They aren't exactly the same but they have very similar core beliefs. Its like saying the Catholics, Methodists, etc are all exactly the same. And I haven't seen a Christian church that doesn't have its own idols - statues, paintings, and other depictions of Jesus. And don't even get me started on the "idols" within the Catholic church.
http://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/index.htm
BUDDHA, THE GOSPEL
By Paul Carus
Chicago, The Open Court Publishing Company,
[1894]
Jaina Sutras, Part I
(Sacred Books of the East vol. 22)
Translated from the Prakrit by Hermann Jacobi, 1884
Two Jain sacred texts, the Akaranga and Kalpa Sutras.
They are not the same however in actuality Buddhism is an offshoot of Hinduism much like Protestantism is an offshoot of Catholicism. No, we do not worship idols in the way you think nor do we think we know everything although you sound like you think you do! Due to your lack of research and ignorance as well as prejudice of these three major eastern religions I will decline to describe them any further due to their complexity. I am also imploring you to please read up on them before passing any judgments.
They are not the same.
However, Buddhism was influenced by Hinduism and Jainism, on the account that Buddha had studied under their mystics, before he became enlightened on his own.
Regarding the idolatry, Buddha never meant his followers to do what the religion did. He said he was not a God, but a man and that he was only a teacher. He never asked to be worshiped.
However, men have the tendency to honor the dead, by erecting statues or idols in their names. The practices grew with time and hence, Buddhism, like most other religions, became ritualized.
Much of the practices were misunderstood.
Like, Buddha lit incense, as he often taught in the wild. The smoke from the incense was to get rid of the bugs. But much later, followers began to use incense as a form of offering to him.
What is idol worshiping really? How about worshiping God? I I think It is idol worshiping. The difference is you don't name it as idol because God is more sophisticated, invisible idol. In fact the idea is the same.