The etymological journey of idolatry begins with the Greek word eidōlolatreía , which came into Latin as idololatrīa and then, through haplology, became idolatrīa . The concept is used to refer to the veneration of idols .
An idol, on the other hand, is the representation of a divinity that is taken as an object of worship or an individual that generates great admiration and fervor . Idolatry, in this way, is the reverence towards these figures or people.
For example: "Before traveling to India, I bought a book focused on Hindu idolatry to learn more about their religion and culture" , "Idolatry towards the Spanish tennis player grew from his consecration at Wimbledon" , "The actor stated "He does not enjoy idolatry since, every time he goes out for a walk with his children, he cannot be calm."
Idolatry towards famous people is present in all areas: actors, singers and athletes, without leaving aside multinational companies, can enjoy an enormous degree of admiration from their fans.
In Abrahamic religions, such as Islam , Judaism and Catholicism , idolatry is prohibited. However, the very definition of idolatry varies according to the cult or doctrine.
While some religions reject the use of images representing deities as they consider it a form of idolatry, others accept certain representations.
In paganism , however, idolatry was common: ancient pagans worshiped material objects. Currently there are thinkers who allude to the existence of modern paganism in those people who develop a kind of idolatry towards money and technological devices, to name two elements that awaken passion and create dependency.
Returning to the case of Judaism, the prohibition of idolatry is expressly defined in the Torah itself, the text in which is found the heritage that gives the Jewish people their identity and the laws they must follow to stay on the right path. It is important to note that this sin is part of a group that also includes murder, incest and anger, none of which can be justified, not even if one's life depended on them .
Despite what was said in the previous paragraph, the Bible states that idolatry continued to be present in ancient Israel, as can be seen in examples such as the worship of Moloch, Ashtaroth, Baal and the stars, in addition to sacred prostitution. Regarding the position of the rabbis , even contact with idolaters is prohibited; So much so that it is not even allowed to share a meal with one of them.
Christianity has a particular relationship with idolatry, since it is possible to see two points of view: on the one hand there are orthodox Catholics, who accept religious iconography and certain images; on the other hand, fundamentalist Protestants, who accuse the former of being idolaters and, in some cases, pagans. These terms were applied to all Protestants in the Reformation , a religious movement that began in Germany in the 16th century and led to the rise of several churches under Protestantism.
For their part, Puritan groups, a faction of Protestantism that began in England during the rule of Elizabeth I, adopted a position that resembles that of Islam and Judaism, since they condemn the use of any religious image , regardless of what whether it is an illustration, a statuette or a cross.