did exactly that and it seems that an afterlife with God and His Son would be more preferable than any other alternative that is expounded by any other faith based following. After-all let's face it who wants to be re-incarnated as a bug or a rodent or whatever your supposed next level of attainment to Nirvana or whatever it is reffered to. With the true God there is nothing to do but love Him and follow His commandments and you are to receive an everlasting life. Now which sounds better and also easier???????
a work in progress
2006-09-20 07:32:52 · answer #3 · answered by cobravetor 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know a lot about Buddist religion. In my reading various books about other religions I've read nothing about idolatry. I think people view the statue of Budda as an idol. The Christian cross can be mistaken as an idol also. The cross is a symbol in the Christian faith representing Christ's sacrificial death on the cross. Assuming the Budda statue is a symbol, it would not be an idol. Now if you pray to the statue than it is an idol. You might know the answer to your own questions. Do Buddist pray to the statue of Budda or is it symbol or representation?
2006-09-20 07:30:55 · answer #4 · answered by Rick D 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Anything that you hold in higher regard than God is considered an idol. Money is a popular non-traditional idol in America. Even family could be listed as such.
While most branches of Buddhism claim no god and that the universe as a whole is part of one (sorry if I simplify), this effectively puts yourself as god and a "worship of self". Some sects of Buddhism chant towards a statue or a piece of paper which embodies what they wish to aspire to. These would be idols.
2006-09-20 07:19:37 · answer #5 · answered by bobm709 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
here's the real scoop. Preachers of low intelligence often get made leaders so that a board of merchants can easily handle him and through him the church. The Bible has direction in it to avoid this but once it happens then it soon becomes the norm becuz there are pay offs. Merchants get control they can turn into increased cash. People who desire popularity get to seem popular. If you are much of a Budist you understand how this works.
OK these insecure and not to bright preachers naturally get frightened by up, and comers who actually are men of wisdom and natural teachers who start their own churches and have a tendancy to draw from established churches who barely teach the word of God. You see there is like a magic force that attracts people to the actual word of God taught by a real teacher.
These older groups headed by the not too bright then have to find a way to say stay with me, don't go elsewhere to be fed you hungry people and so they start developing reasons why other groups are in reality works not accredited by God. This one says this and that one says that and if you listen you are going to hell. These not to bright people do not realize that buddhism is actually a philosophy not a religion with whom they are in competition and those who are smart enough to know it is philosophy are worried if their people learn to think they will see that the place they go on Sunday is not feeding that inner need to grow.
you get it. There are a lot of preachers who are afraid of you.
Then there are the ones who are feeding their hearers and they will be getting fed the real food, milk then meat, and they can actually point out why those who hear them are better off spending what time they have learning the deep truthes from the very deepest source, rare but they are out there and if you can find one then listening there would compliment your buddist teachings very well
understand now grass hopper
2006-09-20 07:34:36 · answer #6 · answered by icheeknows 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't call anything, anything. It is for God to judge. But I can tell you the bible says to worship and devote your self to any thing that is not God is idolatry. So money can be a idol so can food, sex, and anything that takes you away from praising God. When you start praying to a magic handkerchief and singing the praises of its mighty power you are practicing idolatry
2006-09-20 07:19:08 · answer #7 · answered by dreamgirl4myboy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why many Christians call Buddhism idolatry is because it doesn't worship the God of the bible. Seeking enlightenment without listening to His Word which is provided for you, is a form of idolatry, in that it places the consciousness above revealed knowledge. It makes a mockery of blood atonement through transcendental hogwash.
Jesus died for you and rose from the dead. Follow Him and he will lead you from destruction to eternal life in Christ.
2006-09-20 07:30:42 · answer #8 · answered by Jay Z 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Do you worship the budda? I really don't know alot about the religion so i can't really say, but if you are worshiping a statue then yes, of course, it is idolatry. I think what you do is just go by the teaching of budda-right? Just like we go by the teachings of Jesus and just because we have a cross or statue of Jesus does not mean we worship this statue-am i right? I need to read up more on other religions-lol.
2006-09-20 07:18:30 · answer #9 · answered by gee-geeofmo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It seems fair. I call it idolatry to claim the Bible is more than just a collection of books. People have deified it, and don't even realize they are committing idolatry by doing so.
No-where in the Bible does the Bible give permission to honor the Bible like this.
2006-09-20 07:19:15 · answer #10 · answered by lenny 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋