Iconoclasm

Iconoclasm is questioning representational thought of any kind. Not rejection of the essence of any ideal or spiritual presence/principle so much as a rejection of fixed descriptions. Some factions smashed icons that they felt were not adequate or proper representations. They weren’t all absolutely opposed to any image at all. In fact, Catholicism has had iconoclastic movements without actually rejecting any representation at all.

“Rough work, iconoclasm, but the only way to get at truth.” Oliver Wendell Holmes (American Physician, Poet, Writer, Humorist and Professor at Harvard, 1809-1894)

“I love iconoclasts. I love individuals. I love people that are true to themselves, whatever the cost.” Tim Robbins

“So when it says you are not to worship graven idols, that’s what scholars call iconoclastic — it’s against images. The fear was, both in Judaism and Islam, that if you represented a holy figure like a prophet who had discussions with the divine, there would be a danger of people worshipping the image.” Juan Cole