The Question of Buddhist Idols

Question:
But I have heard people say that Buddhists worship idols.

Answer:
Such statements only reflect the misunderstanding of the persons who make them. The dictionary defines an idol as 'an image or statue worshipped as a god.' As we have seen, Buddhists do not believe that the Buddha was a god, so how could they possible believe that a piece of wood or metal is a god? All religions use symbols to represent their various beliefs.

In Taoism, the ying-yang diagram is used to symbolize the harmony between opposites. In Sikhism, the sword is used to symbolize spiritual struggle. In Christianity, the fish is used to symbolize Christ's presence and a cross to represent his sacrifice. In Buddhism, the statue of the Buddha reminds us of the human dimension in Buddhist teaching, the fact that Buddhism is human-centered rather than god-centered, that we must look within, not without to find perfection and understanding. Therefore, to say that Buddhists worship idols is as silly as saying that Christians worship fish or geometrical shapes.

---Good Question Good Answer, by S. Dhammika---