Idol Fights

One of the most contentious excuses for religious strife is idol or image worshiping.  It is forbidden in major monotheistic religions. Modern times, Christianity has become lenient and less hostile towards the practice. It is open-minded about painting Jesus and Mary’s images. Their nativity figurines decorate neighborhoods and dazzle malls, public venues, and town squares during the holiday season.  The synthesis and weaving of native divinity with core Christian beliefs exemplify man’s cultural evolution and colorful journey with tolerance. The vibrant joy is secularly and willingly celebrated across the globe. 

It leaves the other two self-declared stalwarts of monotheism, Muslims and Sikhs, to mock mainly Hindus for worshiping idols.  The latter have succumbed to the temptation and pray to fictitious resemblances of Gurus and their unverified belongings.  The former enforces the prohibition of icon honoring through violence—for example, assaults on temples and the destruction of Bamiyan Buddhas.  

They decry their coreligionists for straying from the strict tenets.  However, the wardens cannot stop the faithful from keeping Hindu, Buddhist, or Christian artifacts and symbols in their homes. Christmas holidays and Hindu festivals have worldwide admirers; covertly, naysayers are also attracted to them. Moreover, Muslim puritans are not entirely free from hypocrisy and participate in subtle ways. There is no escape from the Cross, Om, Buddha, Swastika, etc.  So why do people revert to image worshiping despite forbidding dictums and dire consequences?

There is a scientific and natural explanation; natural laws will always triumph over artificial religious doctrines - despite false claims of godly rubber stamped validation.  

Of all the senses, eyesight is the most valuable in humans.  Without vision, in the dangerous world, death shall arrive quickly.  The close second is sound.  One may survive but not be able to defend in the dark or beyond peripheral vision; thus, chances of survival are limited. As social and culturally developed species, the importance of the senses is appreciated through visual and vocal entertainment.  

That is why humans enjoy music and singing.  The singers, elevated to modern-day heroes, are pampered with gifts and wealth by trance-like masses.  Attend any Western concert, and the grandeur and emotional displays will outdo fervor in a religious rally. Moreover, the videos of mullahs secretly indulging in music and dancing to raunchy beats are bemusing hypocrisy.

The political buffoons continue to influence and mesmerize the populace with the gift of gab.  Gossip and hearsay, transmitted through sound, are the most potent weapon.  Leaders like the pied piper have taken their cult followers over the precipice through spoken words.

One can see farther than one can hear.  Sight is the dominant and primary sense to live daily life.  It helps us travel, perform routines, earn a living, and learn about the faraway mysteries in the sky.  A single image or a snippet is enough to excite or numb the senses.  Colors attributed to ceremonies evoke emotions.  White, black, saffron, and green colors kindle religious sentiments. 

The gift of sight predates human cognitive thought and known understanding of supernatural powers by eons. The taught religious writings and representation of supreme beings are recent developments. Intellectual metaphysical comprehension is beyond the capacity of an intellectual, let alone an average person. They often fall under the spell of soothsayers, fortune tellers, seers, and their ilk.

A child brings primal instincts and learns survival through observing the real world.  However, subjective religious taboos and emotive intolerance are known through indoctrinates.  One can also see the absence of such dogmas amongst secluded jungle tribes.  They are usually nature or idol worshipers.  The icons are generally manifestations of nature; the sun, moon, trees, water, and stars - are all creations of the Almighty.  Great nomadic empires were in awe of the rain, clouds, and seasons.  Their symbols were adopted and preserved in the modern religious transformation, whether the moon in Islam or pagan signs in Christianity.

The idols are not just carved stones.  They are an exercise in the knowledge of cosmic, astrology, math, science, and imagination of art.  Overall, it is an homage to nature that inspires and the relentless spirit of human toil.  The pyramids, Stonehenge, rock art, Buddhas, Italian marble statues, and temple carvings attest to human achievement's epitome.  The modern world’s achievements in mathematics, science, social and literary fields rest on the foundations laid by idol worshippers - the Latin, Greek, Mayan, Egyptian and Sanskrit societies.

Even if idols are banned, they reincarnate in another way - human forms or artful expression.  Sports heroes, understandably but paper tigers of the film industry, are naively elevated to the status of gods.  Along with these superstars’ pictures,  Muslim students studying in western universities plaster their walls with posters of sultry bimbos.  The same students laugh at Hindus for displaying images of modestly dressed goddesses—hypocrisy at its worst.

Most followers are educated and successful people. It further proves that comprehension of a formless supreme power is beyond most people’s grasp. That is why religious books are decorated and worshiped, and their appearance is more important than words.

In other examples, the stones have been replaced by living idols like mullahs, peers, Babas, sadhus, saints, and evangelists commanding unwavering obedience.  Their word is as if received from the next world.  The mayhem is caused when mobs follow their living idols rather than the Supreme being.  In an instant, their nonsense negates the directives of the universe.  Nevertheless, the masses will continue to worship these jinns.  

How is it better to prostrate before neanderthal look-alikes with poor hygiene?  The statues don’t prey on children in madrasas, peddle narcotics in gurudwaras, molest boys in seminaries, or have extramarital affairs in churches.  There are more heinous misdeeds committed in the monotheistic places of worship under the watchful eye of their gods.   They don’t demand offerings and steal from the congregations. When was the last time anyone saw idols running around spewing hatred or accosting mobs to wage war in the name of God?  

Some calligraphic words have become symbolic trademarks in the so-called monotheistic religions. They deck the wall with no clue about their meaning and significance—pictures of religious figures guarding businesses and their possessions. Walk into any company owned by monotheistic immigrants, and one will find their sacred sites blessing the devious transactions and protecting the dubious merchandise.  How’s that any different from idols safeguarding the neighboring shop?

The intolerance points to insecurities within.  Forcing nonconforming and narrow-minded concepts of subjective beliefs will fail against the evolved and perfected powers of the universe.  Civilized nations’ citizens have parallel and secular mutual respect.  Practicing Christians have Buddhas and Om tattoos, clothes, and ornaments.   A Christmas tree adorns a living room next to a smiling Buddha or a dancing Krishna and Shiva.  Hindu students attend Catholic schools, and Christian ladies throng yoga centers.  The beauty of a plural society is existentially ethereal.  Live and let live.

No one is harmed by idols and nature worshiping.   Nature worshiping is appreciating God’s creations.  It is better to address the scandals that plague your religion than tussle over harmless, drummed-up issues.