IMAGE WORSHIP

—In most great religions images have been important, not the least so in Christianity. There are different conceptions of an image: (1) it is that and nothing more; (2) it is the abode of the person or deity whom it represents, or retains a mysterious con-. nection with him, Thus by getting pos-: se ion of a man’s image one could injure; the man himself. This idea is called sympathe tc magic. Images are forbidden to Mohammadans. Eating, moving, and other acts have been ascribed to images of Christ, the Virgin, and Saints, as to those of heathern gods of antiquity (See Iconocuasts.).