Forum 1

Iconoclastic Controversy

Years ago, there was a  NY Times article which covered this, the destruction of Buddhas near the border of Pakistan. 

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Now we have a new group of zealots destroying images from the past, in the name of “God”.

These images are seen as idols, or images created by infidels. These images are seen by some as being alien, and to cleanse the world, they must be shattered into dust.

During the Middle Ages, there were many fundamentalists in Christian Churches that thought images of any type, including images of Jesus, and the Virgin Mary, were idols. To worship these images was seen by some as anti Christian. 

They were called Iconoclasts.

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/icon/hd_icon.htm

Of course, the Nazi’s burned books to rid the world of anything that might taint the master Aryan race. Eventually that meant burning people who might taint the master race.

I want everyone to take a fresh at the idea that images in the form or art might be seen as being anti God, or anti faith.

COPY/PASTE LINKS INTO YOUR BROWSER IF THEY DO NOT WORK

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6616167

http://www.usatoday.com/news/science/archaeology/2001-03-22-afghan-buddhas.htm

Please read again any articles available about destruction of Buddhas in Afghanistan. What do you think?

Can we at least understand the power of images in cultures?

Why do strict Islamic cultures see images as such a threat to their faith?

Are their any other fundamentalist faiths that have struct rules about images?

INCLUDE SOME RESEARCH IN THE FORM OF WEBSITES/ARTICLES COVERING THESE EVENTS throughout history!

Although I am interested in your opinions, I want you to become informed first by doing research.

 Mr. S.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0608/p06s03-wosc.htm

Do these events, and the reasoning behind them sound similar?

Only in 726, it was the Eastern Orthodox church that banned idol worship.