IDOLATRY IN THE EYE OF THE ACCUSER

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IMAGERY
IDOLATRY IN THE EYE OF THE ACCUSER By MARK LOGGINS
SPRING 2005
Library 180
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Idolatry has always been a tool of one religion
against another. The religions of the book
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have all accused
each other of sinning against God through the use
of false idols. These religions have accused
other religions such as Buddhism as being false
religions for their use of imagery in worship.
Idolatry is the worship or use of any image or
sculptured item as representing God or gods. The
worship of such items goes against the
monotheistic religious tenet of one unknowable
God.
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Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor
serve them for I the Lord thy God am a jealous
God,Exodus 205
Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves
molten gods I am the Lord your God.Leviticus
194
Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image,
neither rear you up a standing image, neither
shall ye set up any image of stone in your land,
to bow down unto it for I am the Lord your
God.Leviticus 261
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The old testament of the bible has nine separate
times in which God tells the Israelites to not
worship idols.
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The struggle which faced the Christian church was
one of using images as sacred objects to further
the faith.
I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee
out of the land of EgyptThou shall have no
other gods before me.Thou shall not make unto
thee any graven images, or any likeness of any
thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the
earth beneath, or that is in the water under the
earth.EXODUS 202 204
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The Catholic view of art is that its assists in
bring the mind of man closer to God.
Very rightly the fine arts are considered among
the noblest expressions of human genius. This
judgment applies especially to religious art and
to its highest achievement which is sacred art
To the extent that these works aim exclusively at
turning mens thoughts to God persuasively and
devoutly,
The Documents of Vatican IIChapter VII, Sacred
Art and Furnishings, Paragraph 122.
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All artists who, in view of their talents,
desire to serve Gods glory in holy Church should
ever bear in mind that they are engaged in a kind
sacred imitation of God, the Creator, and are
concerned with works destined for use in Catholic
worship and for the edification, devotion, and
religious instruction of the faithful.
The Documents of Vatican II, Sacred Art and
Sacred FurnishingsParagraph 127
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Historically, the charge of idolatry has been
used mostly for political gain.
French king Philip sought power over the papacy
and money to make French kings the hereditary
military rulers of all future crusades and
receivers of the revenue produced by such
undertakings.
On Friday, October 13, 1307, King Philip had
15,000 Knights Templar seized and charged with
the denial of Christ, idol worship, spitting on
the crucifix, and homosexuality.
King Philip was able to seize all of the Knights
lands and holdings.
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The Catholic church also tolerated idols when it
was politically expedient.
Pope Gregory I, father of the Gregorian order,
favored adapting heathen practices to
Christianity than destroying them. He would
allow the destroying of pagan idols but
encouraged that they quickly be replaced by
Christian relics.
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Protestant Christianity believes that the use of
imagery is idolatry. They profess to know God
through the Word. A major tenet of Protestantism
is the idea that no one and nothing should come
between you and God. The Catholics used priests
as intercessors between the layman and God.
Thus, the use of imagery or icons is seen by
Protestants as a sin.
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Eastern Orthodox Christianity has long held the
view that icons were sacred. Such imagery was
designed with the idea that the forms represented
were viewed from Gods perspective.
This was not without controversy within the
Orthodox church and as a point of contention
with the Roman Catholic church.
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Muslims see the use of any imagery as idolatry.
This became apparent to the Christian crusaders
who were trying to convert Muslim prisoners.
That is not to say that there is no Islamic
imagery.
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Buddhists and Hindu religions do not see the use
of imagery as idolatry. In fact, gazing upon or
praying to an image, statue, or other
representation of the deities or saints is
encouraged. Such an exercise is suppose to bring
one closer to the realization one seeks.
Whereas, the Muslims use imagery as a type of
decoration. This type of use is forbidden by the
Buddhists.
Hindu imagery has long since been incorporated by
popular western musicians such as the Beatles and
Jimi Hendrix. Occasional protests have been
made, but mostly the use of Hindu imagery for
nonreligious purposes has continued.
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The use of imagery in Satanism has nothing to do
with the actual religion. It is, one, a
deterrent to keep the masses away. Two, it is
seen as a representation of an alternative to
Christianity.
Satanists prefer to be anti-social and
anti-mainstream. The imagery used is designed to
offend the sensibilities of the common man. Only
those truly curious and willing to persevere
through such roadblocks will be accepted as true
Satanists.
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BOO!
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The use of imagery is or is not a sin depending
on the religion one is following. There are
three religions which strictly forbid such use
are Judaism, Protestant Christianity and Islam.
All other religions see imagery not as idolatry,
but as a way to enhance ones search for a deeper
connection to God or Truth.
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SourcesAbbott, William M. ed., The Documents
of Vatican II, New York, American Press, 1966.
  The Holy Bible, Authorized King James Version,
Grand Rapid, MI World Publishing,
1986.  Moynahan, Brian. The Faith A History of
Christianity, New York, Doubleday, 2002.  Seward,
Desmond. The Monks of War, London, The Folio
Society, 2000.  www.lacma.org/islamic_art/intro.ht
m www.letusreason.org. Statues of
Saints  Madrid, Patrick. Do Statues and Images
Equal Idolatry?. www.catholicexchange.com/vm/ind
ex.asp?vm_id23071  www.prabasi.org/Literary/Shank
ha/Summer/Item6_su.html  www.samford.edu/groups/gl
obal/ewcmreport/articles/ew03204.htm  www.seasianc
rafts.com/spiritworld/buddha.htmroraai
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