The Essence of Idol Worship

The essence of idol worship is that a person in search of power turns to an object to fulfill his or her needs, appointing that object as a deity and worshipping it as a deity. While the yearning for power may be sacred, worshipping an object as a god turns it into a meaningless pursuit. The purpose of idol worship is to satisfy a personal need, which in itself may be a sign of a deeper need.
Religion

Idol worship is an extremely serious sin. According to the Jewish law, it is forbidden to serve an idol, even if that person is a child. The essence of idol worship is the belief in an intermediary power. The Laws of Kings 9:2 conclude that idol worship is a capital sin for Jews and Gentiles. However, the Rema on Orah Hayim and Darhei Moshe rule that a false belief in an intermediary is permissible.
Idols

The essence of idol worship lies in its relationship with the possibility of gain. The Jews were tempted to worship idols because they saw it as a way to gain something for themselves. Two kinds of wavering exist: selfishness and uncertainty. In both cases, the worship of idols is ultimately a sacrifice to gain what they seek. Idol worship has the tendency to lead to brokenness and hunger, and is not a wise way to live.
Idol worship

The essence of idol worship is the pursuit of potential gain. The Jews were tempted to worship idols because they saw them as a means to personal gain. There are two kinds of wavering, one caused by uncertainty and the other by selfishness. If you don’t believe in the existence of god, idol worship isn’t essential for being a true Hindu. However, if you believe in God, worshipping an idol is part of the path towards ultimate realisation.
Idols as reminders of God

The essence of idol worship is to create an image of God which can be seen from afar, such as an idol. This image is a reminder of God, who created everything. Idols represent the gods of the Bible, who created the earth and created man and women. They are a representation of God, so their worship must be a form of devotion.
Idols as shining channels

Idols are manifestations of all-pervading Divinity, and through puja, they are transformed into shining channels of Divine resplendence. This allows the idol to perform miracles, and the site of its installation becomes a temple. The people who live in such temples are free from the suffering, disease, failure, and Samsara of everyday life. They are protected by the Divine Presence, and the idols become a guardian angel who protects all.
Christian view of idol worship

The early Christian Church regarded idolatry as a sin and aimed to convert the pagan myth worshipers to Christianity. In his book Protrepticus, Clement sought to answer this question and make clear that idols were not gods, but only objects and images that people erroneously worshipped. He begins by explaining that idols were not gods at all, but rather pillars and blocks of rock. As art progressed, idols evolved into human representations. While these early Christians did not prohibit images of Jesus, they did view them as a sin, and they would have condemned idol worship if they found one.
Fundamentalist view of idol worship

The fundamentalist view of idol worship rejects the idea of any kind of idol worship as a form of religious activity. This view of idol worship is often linked to the misunderstanding of ancient texts about the origins of religions. The Bible, for example, explicitly prohibits idolatry and does not specify what constitutes an idol. Nonetheless, a fundamentalist’s view of idol worship still has its place in the Christian world.