New Documentary on Early Iconography

[jas3]

I found this documentary a couple of days ago and thought it did a very good job of laying out the case for early icon veneration. Specifically, it seems to be targeting the aniconic argument that there's not evidence for "cultic use" (veneration) of the examples we have of early Christian iconography.

 

[The Liturgist]

Meanwhile on another thread in the forum I just came across a long, intemperate post in which the author claimed that statements of faith, by which they very likely would include the Creed, and also all formal dogmatic definitions, are idolatry.

Iconoclasm is such a popular heresy people actively look for new ways to be iconoclastic.

 

[George95]

Meanwhile on another thread in the forum I just came across a long, intemperate post in which the author claimed that statements of faith, by which they very likely would include the Creed, and also all formal dogmatic definitions, are idolatry.

Iconoclasm is such a popular heresy people actively look for new ways to be iconoclastic.

Did you ever find which thread it was?

 

[The Liturgist]

Did you ever find which thread it was?

Yes sir, you want me to send you the link? that was I realize a silly question, I am sending you the link now.

 

[RileyG]

Meanwhile on another thread in the forum I just came across a long, intemperate post in which the author claimed that statements of faith, by which they very likely would include the Creed, and also all formal dogmatic definitions, are idolatry.

Iconoclasm is such a popular heresy people actively look for new ways to be iconoclastic.

I can never understand why people think icons or statues are idols.

It makes no sense to me.

 

[The Liturgist]

Well, the Romans had statues, and the Hindus have them, but they believe these statues are actual manifestations of the deity rather than an image of them. Thus they engage in anthropomorphology. But the iconoclast in his modern form originated, as far as we can tell, with Islam, since we know the Jews in Dura Europos and the Christian house church in the same Syrian city (which was naturally destroyed by ISIS, the barbarians) had beautiful iconography, and the Old Testament has instructions on iconography for the Temple including carvings of Seraphim on the Ark.

Fun fact: the Ethiopian Tewahedo Orthodox Church believes they have the Ark of the Covenant in their posession, and I think their claims are credible. They definitely have something. But only one monk, who is sealed in a hermitage with it, has access to it; even the Patriarch cannot grant access.

I don’t want to suggest theology based on the ending of Raiders of the Lost Ark, but if they actually have it, restricting who can access it is a very good idea if the Muslims who surround Ethiopia and are also a sizeable percentage of the population tried to seize it. If they don’t know exactly what they are looking for, protecting it would be easier.

The Ethiopians might also have the largest fragment of the True Cross.