Is it idolatry to have a mental image of God?

[aneeshm]

Another offshoot of the "Ask a Theologian" thread.








Is it idolatry to have a mental image of God?

Because the moment you have that image, doesn't the object of your worship shift from God to the image you have of God?

I'm curious as to how the anti-idolatry religions deal with this conundrum, because it's almost inevitable that a person will have an image of God in their mind, and will worship that image.

If, on the other hand, you admit that there's nothing wrong with having a mental image as a tool or a symbol to represent God, then you should have no problem with Hinduism's concept of idols which are used as exactly the same thing, only as external images instead of internal ones.

 

[Elrohir]

Why would it be idolatry to have a sort of mental image of God? I suppose it could be if you start to worship that image, but not necessarily. I have a vague idea of how Jesus probably looked but I don't think I'm committing idolatry.

 

[Sophie 378]

It depends what you mean by mental image. If you mean that when you think of God, you think of what you think He looks like, rather than His misc and various awesomenesses, then it might be idolatry. Otoh, if you're using your mental image like an identity tag (mental image of the concept of God), then it might not be idolatry. Oh, I've confused myself now.

 

[aneeshm]

I'd go one step further, and ask: is it possible to worship something without an associated image in your mind?

 

[aneeshm]

Why would it be idolatry to have a sort of mental image of God? I suppose it could be if you start to worship that image, but not necessarily. I have a vague idea of how Jesus probably looked but I don't think I'm committing idolatry.

When you have an image of a certain object, in this case God, and you worship that object, it's your mental image you're worshipping, isn't it, because of the impossibility of mentally separating the object and the image?

 

[aneeshm]

It depends what you mean by mental image. If you mean that when you think of God, you think of what you think He looks like, rather than His misc and various awesomenesses, then it might be idolatry. Otoh, if you're using your mental image like an identity tag (mental image of a the concept of God), then it might not be idolatry. Oh, I've confused myself now.

Even if we go with the latter interpretation, it'd mean that the tag becomes the medium of worship, that is, in idol (we worship what the tag is associated with, but that is only possible because the tag exists).

 

[Atlas14]

I'd go one step further, and ask: is it possible to worship something without an associated image in your mind?

I am not quite sure if it is possible, I mean a big part of warship is faith, which requires a mental image of some sort. Regardless, a mental image will appear for anybody. Without a mental image, I would say you are engaging in a form of blind faith.

 

[Erik Mesoy]

I don't see the problem. The relevant commandment summarises as "I'm God, I'm your God, so don't go making up {your own} {other} gods and worshipping them, no matter what they are."

 

[El_Machinae]

I don't see the problem. The relevant commandment summarises as "I'm God, I'm your God, so don't go making up {your own} {other} gods and worshipping them, no matter what they are."

But then we tack attributes onto God which aren't true, when we worship Him. This means that we're not worshipping God, but made up alternates.

If you envision God as the entity who helped you win the lottery, as well as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob ... (and if He didn't help you) well, then you're not worshipping the actual God because of what you're envisioning.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

This is why a lot of Protestants have an issue with Catholicism or Orthodoxy; if objects (physical ones, as well as mental images) are used in worship, there is no problem. But how does one draw the line between this and actually worshipping the image?

 

[GenMarshall]

This is why a lot of Protestants have an issue with Catholicism or Orthodoxy; if objects (physical ones, as well as mental images) are used in worship, there is no problem. But how does one draw the line between this and actually worshipping the image?

Ya hit the nail right on the head. Silly Protestants

 

[Red Door]

Is it idolatry to have a mental image of God?

If you take the Scriptures literally, then yes, it is idolatry. This is why it is dangerous to take the Scriptures literally.

Because the moment you have that image, doesn't the object of your worship shift from God to the image you have of God?

Yes.

I'm curious as to how the anti-idolatry religions deal with this conundrum, because it's almost inevitable that a person will have an image of God in their mind, and will worship that image.

If, on the other hand, you admit that there's nothing wrong with having a mental image as a tool or a symbol to represent God, then you should have no problem with Hinduism's concept of idols which are used as exactly the same thing, only as external images instead of internal ones.

My only problem with Hinduism's concept of idols is that it's towards a, in my opinion, a "false god." Besides that, it's basically the same thing as praying to idols in Catholicism, which are represenatives to God.

 

[Bill3000]

Ya hit the nail right on the head. Silly Protestants

You know, he was talking about Protestants having issues with threats of idolatry in Catholicsm and Orthodoxy, not vice-versa. Icons in Orthodoxy is a good example of what he is talking about as perpetuated idoltry.

My only problem with Hinduism's concept of idols is that it's towards a, in my opinion, a "false god." Besides that, it's basically the same thing as praying to idols in Catholicism, which are represenatives to God.

I'm not really sure that Hinduism's conception of god can be put in terms of an abrahamic god or traditional paganism. Hinduism is more akin to monism/pantheism rather than polytheism.

 

[GenMarshall]

You know, he was talking about Protestants having issues with threats of idolatry in Catholicsm and Orthodoxy, not vice-versa. Icons in Orthodoxy is a good example of what he is talking about as perpetuated idolatry.

I am in a sarcastic mood right you know (Hense the "Silly Protestants" and the tounge smilie). Its the main issue when Catholics and Orthodox Christians when having a diolauge are oftenly tired of these Protestants telling them that they are idolers when in reality, Catholics and Orthodox Christians are not.

Normaly, I see Protestants (Mainly from the Evangical branch) attack and lash out on Catholics and Orthodox Christians for "idolatry".

 

[rysingsun]

Well I would say it is probably idolatry. I would also say that there are probably few who are not guilty of such a thing. Thank God for forgiveness

 

[Irish Caesar]

Well, if you believe that God lived as a man who walked on the earth (and the water) a couple thousand years ago, I think it might be idolatry not to have a mental image as such.

 

[Swedishguy]

Well, not for me. My mental god represents my total lack of belief towards all religions.

Everybody has a mental image of a divinity at some point. Even us atheists.

 

[Xanikk999]

No. Just no. And besides making images/statues/portraits of jesus or god, or any biblical figure is not idoltry.

Worshipping it is.

 

[MobBoss]

Is it idolatry to have a mental image of God?

No. Idolatry, by definition, is the act of worshipping something other than God to the extent that it is more important than God. Example: If you spend more hours in the day thinking of your TV than thinking of God, are you not treating your TV as an idol in your heart?

 

[cubsfan6506]

i imagine jesus was middle eastern and not white.