Buda as an ornament

[ADiosgracias]

My daughter has a Buddha in his home. When asked her she replayed that it is only because she likes as an ornament and that has no religious connotation. It is OK to have symbols of other religions?

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

My daughter has a Buddha in his home. When asked her she replayed that it is only because she likes as an ornament and that has no religious connotation. It is OK to have symbols of other religions?

If they are not being used as such I see no problem with them.

 

[Leon_Bloy]

Well, maybe. But I would not, personally, as a general rule.

However, when I was in college, a Catholic priest friend who had recently traveled to India gave me a little wooden carved elephant statue which I assumed to be representation of a deity in Hinduism (Ganesha), since that pagan deity represents wisdom, learning, etc. (like the owl who symbolized the same in Greek paganism). I saw this as a whimsical tribute to Indian culture and the celebration of learning and wisdom, so I have it among other little non-religious “doo-dads” on my dresser. I certainly would never display it in any way that suggests a reverence for it, or confusion with the blessed religious objects I have up for veneration, though. In fact, it is in a part of my home where no visitor would see it.

The big thing, I think, is the danger of scandalizing other people and them thinking you believe all religions are the same, etc. etc.

 

[Stephentlig]

My Sister and Bro-in law have this all over their house. They go to Mass every now and again but wouldnt be overtly religious. It’s none of my business and what people do in their homes is their responsability. If I were to start preaching to them that its wrong it’ll start an argument and drive them even further away from Catholicism as it is. However if they were to ask me what I make of it, I’ll tell them how I’d feel about it.

It would be preferable to have reminders of Christ in the house, not reminders of other religons BUT. Some Catholics have the Koran in the house for study purposes.

If it was a gift from another buddist monk or whatever I wouldnt see the problem with accepting that gift and having it placed in my home as a mark of respect for other religions.

Dont kick up a fuss about it though. Just pray for her.

Stephen

 

[Daralharb]

Well, maybe. But I would not, personally, as a general rule.

However, when I was in college, a Catholic priest friend who had recently traveled to India gave me a little wooden carved elephant statue which I assumed to be representation of a deity in Hinduism (Ganesha), since that pagan deity represents wisdom, learning, etc. (like the owl who symbolized the same in Greek paganism). I saw this as a whimsical tribute to Indian culture and the celebration of learning and wisdom, so I have it among other little non-religious “doo-dads” on my dresser. I certainly would never display it in any way that suggests a reverence for it, or confusion with the blessed religious objects I have up for veneration, though. In fact, it is in a part of my home where no visitor would see it.

The big thing, I think, is the danger of scandalizing other people and them thinking you believe all religions are the same, etc. etc.

Just out of curiosity, is the statue/carving of a full elephant or is there a humanoid body? If just an elephant, likely not Ganesha. If humanoid body, indeed that is probably the case.

 

[Luna_Lovecraft]

My daughter has a Buddha in his home. When asked her she replayed that it is only because she likes as an ornament and that has no religious connotation. It is OK to have symbols of other religions?

How would we feel if Buddhists decorated their homes with Catholic icons, wall rosaries, or crucifixes? And when we asked why they said, “Oh, they have no religion connotation. They’re just pretty objects we like to have around.”

Statutes of Buddha are no more mere decorations or ornaments than Catholic sacramentals. They carry meaning and are revered. And I know a good many Buddhists who would strongly object to your daughter using their sacred objects are home decor.

She shouldn’t display Buddha in her home if she’s not Buddhist.

Luna

 

[Young_Thinker]

I myself love Asian art and once bought a little statue of Ganesha (though partly as a joke). What’s more is that unlike Hindus, Buddhists generally do not see the Buddha as divine and likewise, they consider any icons that they have as merely representative. So, I really don’t see anything wrong with it.

 

[A_G]

I would not want to have any type of symbols of other religions around me. Once a co-worker came back from a trip to China and brought back little buda statues for everyone. He was trying to be nice and i can understand that, however I did not want that on my desk. I didn’t want to say anything to him to offend or upset him, but I got rid of it asap. The only religious symbols I want around me are Christian ones.

 

[Luna_Lovecraft]

Buddhists generally do not see the Buddha as divine and likewise, they consider any icons that they have as merely representative. So, I really don’t see anything wrong with it.

Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos - three countries I’m most familiar with - all have strict civil laws governing how Buddhist images are treated and used. They certainly don’t see statues of Buddha as “merely representative;” they’re revered as sacred religious objects.

When I was living in Thailand one of the regular topics of public discourse was the fact that western tourists would buy Buddha statues as keepsakes and souvenirs from the Land of Smiles. Another was westerners who would walk around with Buddhist amulets on because they thought they were “pretty.” Thai Buddhists saw these behaviors as profoundly disrespectful to their religion.

Luna

 

[Leon_Bloy]

Just out of curiosity, is the statue/carving of a full elephant or is there a humanoid body? If just an elephant, likely not Ganesha. If humanoid body, indeed that is probably the case.

Not sure - I haven’t looked at it lately. I do know it has that hat I’ve seen with Ganesha, and is sitting upright - not in the normal elephant posture.

 

[Daralharb]

Not sure - I haven’t looked at it lately. I do know it has that hat I’ve seen with Ganesha, and is sitting upright - not in the normal elephant posture.

Sitting upright is more than likely Ganesha. Or a statue of a well-trained Indian circus elephant.

 

[Chatter163]

To me this is like non-Catholic gang members and others who wear rosaries, just “for decoration.”

 

[Young_Thinker]

Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos - three countries I’m most familiar with - all have strict civil laws governing how Buddhist images are treated and used. They certainly don’t see statues of Buddha as “merely representative;” they’re revered as sacred religious objects.

When I was living in Thailand one of the regular topics of public discourse was the fact that western tourists would buy Buddha statues as keepsakes and souvenirs from the Land of Smiles. Another was westerners who would walk around with Buddhist amulets on because they thought they were “pretty.” Thai Buddhists saw these behaviors as profoundly disrespectful to their religion.

Luna

Thank you for sharing this perspective! However, what I meant by “representative” is akin to how Christians view crucifixes- they are sacred but do not literally have Christ present in them.