Visuals in Religion; Diana Eck, Darsan: Seeing the Divine Image in India; Zach Dagan
Not having access to Diana Eck's book, Darsan: Seeing the Divine Image in India, I watched the video that was on OnCourse by Dale Tuggy highlighting Diana Eck's main points in the book. As she focuses on Hinduism, she explains a lot about the different kinds of idols the devotees use when worshipping their respective gods. They use such things like paintings, sculptures to feel "closer" to their idols because they can physically see the image. Eck says that most modern-era Europeans and Americans have a "combined fascination and repugnance"to they way Hinduism practices worship. The sense of fascination comes from the fact that Western cultures are very different, as it is out of the norm. Repugnance comes in because worshipping a creative thing other than the creator is considered idolatry which is a sin in the Bible.
From much criticism towards the religion Hinduism, Diana Eck has two main points she uses in her boom to defend it. First, she says that using images is a "mere device to focus concentration." In other words, it is easier for the devotees to mediate with an image. The second point is that it is an "embodiment of the divine" meaning that god is present within the statue, picture, etc. They feel that god is reaching out, coming into sensory form and can experience one of their gods by staring at the image. Visual images are a major part of the religion, as without sight, worshipping would not work.
Listening to this video about Hinduism and the views that Western cultures believe it is idolatry, it made me think of when the Israelites were waiting for Moses to come down from Mount Sinai. They got impatient and did not think he would return so they began worshipping the golden calf. This was a major mistake by the Israelites as they got severely punished by G-d. He brought natural disasters which killed some people that worshipped the golden calf. It makes sense why Western cultures are afraid to worship G-d through images.
From much criticism towards the religion Hinduism, Diana Eck has two main points she uses in her boom to defend it. First, she says that using images is a "mere device to focus concentration." In other words, it is easier for the devotees to mediate with an image. The second point is that it is an "embodiment of the divine" meaning that god is present within the statue, picture, etc. They feel that god is reaching out, coming into sensory form and can experience one of their gods by staring at the image. Visual images are a major part of the religion, as without sight, worshipping would not work.
Listening to this video about Hinduism and the views that Western cultures believe it is idolatry, it made me think of when the Israelites were waiting for Moses to come down from Mount Sinai. They got impatient and did not think he would return so they began worshipping the golden calf. This was a major mistake by the Israelites as they got severely punished by G-d. He brought natural disasters which killed some people that worshipped the golden calf. It makes sense why Western cultures are afraid to worship G-d through images. 
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