Do you know what Iconoclasm is?

Question

Did you know that the rejection of statues and other images in Church devotional life is a heresy known as iconoclasm? Did you know that in the Second Council of Nicea in AD 787, the Church condemned this as heresy. It didn't return until the protestant reformation.

Answer 1

Hm, well I guess we can thank the Protestant reformation for another lovely move.

Answer 2

I would say it was more about greed than heresy.

Iconoclasm is the destruction of religious icons and other symbols or monuments, usually for religious or political motives.

It seems Emperor Leo III was just after money, land and possessions of the iconodule of the era. He left the people alone, didn't punish or harm them he just took possessions: which amounted to a rather fair amount that went into funding for more wars and conquests.

first iconoclastic period: 730-787

Germanus I of Constantinople, the iconodule Patriarch of Constantinople, either resigned or was deposed following the ban; letters Germanus wrote at the time SAY LITTLE OF THEOLOGY. "What worries Germanos is that the BANNING OF IMAGES WOULD ONLY PROVE THAT THE CHURCH HAD BEEN IN ERROR FOR A LONG TIME AND SO PLAY INTO THE HANDS OF JEWS AND MUSLIMS" (The Oxford History of Byzantium: Iconoclasm, Patricia Karlin-Hayter, Oxford University Press, 2002.) In the Western part of the Byzantine empire, Pope Gregory III held two synods at Rome and condemned Leo's actions, with the result that Leo seized some papal lands. During this initial period CONCERN ON BOTH SIDES SEEMS TO HAVE HAD LITTLE TO DO WITH THEOLOGY and more with practical evidence and effects. Icon veneration was forbidden simply because Leo saw it as a violation of the biblical commandment forbidding making and venerating images. There was INITIALLY NO CHURCH COUNCIL OR PROMINENT PATRIARCH OR BISHOP CALLING FOR THE REMOVAL OR DESTRUCTION OF ICONS.. During the destruction or obscuring of images, Leo "confiscated valuable church plate, altar cloths, and reliquaries decorated with religious figures" (History of the Byzantine State and Society, Warren Treadgold, Stanford University Press, 1997), but took no severe action against the former patriarch or iconophile bishops

Answer 3

Iconoclast:
One who attacks and seeks to overthrow traditional or popular ideas or institutions.

One who destroys sacred religious images.

Yes, during the Protestant Reformation people (Iconoclasts) would destroy the art, images, and sculptures that were inside the church. This was due to the idea that people were worshipping idols when they would bow down to them to pray and give homage.

Some churches have nothing inside of them today...no stained glass, no crosses... and so on ... so that people will not place any faith or worship these objects.

I do enjoy thebeauty of stained glass in church...and other symbols of the Christian faith. I believe it assists us in our Worship. I do not worship these things. They are unusual objects that would not be proper to have in my home.

I love the atmosphere of an old cathedral. Stepping inside one lets you know that God is Holy...we approch him on His terms. He is to be Worshipped. Church should not be a stage where Man gets the attention...God does.

Answer 4

Iconoclasm is the destruction of religious icons and other symbols or monuments, usually for religious or political motives.

Answer 5

That was called flatulence in the history of the church. They burned and destroyed many beautiful works of art, idiots! It is not something that is taken seriously by true christians.

Answer 6

I'm so iconoclastic I'm clastic.