idolatry

Idolatry refers to the worship of idols or physical objects as if they possessed divine power. The word derives from Latin idololatria, itself from Greek eidolon (image or statue) and latreia (worship). In religious contexts, idolatry can mean worship directed toward a deity in a form seen as a vehicle or representation of the sacred, as well as excessive or misplaced devotion to a person, thing, or idea.

Across history, idolatry has taken many forms. In the ancient Near East, Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the Greek and Roman worlds, communities created statues and images believed to house or channel divine presence. In Hinduism and Buddhism, icon or image veneration serves as a focal point for devotion; some traditions emphasize reverence for the symbol rather than worshipping the image itself. Early Christianity and Judaism debated the place of images, with later Christian developments distinguishing between reverence for icons and worship due to God. The Orthodox and Catholic traditions generally permit veneration of images as windows to the sacred, while many Protestant groups have rejected or restricted such practices.

In monotheistic traditions, idolatry is often defined as worship of a false god or the created object rather than the supreme deity. Judaism and Islam emphasize prohibitions against idolatrous practice and images, though approaches differ: Islam condemns idolatry (shirk), while Christian views range from strict iconoclasm to elaborate sacramental use of images. In contemporary discourse, idolatry is also used metaphorically to criticize excessive devotion to wealth, fame, or power, and it remains a topic of study in anthropology and religious studies as a culturally and historically contingent concept.