06-05-2016, 09:09 PM
Shalom All,
With regards to this topic I have a query on 'The Prohibition Against Aiding Idol worshipers' Chapter 10 Paragraph (8) (The Divine Code second edition).
It states there:
'It is forbidden to rent stores from idol worshipers, since one gives them profit (unless there is no alternative available)...'
Should one seek to avoid frequenting restaurants that display idols for an additional reason of avoiding giving them profit also? The idolators who run the restaurants also may have in mind that the success of their restaurant can be attributed to their idol and because they display it proudly. This would seem to be strengthening them in their idol worship and give them the wrong impression there is nothing wrong with what they are doing? Although they may have enough customers that my decision either way will not affect this and they would not even notice, it still seems like strengthening something that is wrong especially when one can always eat elsewhere or at home.
I think most thai and indian (non-muslim) restaurants follow the practice of displaying actual idols. Many chinese restaurants have what may be described as superstitious/'lucky' charms that may not actually be worshiped as such.
Whilst the main intention may be just to give more of an exotic/authentic ambience to the restaurant to attract secular westerners, it can also be the case that such people may be more susceptible to being attracted to serving idols through this. Those are the kind of people who think nothing of bowing before a buddha and serving up incense before it when going on an overseas holiday.
Besides a visceral internal discomfort and disgust (perhaps non-logical) one feels at being anywhere in the presence of these idols, could the above be good reasons for Noahides to apply additional strictness to avoiding or declining invitations to these places?
With regards to this topic I have a query on 'The Prohibition Against Aiding Idol worshipers' Chapter 10 Paragraph (8) (The Divine Code second edition).
It states there:
'It is forbidden to rent stores from idol worshipers, since one gives them profit (unless there is no alternative available)...'
Should one seek to avoid frequenting restaurants that display idols for an additional reason of avoiding giving them profit also? The idolators who run the restaurants also may have in mind that the success of their restaurant can be attributed to their idol and because they display it proudly. This would seem to be strengthening them in their idol worship and give them the wrong impression there is nothing wrong with what they are doing? Although they may have enough customers that my decision either way will not affect this and they would not even notice, it still seems like strengthening something that is wrong especially when one can always eat elsewhere or at home.
I think most thai and indian (non-muslim) restaurants follow the practice of displaying actual idols. Many chinese restaurants have what may be described as superstitious/'lucky' charms that may not actually be worshiped as such.
Whilst the main intention may be just to give more of an exotic/authentic ambience to the restaurant to attract secular westerners, it can also be the case that such people may be more susceptible to being attracted to serving idols through this. Those are the kind of people who think nothing of bowing before a buddha and serving up incense before it when going on an overseas holiday.
Besides a visceral internal discomfort and disgust (perhaps non-logical) one feels at being anywhere in the presence of these idols, could the above be good reasons for Noahides to apply additional strictness to avoiding or declining invitations to these places?