Guest guest Posted November 8, 2003 Report Share Posted November 8, 2003 Dear Bhagavatars - many of you might not be knowing that "IDOL" is an extremely perjorative term coined by Christian missionaries in order to denigrate and bring to the lowest level what they saw as the objects of worship in India. Please see you Webster's dictionary ‹ IDOL = (1) the image of a heathen god, (2) that on which the passions are set; (3) a source of error; (4) a fallacy, (5) an unsubstantial apparition; (6) a phantom; (7) an imposter, a counterfiet. The terms "idol" and "idolatry" in the west immediately brings to mind negative connotations as seen in the dictionary entry, and is never used is a positive context. It is high time that we stopped using this term to describe the "archa avataras" and indeed should strongly object to it - in the eyes of the native english speakers we are denigrating our own murtis! The proper term of use is ICON. This is what the catholics and the eastern orthodox Christians call their images of God. In modern computer speak which has adopted this term, it has an entirely neutral connotation Words are very important and we too should adjust our vocabulary to more positive or at least neutral communication. Please make this your personal project - allways correct others in this usage, for Vaishnavas to knowingly or unknowlingly insult the sacred "tiru-meni" is a serious aparadham. adiyen Sri Ram Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 10, 2003 Report Share Posted November 10, 2003 How about the word Deity worship! --- purohit wrote: > > Dear Bhagavatars - many of you might not be knowing > that "IDOL" is an > extremely perjorative term coined by Christian > missionaries in order to > denigrate and bring to the lowest level what they > saw as the objects of > worship in India. > > Please see you Webster's dictionary ‹ IDOL = (1) the > image of a heathen god, > (2) that on which the passions are set; (3) a source > of error; (4) a > fallacy, (5) an unsubstantial apparition; (6) a > phantom; (7) an imposter, a > counterfiet. > > The terms "idol" and "idolatry" in the west > immediately brings to mind > negative connotations as seen in the dictionary > entry, and is never used is > a positive context. > > It is high time that we stopped using this term to > describe the "archa > avataras" and indeed should strongly object to it - > in the eyes of the > native english speakers we are denigrating our own > murtis! > > The proper term of use is ICON. This is what the > catholics and the eastern > orthodox Christians call their images of God. In > modern computer speak which > has adopted this term, it has an entirely neutral > connotation > > Words are very important and we too should adjust > our vocabulary to more > positive or at least neutral communication. > > Please make this your personal project - allways > correct others in this > usage, for Vaishnavas to knowingly or unknowlingly > insult the sacred > "tiru-meni" is a serious aparadham. > > adiyen > > Sri Ram > > > > > ______________________ Want to chat instantly with your online friends? Get the FREE Messenger http://mail.messenger..co.uk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 11, 2003 Report Share Posted November 11, 2003 Hi, I would like to add few more words to the list.. 1. "Cult" as in Vaishnava cult, cult of vadakalai/thenkalai - I've seen this word used a lot by our own people. This is a highly offensive word with hidden implicationsof a secret group involved in brainwashing of youths, causing psychological damage etc. etc. 2. "Myth" - I've also seen the words like "Hindu myth", "Indian mythology" etc. etc. - When we use this term, we confess that our puranic legends are mere fantasies and fairy tales. Regards, Kasturi ramanuja, purohit@b... wrote: > > Dear Bhagavatars - many of you might not be knowing that "IDOL" is an > extremely perjorative term coined by Christian missionaries in order to > denigrate and bring to the lowest level what they saw as the objects of > worship in India. > > Please see you Webster's dictionary ‹ IDOL = (1) the image of a heathen god, > (2) that on which the passions are set; (3) a source of error; (4) a > fallacy, (5) an unsubstantial apparition; (6) a phantom; (7) an imposter, a > counterfiet. > > The terms "idol" and "idolatry" in the west immediately brings to mind > negative connotations as seen in the dictionary entry, and is never used is > a positive context. > > It is high time that we stopped using this term to describe the "archa > avataras" and indeed should strongly object to it - in the eyes of the > native english speakers we are denigrating our own murtis! > > The proper term of use is ICON. This is what the catholics and the eastern > orthodox Christians call their images of God. In modern computer speak which > has adopted this term, it has an entirely neutral connotation > > Words are very important and we too should adjust our vocabulary to more > positive or at least neutral communication. > > Please make this your personal project - allways correct others in this > usage, for Vaishnavas to knowingly or unknowlingly insult the sacred > "tiru-meni" is a serious aparadham. > > adiyen > > Sri Ram Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.