Iconoclasm Faith ID

Defining Iconoclast

An Iconoclast is an individual who challenges or overturns traditional beliefs, customs, and values. The term originated from the Eastern Orthodox Church's controversy over the use of religious images and has expanded in usage to apply to individuals who challenge widely-held assumptions in any field.

History of Iconoclasm

Historically, the term 'Iconoclast' is derived from the Greek words 'eikon' (image) and 'klastes' (breaker). Its origins go back to the Byzantine Empire in the 8th and 9th centuries when the emperor ordered the removal and destruction of religious images within the empire, sparking the Iconoclast Controversy.

Iconoclasts in Modern Context

In modern parlance, an Iconoclast can be anyone who challenges or deviates from social norms and conventions. This could be a political agitator, a provocative artist, or a revolutionary thinker. Iconoclasts often face resistance and backlash from those who uphold and are comfortable with the status quo. However, their questioning and rejection of convention can also broaden perspectives and push boundaries in many fields.

Famous Iconoclasts

Many influential figures in history can be classified as iconoclasts. For example, legendary physicist Albert Einstein, known for his theory of relativity, often challenged existing scientific beliefs. Similarly, artists like Pablo Picasso and musicians like Jimi Hendrix are considered iconoclasts for their radical departures from traditional styles. Furthermore, social and political reformers like Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi are seen as iconoclasts due to their revolutionary ideas that challenged and changed societal norms.

Conclusion

In conclusion, an Iconoclast, while often controversial, plays a vital role in driving societal progress and challenging the constraints of convention. They promote thinking outside the box and are often the catalysts for major shifts in thought and action in various fields. Regardless of whether one agrees with an iconoclast's views and actions, their courage and unorthodoxy warrant respect and reflection.

In-Game Description

Believing that any use of spiritual symbols violates the Second Commandment to not make any graven images, the Iconoclasts and seek to destroy existing religious iconography and reject the creation of new ones.

Iconoclasm was a significant movement within the Byzantine Church in the 7th and 8th centuries that rejected the use of religious images and advocated the destruction of these images. Named after the Greek "iconoclastes," meaning "image breaker," followers believed that religious icons led to idolatry and disrupted the connection between the worshipper and God.