“Idol worship” is defined as “an image or statue worshipped as a god”.
What a foolish statement. “Idol” merely means “image”, and has nothing to do with any “god”.
Therefore, “idol worship” merely means the worship of any image. And since Buddhists do worship images, not as mundane gods, but as supramundane buddhas, they are definitely idol worshipers.
Incidentally, buddhas are also described as gods or deities (Sanskrit “deva”, Tibetan “hla”), of the supramundane category, as opposed to mundane gods such as Indra, Brahma, Vishnu, or Rudra.
Buddhists do not believe that the Buddha is a god.
So what. They still worship images as buddhas, and therefore are idol worshipers.
So, when Buddhists prostrate to the Buddha and make offerings, they are paying respect to their master who has attained full enlightenment.
So what. They are worshiping images as their master, and therefore are idol worshipers.
The Buddha did not ask his followers to worship him by erecting statues
Wrong. The Buddha himself gave precise instructions on how to create images of himself for the purpose of worship, extensively describing correct iconographic measurements and characteristics, such as the 32 marks of a buddha, as seen in authentic texts such as the Vinaya, the Samadhirajasutra, the Manjushrimulakalpatantra, the Samvarodayatantra, King Udrayana and The Wheel of Life, and so forth.
but long after he passed away, his followers erected images
Your spurious, invented story has no Buddhist lineage, as opposed to the above mentioned, authentic sources.
but only as a mark of respect.
Respect, or homage, is the very essence of worship. Besides, full worship, with physical prostrations, offerings, praises, supplications, and so forth, is to be addressed both to physical and mental images of the buddhas, as described both in sutras and tantras.
Bottom line, obsessed with the maniac Jewish ideology forbidding idol worship, and lacking any Buddhist refuge or lineage, you just want to advance an inauthentic, Judaized version of Buddhism which does does not contradict Jewish scriptures and commandments.