Idolatry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Idolatry - Essay Example The meaning of the term ‘idolatry’ seems to change depending upon the intentions of the individual employing it.   The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines it as â€Å"the worship of a physical object as a god† or â€Å"immoderate attachment or devotion to something† (â€Å"Idolatry†, 2007).   The actual employment of that term, though, differs greatly depending upon whether one is approaching it from the perspective of the Hebrew tradition, in which the form of God is unknowable and thus impossible to represent through any kind of image or object, and the Christian tradition, in which the term is applied to any object that is not associated with the true God.     These two viewpoints are explored here in greater detail.The meaning of the term ‘idolatry’ seems to change depending upon the intentions of the individual employing it.   The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines it as â€Å"the worship of a physical object as a god† or â€Å"immoderate attachment or devotion to something† (â€Å"Idolatry†, 2007).   The actual employment of that term, though, differs greatly depending upon whether one is approaching it from the perspective of the Hebrew tradition, in which the form of God is unknowable and thus impossible to represent through any kind of image or object, and the Christian tradition, in which the term is applied to any object that is not associated with the true God.     These two viewpoints are explored here in greater detail. According to the Hebrew conception of the term, the proper approach to the term ‘idolatry’ is one of strict definition and persistent vigilance.   God’s very shapelessness or indefinable nature thus makes it impossible for him to be represented by any shape or form that might be imagined.   Likewise, there are no shapes or forms that can take the place of God in the material world.   This approach definitely includes the Chr istian tradition of representing the image of Christ and the Catholic traditions regarding the form of the Virgin Mary.   â€Å"Worshipping G-d in the form of a man would constitute idolatry for a Jew; however, according to some sources, the Christian worship of Jesus does not constitute idolatry for non-Jews† (Rich, 2006).   It can be seen that the definition of idolatry used by the Hebrew people conforms strictly to the directives laid out in Exodus 20:3-4: â€Å"Thou shalt have no other gods before me.   Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thy self to them, nor serve them.†Ã‚   Under this definition, any actions that combine serving the idol, such as offering it gifts or sacrifices, that demonstrate love or devotion with any kind of ceremony or ritual can be considered an idolatrous action (Dolphin, 2004).