[Avodah] buddhism

[Michael Makovi]

> I don't think that in AZ the intention of the person is important.
> In the days of chazal if this was the way of worship then it is AZ.
> How many Romans really believed in Merculis (Mercury?) having
> stones thrown at him is irrelevant.
>
> In fact Rambam states that the origin of AZ was to consider the sum etc as
> servants of Hashem. It is still AZ
>
> kol tuv
> Eli Turkel

For a Jew, maybe. If I bow down to an idol, regardless of my kavana,
I'm chayav. But what about a gentile? Is he chayav?

I'm not sure, but I don't think a gentile is necessarily chayav if he
does AZ without kavana. He is not required to give his life rather
than practice AZ - this means he can pretend, **without kavana**, to
practice AZ, and there's no avera for him. Now, perhaps this leniency
only applies when it is oness for his very life. But perhaps this
leniency is absolute. Anyone know?

Mikha'el Makovi