Post by nightmare on Dec 1, 2005 16:41:51 GMT -5
taken from wikipedia:
Literally, iconoclasm is the destruction of religious icons and other symbols or monuments, usually for religious or political motives. In Christian circles, iconoclasm has generally been motivated by a literal interpretation of the second of the ten commandments, which forbids the making and worshipping of "graven images". It has sometimes been motivated by christological or even political concerns as well.
People who engage in such practices are called iconoclasts, a term that has come to be applied to any person who breaks or disdains established dogmas or conventions. Conversely, people who revere or venerate religious images are called iconodules.
Iconoclasms can be carried out by people of a different religion, but are often the result of sectarian disputes between factions of the same religion.
interestingly, the first main iconoclasts included:
-muslims, who detested christian worship involving images and sought to subvert christianity
-Paulicians, who deny the humanity of Christ and affirm that all matter is bad and evil, and that an evil God created it
-Nestorians, who affirm Christ is a created being, and therefore not devine.
through the iconoclast movements over the centuries, thousands of monks and priests were murdered, ancient relics and shrines and tombs of the saints were broken opened and burned, and works of art were forever lost, all at the hands of the iconoclasts.
in addition, I believe this is what caused the schism between the art world and the christian world, where once the two were synonymous, much like music from before the middle ages to the middle ages up until the 1800s.
Literally, iconoclasm is the destruction of religious icons and other symbols or monuments, usually for religious or political motives. In Christian circles, iconoclasm has generally been motivated by a literal interpretation of the second of the ten commandments, which forbids the making and worshipping of "graven images". It has sometimes been motivated by christological or even political concerns as well.
People who engage in such practices are called iconoclasts, a term that has come to be applied to any person who breaks or disdains established dogmas or conventions. Conversely, people who revere or venerate religious images are called iconodules.
Iconoclasms can be carried out by people of a different religion, but are often the result of sectarian disputes between factions of the same religion.
interestingly, the first main iconoclasts included:
-muslims, who detested christian worship involving images and sought to subvert christianity
-Paulicians, who deny the humanity of Christ and affirm that all matter is bad and evil, and that an evil God created it
-Nestorians, who affirm Christ is a created being, and therefore not devine.
through the iconoclast movements over the centuries, thousands of monks and priests were murdered, ancient relics and shrines and tombs of the saints were broken opened and burned, and works of art were forever lost, all at the hands of the iconoclasts.
in addition, I believe this is what caused the schism between the art world and the christian world, where once the two were synonymous, much like music from before the middle ages to the middle ages up until the 1800s.
