What is Idolatry? – A metaphoric definition.
Idolary is an idea that has it's origin within the Hebrew Scriptures. The opposition to the worship of Idols gets summarized in what is called the 'Ten Commandments'. The first listing of the 'Ten Commandments' and the statement which has become the summary of what it means to practice Idolatry according to the Hebrew Scriptures is Exodus chapter 20: 4
'You shall not make for yourself a sculptured image, or any likeness of what is in the heaven above, or on the earth below, or in the waters under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them.' [JPS 1962/67 translation]
It appears that it is the creating of an image or likeness of things found in the heaven, or on the earth and sea is one component of what defines an idol and the second component is the bowing down to them and serving them. All three make up the definition of Idol worship – Idolatry. It is all three components that are required to make up the act of Idol worship.
The mere making of the image and likeness as an object of artistic endeavor is not what makes it Idolatry. It is the bowing and serving those images and likenesses.
We can respond to this idea of Idolatry along a continuum of possible responses. At one end is to adhere to this as the fixed definition of Idol worship – a static response, at the other end is the dynamic response which would be to treat the defining terms/components as metaphors.
Let me outline the dynamic approach to Idol worship based upon treating the components as metaphors.
1. Likeness and image
2. in the heavens above, Earth below and in the Sea under
2. Bowing and serving
#1: It is an object that was crafted by a human that is to be covered by the metaphoric use of the term 'likeness and image'.
#2: Above, below and under: a metaphoric phrase to describe the parameters of everywhere.
#3: Bowing and serving: to worship and believe something is the Divine.
Thus on the basis on my metaphoric treatment of the components I offer the following rephrasing of verse 4.
'You shall not worship and believe that a humanly crafted object is the Divine.'
Well what do you think?
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Comments: 11
My idea behind 'heaven, earth and sea' was to include everything and anything, which is what I assume the text was getting at.
It is not the treating the image/art/crafted thing with respect that is the issue but to consider the thing as a substitute for the 'Divine'.
But the problem in our society has those that value the sacrament in the objective sense rather than the subjective where the real value lies. In religion, to do so is sacrilegious. Unfortunately in our society, many of those claiming the most pious and righteous standings are but sacrilegious idol worshippers...and their trusting followers are in turn the same.
Makes it all very confusing for the secular that looks to such for the higher truths that they claim.
Just my thoughts.
For me personally though idol worshippers are like those who had build the golden calf, it is a worship of materialistic objects rather than a spiritual journey ..i would then agree with Jerry, yes, often the boundaries get fuzzy..the further we get away from materializm and worshipping objects and consuming the closer we get to spirituality and the "real" meaning of religion that opposes idols but embraces a believe in what can not be seen , the spirit of god and in all things
And yes the idea of idol worshipping is the focus on the material object overly much..
And yes...the spirit of the divine in all things...The Tao/Ayn Sof.
How nice to see articles in "Discerning God" that are actually on point. Welcome.
I ponder idols differently. I think the Biblical definitions are too small. I cannot take them seriously. My take on the bible, and maybe a workable sound bite for anyone, is that its authors were setting forth what they knew of God. Which didn't necessarily make it right. Because God is actually unknowable. When we think about God, we all get it wrong. Ok and we get it partly right, as did the authors of scripture. The verses you quoted might be a larger metaphor. It might be saying, I got it right, and the rest of you got it wrong. Your concept of God is an idol and you dare not worship it.
Do we confuse our concepts of God for the real thing? When we worship God, aren't we really just worshiping our concept of God. And hope God doesn't mind. Hope that God honors our intention.
Another good question is what means worship? Bowing down before things and persons is fairly clear. Is that what worship means? Or is the bowing down a metaphor too? Symbolizing subservience. Or that the person bowed down to is bigger and stronger. Or that the person needs respect, like the Godfather. Has the power of life and death.
And isn't it strange that, at its roots, respect has to do with killing. With the power of life and death. Don't we respect nations with nuclear weapons. North Korea just wants respect.
My thoughts ramble. See what a good article does. Keep them coming.
Cheers
Jim
Actually for me, and probably for many - respect is about knowledge and wisdom. I respect those two things and I also respect artistic talent.
I agree that all we know of god/divine is what a human can comprehend - the divine is the Infinite and larger than any human ability to comprehend. - I wrote of this idea in a prior essay.
As for worship - I am not sure that the divine has any need of it. We, humans - or at least many of them - need to worship something they believe is greater and more powerful themselves.
Not sure where I'm going beyond this so I'll just throw this into the discussion.
I would be saying that the Sacred Scriptures is always what some human thinks s/he understood of the Divine message & communication to her/him.
And yes Janelle - the verse I quoted did reference "You shall have no other gods before me." I'm deliberately seperated the two phrases - a whole other discussion/essay to explain that decision by me.
That may clear up my position for some, and further confuse others.
In my personal case, I was informed by my higher Self or soul source. By whatever name I was preconditioned to attach to that, I may have well been so impressed with the experience to have called it god, but not God.
Had I believed that it was God directly that spoke to me, I would have acted one way. Had I believe that it was a god, I would act another way.
Those that confuse Jesus Christ with God the Father act a certain way.
Those that see Jesus as a god representing the Father act another way.
Anybody that puts undue importance on any god or aspect of god, is approaching idolization. Including the excessive worshipping of the 'good book' which is but a construct of man to represent something to have come from a god or God Him/Her Self.
Which brings me back to my view that God is not anthropomorphic, but the concept of the sum totality of the entire Universe and that it includes. That leaves lots of room for lessor gods for those that choose to respect, worship, or what have you. But they should realize that there is only ONE GOD that is that which we are all a part and piece of, including all other lessor gods. In the sense that God's Spirit (or spirit, if you prefer) is throughout all and within all, that is what I see as having spoke through my soul aspect of my higher Self...but I do not worship or idolize that, I respect greatly and Love greatly because I know that as my best connection to God, gods, and all others. In that sense, Jesus was a man, my brother, that had the Christ spirit within himself as I maintain I now do also...i9n that regard we are Brothers, as I believe I am also to many others that came before and will come again, as well as many here now that are also similarly 'enlightened'.
So in conclusion, by all means read your sacred scriptures and whatever else that speaks to you, but never worship or idolize the surface aspect of such, because it is the deeper and more esoteric understanding that will be related to God...even if it came from a god. There is a world (or more) of difference between the two.