Talking with Christian, you can't avoid a pejorative term 'idolatry'.
But I don't think there is anything wrong to pray to an idol, because idol worshipers don't actually believe those images or statues made of mud, or carved from wood, or chiseled out of stone are alive, those objects are just an image representing god or angels. That's why people choose a special day, on 1st and 15th of each month or birthday to go the temple, to light incense and make offer. On these days, Buddhas and other angels will come down from Heaven to listen to the prayers.
Idol worshipers actually acknowledge one Supreme God above those gods, such as Chinese, once a year they sent their kitchen god to Heaven, the kitchen god acts as a medium between human being and the Highest God, he report good deed or wrongdoings of every household.
We may ask if you have some difficulties or unjust done to you, will you go straight to Prime Minister, or first to your local councilor? In the past, sacrifice to Shangdi or the supreme God is the privilege of Emperor , he acted as the Highest Priest, all other people in the empire are forbidden to sacrifice to Shangdi or Great Mountain and River.
Christians tell me there are millions of angels, do they all have names? But Chinese know those angels' name, ignorant of the name of Shangdi, we simple call Him Shangdi, means Supreme God, or just call Him by where He presides, which is Heaven. Angels are closer to our daily lives, and meet better to our needs.
But I don't think there is anything wrong to pray to an idol, because idol worshipers don't actually believe those images or statues made of mud, or carved from wood, or chiseled out of stone are alive, those objects are just an image representing god or angels. That's why people choose a special day, on 1st and 15th of each month or birthday to go the temple, to light incense and make offer. On these days, Buddhas and other angels will come down from Heaven to listen to the prayers.
Idol worshipers actually acknowledge one Supreme God above those gods, such as Chinese, once a year they sent their kitchen god to Heaven, the kitchen god acts as a medium between human being and the Highest God, he report good deed or wrongdoings of every household.
We may ask if you have some difficulties or unjust done to you, will you go straight to Prime Minister, or first to your local councilor? In the past, sacrifice to Shangdi or the supreme God is the privilege of Emperor , he acted as the Highest Priest, all other people in the empire are forbidden to sacrifice to Shangdi or Great Mountain and River.
Christians tell me there are millions of angels, do they all have names? But Chinese know those angels' name, ignorant of the name of Shangdi, we simple call Him Shangdi, means Supreme God, or just call Him by where He presides, which is Heaven. Angels are closer to our daily lives, and meet better to our needs.
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