This phrase needs to be understood in appropriate context and it is being misquoated in the context cited by you. This statement has a deeper meaning for spiritual high risers.
In a way this statement implies that one does need idol worship initially as the supreme cannot be visualised or imagined without a personification (prototype or model). People worship idols to gain spiritual height as well as material possessions, however the aim should be go into advanced spirituality where a human mind no longer needs the aids of form, color, sound to understand the supreme who is formless and omnipotent.
Likewise, all religions in a way do idol worship, including those who openely oppose it. Simply put, when anybody regardless of religion beleives that God listens, god sees, god gives, god punishes, god saves etc. is modeling or personifying god by attributing God with ears, eyes, heart etc. Hindus being most advanced in spiritual science go a step further to give a form, beauty and power symbols to the same God. Worshipping god in idols or non-idolic personification is an important (though optional) step in a spiritual cycle. Unfortunately those driven by mullahs, maulvis and those driven by pastors and priests who got converted by false means and still take pride in being fooled will not understand these finer intricacies.
