So, how many of you know this,
when I and other Buddhists "worship" a statue, what we are in fact bowing to is the concept that the statue represents to us.
2006-09-20 07:21:28 · 27 answers · asked by Ryan M 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yes I know this . The act is further demonstrated in Deity worship at ,say, a Hari Krsna Temple. At the temple the Deity's are quite important.
Did I miss something about Cristian's.
I am christian I also try to follow the eight fold path, as I need all the help I can get. Religions have more in common than not when comes to living life.
I am a vegetarian too (20 yrs). just in case one can never be too careful not to dismiss doctrine or so foolish as to define it.
Peace
2006-09-20 07:41:08 · answer #1 · answered by sweet pea 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, so you're still "worshiping" something/someone other than God. Idolatry is anything that is worshiped other than God. Money, TV, Hockey, friends, family, work, etc. Whatever gets in the way of your relationship with your Heavenly Father is an idol for you. It's something I'm working on, but mine is typically TV. Yours happens to be Buddha. It doesn't make all of the principles associated with Buddhism wrong, because there are some very good values taught within the religion.
2006-09-20 07:41:59 · answer #2 · answered by Tonya in TX - Duck 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Give it up, these Christians will always say everything from every other religion is an idol. Actually Catholics also pray to statues of Mary and they all use the crucifix which is actually a picture of God for them as they see Jesus as part of the Trinity, i.e. God in their belief. I saw Orthodox Christians in Russia bowing down deep in front of the icons of their saints. They do same things and of course they also don't worship the picture or statue itself but for what it stands. But they reject Buddhism because it is a different religion. You can see how much they attack Islam. They simply attack everyone who doesn't believe in Jesus and don't think they have to give explanations. They don't try to understand others.
2006-09-20 07:33:55 · answer #3 · answered by Elly 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Christians do the same thing... hellooooo??? the cross which hangs in most churches and around most Christians necks... the mural of "heaven" and God painted on church ceilings... it's all the same thing. Each religion or belief system has it's symbols... I think the idea of "worshiping" en graven images is more directed toward the Egyptian and roman idols they Jews were instructed not to worship. Mostly in that time, Gods were idolized and worshiped much the same as Christians do the cross or holy Mary (who is NOT God or Jesus)...
It's all really a bunch of bologna to say the least... can't we all just learn to love each other ... I'm sure God or Buddha or Allah or whichever deity we worship would appreciate that above all!!
2006-09-20 07:30:31 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Then, Ryan, you have never been outside the United States. In most countires there are temple complexes with multiple buildings with different bodhisattvas. One you can pray to for dead relatives and another you can pray to help you or your kids in school. There are usually more. Average everyday lay people pray to the statues and the bodhisattvas that inhabit them.
Bless you friend. Hope this helps you to understand that American Buddhism is not what is practiced by most Buddhists in the world.
2006-09-20 07:28:18 · answer #5 · answered by Love Shepherd 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Me. Most people in modern society wouldn't bow down to an inanimate object. They wouldn't go " OH HOLY ROCK!" or " OH HOLY PIECE OF SHEET METAL!". And even if they did, they usually say that the thing has a soul or a god living within it. Whoever worships a statue or a rock or something just because it's that is well... another story.
2006-09-20 07:24:19 · answer #6 · answered by The Marionette 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
so...that is no different than bowing down to an idea....what can an idea do for you?....nothing....you might as well be worshipping the idol that you made out of clay or whatever it is made of ...because that is all your are going to get out of it...the statue itself.....it is idolatry and is like shaking your fist in the face of God saying what He is and what He created is nothing according to you ...
2006-09-20 07:32:09 · answer #7 · answered by shiningon 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I would think that it is a given since there are so many statues. The concept is the only thing that would fit.
2006-09-20 07:23:46 · answer #8 · answered by purplesax 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Not many probably. Kind of like how some think that Wiccans worship flowers, rocks and twigs and not what they represent or were created by i.e. mother nature. Be patient.....it's a slow learning process.
2006-09-20 07:24:08 · answer #9 · answered by PaganPoetess 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
If then, you don't need the statue.
You know why God didn't appeared to the people when he established the 10 commandments?
Because He didn't want them to build an image as His.
And then He declared that you will bend your knees to Him and Him only.
I understand the representation thing, but if its object of a cult its wrong.
2006-09-20 07:26:44 · answer #10 · answered by christian? 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋