Guest guest Posted September 21, 2005 Report Share Posted September 21, 2005 I was wondering if people have any thoughts on the word for images of God? As the word "idol" is (I think) a western word, with lots of baggage attached to it, by the Judeo - Christian tradition, I tend to use other words like "image" or the sanskrit word "murthi". On the other hand, we could just say idol, and not be worried about what anyone thinks of that. But it seems to me that the word has been made negative by religious traditions that object to the use of statues and sculptures, etc, that represent God. The attached negativity seems to make the word "idol" hard to use. Please note that I'm not dissing any religious tradition, and am presenting this question with love and respect to all religions, including the much respected Judeo - Christian religion. Any thoughts on this subject? Jai Maa! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 21, 2005 Report Share Posted September 21, 2005 , "nirmalananda1008" <nirmalananda1008> wrote: > I was wondering if people have any thoughts on the word for images of > God? Jai Maa, dear Nirmalanandaji! As long as i can remember, i have used either Murthi or Deity. [sometimes Rupa, form, or image] Personally, i never use the word "Idol". Unfortunately, that word does carry a lot of negative baggage.[especially for we who were born in the West.] Jai Maa! Jai Swamiji! Jai Thakur! muktimaa > > As the word "idol" is (I think) a western word, with lots of baggage > attached to it, by the Judeo - Christian tradition, I tend to use > other words like "image" or the sanskrit word "murthi". On the other > hand, we could just say idol, and not be worried about what anyone > thinks of that. > > But it seems to me that the word has been made negative by religious > traditions that object to the use of statues and sculptures, etc, that > represent God. The attached negativity seems to make the word "idol" > hard to use. > > Please note that I'm not dissing any religious tradition, and am > presenting this question with love and respect to all religions, > including the much respected Judeo - Christian religion. > > Any thoughts on this subject? > > Jai Maa! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 21, 2005 Report Share Posted September 21, 2005 Nirmalanandaji, my thoughts: I too, feel that the word 'idol' carries too much negative associations, and even though we may want to put those ideas behind us, I think it is very difficult to remove all deep-rooted subconscious reactions to the word. Personally, in English I would prefer the word 'image', because it carries positive associations: we are made in the image of God, or in other words, we ourselves are divine images. And just as the images on our altars point to or present a divine presence, so does our physical form. So when we sit down for worship, there is no difference. Also, but I may be wrong here, in the word 'image', I hear 'reflection' and 'imagination', which I like because these words have a fluid quality which in my mind suits the way in which the Divine is present. In Dutch, I use the word 'beeld', which means 'statue' or 'sculpture' in general as well as 'image', in the sense of 'representation' or 'description', and imagination is 'verbeelding'. Anyway, thank you for this interesting question, with love, Henny , "nirmalananda1008" <nirmalananda1008 > wrote: > I was wondering if people have any thoughts on the word for images of > God? > > As the word "idol" is (I think) a western word, with lots of baggage > attached to it, by the Judeo - Christian tradition, I tend to use > other words like "image" or the sanskrit word "murthi". On the other > hand, we could just say idol, and not be worried about what anyone > thinks of that. > > But it seems to me that the word has been made negative by religious > traditions that object to the use of statues and sculptures, etc, that > represent God. The attached negativity seems to make the word "idol" > hard to use. > > Please note that I'm not dissing any religious tradition, and am > presenting this question with love and respect to all religions, > including the much respected Judeo - Christian religion. > > Any thoughts on this subject? > > Jai Maa! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 21, 2005 Report Share Posted September 21, 2005 I'd like to point out that the murtis aren't just images of God, they are actually God. And Maa isn't just an encarnation of Goddess. She is Goddess. And Nanda isn't just the organizer of this Spritual group, She is the Goddess -- even if she doesn't know it. Likewise, the man you saw on the street corner, the baby at the store, the friendly neighborhood kitty, the baby birds chirping in the nest, and even the whole concept of Santa Claus is truly and utterly, undeniably God. The Murtis are more than just a reminder, because remembering God may be a step in the right direction, but our goal is not to remember God, its to be present and peaceful within Him. Seeing the Murtis should do just that, bring us to the present moment and hold us Here. My recommendation is to not worry about the words. Let the words go and step back from the thoughts of discrimination that say, "this is an image of God." Allow yourself to move to this thought: "This is God." And then simply to: "God is." Then finally the last thought before there are no thoughts: "God." My Goddess Wife taught me this. > I was wondering if people have any thoughts on the word for images of > God? > > As the word "idol" is (I think) a western word, with lots of > baggage > attached to it, by the Judeo - Christian tradition, I tend to use > other words like "image" or the sanskrit word > "murthi". On the other > hand, we could just say idol, and not be worried about what anyone > thinks of that. > > But it seems to me that the word has been made negative by religious > traditions that object to the use of statues and sculptures, etc, that > represent God. The attached negativity seems to make the word > "idol" > hard to use. > > Please note that I'm not dissing any religious tradition, and am > presenting this question with love and respect to all religions, > including the much respected Judeo - Christian religion. > > Any thoughts on this subject? > > Jai Maa! > Visit your group "" on the web. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 21, 2005 Report Share Posted September 21, 2005 , "Brian McKee" <brian@s...> wrote: > I'd like to point out that the murtis aren't just images of God, they are > actually God. And Maa isn't just an encarnation of Goddess. She is > Goddess. > >And Nanda isn't just the organizer of this Spritual group, She is the > Goddess -- even if she doesn't know it. Yes, Yes, Yes!!! Brian is right on all counts! Everything is God, som really there is no such thing as an "Image" of God! And truly their is no such thing as "Man Made". Everything is God/Goddess. Thank-you, dear Shiva for your gentle reminders once again of the subtleness of maya. > > Likewise, the man you saw on the street corner, the baby at the store, the > friendly neighborhood kitty, the baby birds chirping in the nest, and even > the whole concept of Santa Claus is truly and utterly, undeniably God. > > The Murtis are more than just a reminder, because remembering God may be a > step in the right direction, but our goal is not to remember God, its to > be present and peaceful within Him. Seeing the Murtis should do just that, > bring us to the present moment and hold us Here. > > My recommendation is to not worry about the words. Let the words go and > step back from the thoughts of discrimination that say, "this is an image > of God." Allow yourself to move to this thought: "This is God." And then > simply to: "God is." Then finally the last thought before there are no > thoughts: "God." > > My Goddess Wife taught me this. > > > I was wondering if people have any thoughts on the word for images of > > God? > > > > As the word "idol" is (I think) a western word, with lots of > > baggage > > attached to it, by the Judeo - Christian tradition, I tend to use > > other words like "image" or the sanskrit word > > "murthi". On the other > > hand, we could just say idol, and not be worried about what anyone > > thinks of that. > > > > But it seems to me that the word has been made negative by religious > > traditions that object to the use of statues and sculptures, etc, that > > represent God. The attached negativity seems to make the word > > "idol" > > hard to use. > > > > Please note that I'm not dissing any religious tradition, and am > > presenting this question with love and respect to all religions, > > including the much respected Judeo - Christian religion. > > > > Any thoughts on this subject? > > > > Jai Maa! > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Visit your group "" on the web. > > > > > > Terms of Service. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 21, 2005 Report Share Posted September 21, 2005 i like muurti or ishta deva. idol loses the depth of the ideal -- form going beyond form. i resonate with the shiva lingam -- no arms no legs no eyes, nothing, the essence of potential. , "nirmalananda1008" <nirmalananda1008> wrote: > I was wondering if people have any thoughts on the word for images of > God? > > As the word "idol" is (I think) a western word, with lots of baggage > attached to it, by the Judeo - Christian tradition, I tend to use > other words like "image" or the sanskrit word "murthi". On the other > hand, we could just say idol, and not be worried about what anyone > thinks of that. > > But it seems to me that the word has been made negative by religious > traditions that object to the use of statues and sculptures, etc, that > represent God. The attached negativity seems to make the word "idol" > hard to use. > > Please note that I'm not dissing any religious tradition, and am > presenting this question with love and respect to all religions, > including the much respected Judeo - Christian religion. > > Any thoughts on this subject? > > Jai Maa! 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.