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Statues in the Cathedral of Saint Martin in Utrecht, attacked in Reformation iconoclasm in the 16th century.^[1]

Iconoclasm is a belief that people should reject religious images (like icons or monuments) by destroying or avoiding them. This is the opposite of idolatry, the worship of icons. Iconoclasm happens during important political or religious changes. It is generally distinct from destruction by foreigners, for example by Spanish conquistadors in America. The term does not generally include the specific destruction of images of a ruler after his death or overthrow (damnatio memoriae), for example Akhenaten in Ancient Egypt.

People who support iconoclasm are called iconoclasts. This word is also used for people who are against established dogma or conventions. Similarly, people who revere or venerate religious images are called idolators. In an Eastern Orthodox context they are known as iconodules, or iconophiles.

Iconoclasm may be carried out by people of a different religion, but is often the result of sectarian disputes between factions of the same religion. The two Byzantine outbreaks during the 8th and 9th centuries were unusual because the use of images was the main issue in the dispute, rather than a by-product of wider concerns. In Christianity, iconoclasm has generally been motivated by a literal interpretation of the Ten Commandments, which forbid the making and worshipping of "graven images" of God.

References[change | change source]

↑ "The birth and growth of Utrecht". Archived from the original on 2014-01-16. Retrieved 2008-01-26.

[1] "The birth and growth of Utrecht". Archived from the original on 2014-01-16. Retrieved 2008-01-26.

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+[[File:UtrechtIconoclasm.jpg|thumb|right|280px|Statues in the [[Cathedral of Saint Martin, Utrecht|Cathedral of Saint Martin]] in [[Utrecht (city)|Utrecht]], attacked in [[Reformation]] iconoclasm in the 16th century.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.domkerk.nl/domchurch/history.html |title=The birth and growth of Utrecht |access-date=2008-01-26 |archive-date=2014-01-16 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6Mfwe5Lhp?url=http://www.domkerk.nl/domchurch/history.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>]]
-{{complex}}
+'''Iconoclasm''' is a [[belief]] that people should reject religious images (like [[icon]]s or [[monument]]s) by destroying or avoiding them. This is the opposite of [[idolatry]], the worship of icons. Iconoclasm happens during important political or religious changes. It is generally distinct from destruction by foreigners, for example by Spanish [[conquistador]]s in America.  The term does not generally include the specific destruction of images of a ruler after his death or overthrow (''[[damnatio memoriae]]''), for example [[Akhenaten]] in [[Ancient Egypt]].
-[[Image:UtrechtIconoclasm.jpg|thumb|right|280px|Statues in the [[Cathedral of Saint Martin, Utrecht|Cathedral of Saint Martin]] in [[Utrecht]], attacked in [[Reformation]] iconoclasm in the 16th century.<ref>[http://www.domkerk.nl/domchurch/history.html The birth and growth of Utrecht]</ref>]]
-'''Iconoclasm''' is a a word. It is used to describe when symbols of a culture (like [[icons]]s or [[monument]]s) are destroyed by people of that same culture. This is usually done for [[religious]] or [[politics|political]] motives. Often, it occurs together with major political or religious changes. It is generally different from the destruction by one culture of the images of another, for example by the Spanish in their American conquests. The term does not generally include the specific destruction of images of a ruler after his death or overthrow (''[[damnatio memoriae]]''), for example [[Akhenaten]] in [[Ancient Egypt]].
-People who engage in or support iconoclasm are called '''iconoclasts'''. This word is also used for people  who are against  established [[dogma|dogmata]] or conventions. Similarly, people who revere or venerate religious images are called '''[[Idolatry|idolators]]'''. In a [[Byzantibe empire|Byzantine]] context they are known as '''[[iconodule]]s''', or '''iconophiles'''.
+People who support iconoclasm are called '''iconoclasts'''. This word is also used for people who are against established [[dogma]] or conventions. Similarly, people who revere or venerate religious images are called '''[[idol]]ators'''. In an [[Eastern Orthodox]] context they are known as '''[[iconodule]]s''', or '''iconophiles'''.
-Iconoclasm may be carried out by people of a different religion, but is often the result of sectarian disputes between factions of the same religion. The two Byzantine outbreaks during the [[8th century|8th]] and [[9th century|9th centuries]] were unusual because the use of images was the main issue in the dispute, rather than a by-product of wider concerns. In Christianity, iconoclasm has generally been motivated by a literal interpretation of the [[Ten Commandments]], which forbid the making and worshipping of "graven images" of God.
+Iconoclasm may be carried out by people of a different religion, but is often the result of sectarian disputes between factions of the same religion. The two [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] outbreaks during the [[8th century|8th]] and [[9th century|9th centuries]] were unusual because the use of images was the main issue in the dispute, rather than a by-product of wider concerns. In [[Christianity]], iconoclasm has generally been motivated by a literal interpretation of the [[Ten Commandments]], which forbid the making and worshipping of "graven images" of God.
-==References==
+== References ==
 {{reflist}}
+[[Category:Religious ethics]]
-{{stub}}
-[[Category:Religion]]
+[[Category:Christianity of the Middle Ages]]
-[[en:Iconoclasm]]