Idolatry is an important category in theological thinking. To a large extent, it is the counterpoint of “God”, and possesses a central place in theological reflection. To know God is also to recognize idolatry and to serve God is to avoid idolatrous behavior. “Idolatry” all too often serves as a means of othering the religious other and delegitimating other religions. There is, however, also an alternative approach to idolatry, where the category is used to affirm what must be overcome within a religion, as it points to God and as it helps believers overcome any number of human weaknesses. The proposed panel will focus on this latter sense of idolatry. Contributors from four faiths – Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Hindu, will reflect on the moral and spiritual uses of idolatry, on its internal uses and on how these can be shared and serve as source of enrichment and insight across religions.
| Catherine Cornille | cornille@bc.edu | View |