How can you justify idol worship?

There are two issues in this- idols and worship.

Let us take idols first. It is true that all religions are holding the view that God can not idolised. Even Sanaatana dharma of India , which is not a religion, (but named as Hinduism by foreigners) is of the same view as you have rightly pointed out. Why is this so? because of the simple reason God has no specific form and God can not be defined as so. This is very clear, no disputes.

Let us now come to Worship. It is here there is subtle difference. All religions want people not to worship idols as God, for the fear that people should not take idol as God. The fear is well understood. But Sanaatana dharma also acknowledges the practical inability of many to worship God without a medium. It says is "if you are unable to worship God without a physical medium, you can imagine God to have descended into that medium which you consider as pleasing to you and worship God. It does not say God is in that form of the idol, but says God occupies that idol also because God is omnipresent.

Now you tell- Can you say God is not in that idol? If you can not, what is wrong in a person who can not worship God without a medium, to worship God through that medium?

Next, the question arises is it necessary to worship God? God does not require worship of God. The worship of God facilitates remembering of God as the First Cause of all and therefore resonate God's purpose of God's manifestation of universe, that includes us. It is we who want to worship God for the stated purpose.

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The finger that points to the sky is not the SKY. The idols of Hindus are simply pointers to the ETERNAL TRUTH.

Ignore the finger (IDOL) and look at the beauty of the sky (Eternal truth).

The sign-board is neither 'Delhi' nor 'Banglore', yet it can lead us to the DESTINATIONS. The idol is not God, yet it can lead us to God-realization.

How many waves are there in the Ocean?

Innumerable.

When the sea is calmed, where do the waves disappear?

The waves neither appear nor disappear because the waves, in reality, are nothing but the ONE Ocean itself. The various gods are nothing but the mere appearances of the ONE-God- CONSCIOUSNESS.

SUN is one though physically differs at each angle

Sun looks different from different angles and distances. As we travel towards the sun, it appears to be larger and larger. The sun may be watched from a million angles and at billion points, for that the sun doesn’t become a billion new suns.

Hindus attempt to see (realize) the God-consciousness at their comfortable levels. An illiterate, a farmer, a high school student, a post graduate, a poet, a scientist, a saint and a mystic are at different levels of their understanding of the Sun (or God). There are different perceptions of God depending on the intellectual capacity of the viewers, but the “many views” don’t make the God-consciousness MANY.

Muslims and christians worship an external God where Idol tends to become a great hindrance.

Hindus find idols no botheration since they don’t worship a God but seek GOD-consciousness internally.

M dear friend , as you are aware that India is an ancient land , where wisdom maaade its home . The ancient Vedic hymns, like Rigveda, Yajur vedsa, sama veda, Ayurveda and Upanishads; are peculiar to India.India is filled with Temples & Monuments that are Architecural Wonders, like the Grandeur of Himalayas, , Kashmir Natures Wonder,the Holy Ganges, , billion deities ( idols) within thne Trinity, Braahma, Vshnu, & Siva. Ramayana & Mahabaratha epics of everlasting value, The Bhaaaaaaaaaagavat Gita, the Bible of Hindus

All these indicate how traditional is Idol Worship in India The land of the GODS,

I do not find idol worshipping wrong. only time i found it wrong when people thinks that a perticulare stone or idol is magical or god himself. i saw in many temples people worship the idol because they think its magical. not only that it also start business. as the idol becomes famous the daan(donation) to the temple increase and temple become famous. people will come from far flung areas to get the blessing of magical idol. they strart having faith on statues, idols. now there is no question after that.

thats how think idol worshipping turns into something that people have to justify it. otherwise whats the harm ?

Billions of people have faith in idol worship is justification enough.

At the same time Non-idol worshipping is also followed by Billions;Justified enough.

So no matter what way you choose to worship,it is good enough that you believe in supreme power.

The idol is a prop in one's spiritual childhood. A form or image is necessary for worship in the beginning. It is an external symbol of God for worship. It is a reminder of God. The material image calls up the mental idea. Steadiness of mind is obtained by image worship. The worshiper will have to associate the ideas of infinity, purity, perfection, freedom, holiness, truth and omnipresence with the form of worship he chooses.

It is not possible for all to fix the mind on the Absolute. A concrete form is necessary for the vast majority for practicing concentration. To behold God everywhere and to practice the presence of God is not possible for the ordinary man. Idol worship is the easiest form of worship for the modern man.

A symbol is absolutely indispensable for fixing the mind. The mind wants a prop to lean upon. It cannot hold a conception of the Absolute in the initial stages. Without the help of some external aid the mind cannot be centralised. In the beginning, therefore, concentration or meditation is not possible without a symbol.

Everyone has his own way of worshiping God.

To answer this question, let me ask you something: Have to ever though inside your heart how will you ever describe absolute beauty?

You do have an image in your heart don't you?

Now a person in his heart tries to create an image of God in which he can focus upon and to consolidate that image he creates a statue or an idol of God. Do you agree that each and every element in this world is part of the universe? Universe itself is a sign of God.

Therefore each and every element that exist is a part of that same God isn't it? We use those elements to build the statues or idols and worship them. We can worship God in any form we wish but eventually we are all praying the same God. No matter in what way we pray to God it can be in any form but what's important we pray with devotion, faith and sincerity.

Another way of worshipping God we can say is to help others selflessly and keep doing our duties protecting and taking care of this world while respecting the nature.

I would like to take an example from the business world. You know what a Process is. It has no definite form but if ever you would like to explain a process to someone else you would most likely use a diagram. The diagram can take any form but eventually you are referring to that same process. The diagram in a way helps you understand the process, isn't it? Well it is a matter of perception for each individual I guess.

As another example, suppose you love someone and you have his photo on your mobile phone. The photo is small, does it mean that your loved on is captured in your mobile phone? And when he is away and you miss him, won't you look at his photo? You might not look at him as if he is in front of you, at least your heart feels the love, isn' t it? :) Does this mean that you are insulting your loved one?

Hope this answered your question to some extent. :)

Similarly how can one worship unseen God and follow a Book from a self acclaimed prophet.

One can broke idols and god will not come to save it .True.But you can also burn so called Holy books but God will even not come to save it also :)

It,s individual perception where one can find solace be it in idol or be it in a Book or be it in any path of knowledge.The existence of God cannot be proved through worship of idol also reciting from a book like a parrot.But spirituality is also one kind of food essential for so many souls and in the time of democracy we should respect diversity of individual way of worship.

Edit: If you are a Muslim please do not cut and paste from the books of zakir naik because i am very good at fuxxing those kind of idiots :)

If Hindus' praying infront of an idol is "Idol Worship" and not God Worship, then Muslim's doing prayers(namaz) in a room should be called "Wall Worship" - muslims pray infront of walls.

The moral of the story is, its irrelevant what's infront of you, what matters is what is on your mind.

Idols are not representations.

An idol is a different godly figure.

For example: when one becomes obsessed with a celebrity.

Or when singers talk of a "Rain Man" to whom they ow their wealth and fortune. (did I mention the pagan god Ba'al was responsible for rain in pagan Egypt?)