Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Manner of Speaking]

One of the major differences - and a cause of much strife in recent years - between Christianity and Islam has been the aspect of the personification of the founder. In comparison to some other religions, Christianity is somewhat exceptional in that the founder of the religion is personified in art, sculpture, film, and religious iconography. In contrast, in Islam there is a proscription against representations of the Prophet and religious iconography generally.

Part of the reason for this is the nature of the religion. In Christianity, Christ, although a deity, is also a sacrificial object. The crucifix is the traditional symbol of how the Lord sacrificed himself for the sins of the world. God Himself is usually not personified in religous iconography. In Buddhism and in Hinduism, religious iconography of the prophets and deities abound.

Was Mohammed right? Does religious iconography dilute the message of the religion?

[igotthisguitar]

Too much EGO attachment

[PBRstreetgang21]

I think you bring up a fascinating point, esp considering the way in which you phrase Christianity (ESP Catholicism) as depicting God as the sacrifice. I think what you say speaks volumes about the way many people interpret their faith. I should at first make it clear I am Catholic, so I have my own Biases. However, while i was in college I was irregular attendee at the local mosque (it never hurts to see how others experience the divine). But I found that the muslim prohibition on image had more to do with a mentality of fear rather than love (not a criticism just a fact). Wheras the sacrificla nature of the deity in the Catholic churh stems more from an emphasis on the Love aspects of God.

The effects are quite apprent. For Catholicism what you have is a religion that is more based upon finding the God in the everyday. Since God is seen as human and experiencing human lives, then it becomes paramount to encouter him in ourselves. Whereas in Islam because of the transcendant nature put on God you see less of a desire to see God in the everyday and more of an attitude of making the everyday worthy of God. It may seem like splitting hairs but I think when you see how legalistic the Islam faith can be at times you see that much of it can be rooted in a desire to take the human and make it worthy of God. Wheras in Catholicism the attitude is that everything is already worthy of God we just need to see it. Hence there is a more corpreal worship style (bread wine inscense, fine vestments, lots of people as leaders, etc) whereas in Islam its very spartan in the worship styles. Because if God is percieved as beyond things, then things get in the way, therefore less is more. Whereas in Catholicism if things have God in them then more is better, hence pomp and ceremony.

Ultimatly I think the messge of all religions is simple.... YOU are the problem. Buddhism, Catholicism, Islam, Hinduism, etc. are essentialy mechanisms for dismanteling and subduing the ego, which is percieved to be the root of suffering. To say "Was Mohammed right?" is more personal than it is universal. If seeing a divine messge in things is a difficult proposition for you, then avoid the ones that do. But at the same time, do not think that iconography is absent from Islam altogether. Although it is sparse, the calligraphy takes on a very diffrent approach as it becomes the icons. This leads to an objectification of language (ie the Koran is only pure in Arabic) because as humans, at some level we need a visual focus and so rather than pictures of God or the Prophent you see complex symetrical patterns which becomes beacons for God's order and complextiy, and calligraphy as evidence of his beauty. Its not the same as a statue, but at the same time its not exactly a "lack" of icons.

[EFLtrainer]

Who cares? And why should anyone? Why should I be offended by someone else's lack of knowledge or understanding of my religion? Or even their derision of it? They **don't** hold the same beliefs as I do, so it is illogical to hold them accountable in accordance with **my** religion.

Utter foolishness.

And how could Mohamed be "right"? He can only be right in the context of his own religious beliefs - though even that is debatable.

[igotthisguitar]

Schisms arose among early Christians re: propagating any one easily recognizable & familiar image of God.

As one faction saw it, when you did your meditation there was to be no mental images involved. Almost kinda Zen i suppose.

The God which can be "conceived" of is not the true & ultimate.

[ED209]

Iconoclasm