Idol worship

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Idol worship is the worship of an inanimate object purported to have supernatural properties, and even to have a distinct personality. Although this is considered to be Idolatry by Christians, Muslims and Jews, it not considered so in several other religions.

[edit] Various forms of worship

[edit] Jainism

The focus for image worship among many Jains is the icon of the Tirthankara in either a domestic shrine or temple shrine room. It appears that Tirthankaras cannot respond to such worship, but veneration of the image can function as a meditative aid. Although most worship takes the form of prayers, hymns and recitations, the idol is sometimes ritually bathed, and often has offerings of made to it; their are eight kinds of offering representing the eight karmas of Jainism.[1]

This form of reverence is not a central tenet of the faith, and there seems to be debate about the value of this form of worship.