Trinidad and Tobago: September,08,2016: The Internet is divided into two sects: one the worshipers of Ganesha with pictures of idols swamping their timelines, other the anti-idol worshipers, who condemn bowing down in front of Plaster of Paris (POP). However, it's not always black and white, there are people standing at the grey lines and they are the one's who respect the strong emotion behind worshiping an image of God.
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Opinions and pieces of advice come free of cost and are thrown at wholesale prices. Hence, arrives one from Noah Days Ministry (email: ENoah999 (at) gmail.com). Their recent piece on idol worship included about 8 psalms from the bible and lines that read out "Hindu religion incorporates different forms of idol worships which contravene the first commandment of God and are highly unacceptable to Almighty God".
Being subtle is certainly not Noah Days Ministry's strong suit!
Idol worship advertisement from the Noah Days Ministry in Trinidad
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Let's take an example to understand perceptions here. Sitting in a yoga class, your instructor tells you to shut your eyes and hum 'Ommm' while visualizing the Om chakra, which is thought to be an energy point. The instructor tells you that it'll help you focus instead of letting your thoughts drift away elsewhere. No, Noah Days Ministry is going to raise a hand and question that ideology, simply because it works! But isn't that the point of worshiping an idol- believing in a physical representation to help focus on an aspect of prayer or meditation.
A Hindu shrine in the yard of a building at Rochard Road, Penal, Trinidad. Penal is a town in South Trinidad with a population of approx 13000. NewsGram thanks Dr. Kumar Mahabir for providing the picture.
Dr. Kumar Mahabir shared his views with NewsGram regarding the advertisement published in The Trinidad and Tobago Guardian. He said that he waits on other Hindu individuals like him, writers and leaders (including the Hindu Women's Organization) to respond to this Christian's attack. He will particularly wait for a list of people who are often quick on the draw to attack Sat Maharaj. Although, please wait before you commend the brother to the black side of the debate. His rage over the published piece is not completely irrational. After all, the summary of these 10 passages is notorious- 'According to the many bible verses cited, all idol worshipers including the Hindus and Jews are guilty of breaking the rules set by the Almighty, the only God to be bowed down to'. Having said that, Noah Days Ministry doesn't fail to mention how the Roman Catholic organization and many Christians too stand guilty in their eyes for propagating 'idolatry'. Conclusion? The rage over religion biasing stands invalid.
Fellow brethren! stand at any side of the fence- vehemently oppose statues in a temple or submit your Monday mornings to Hanuman veneration. Pick any side, choose any image but believe in patronage offered to your mind through prayers and meditation.
– by Karishma Vanjani of NewsGram. Twitter: @BladesnBoots