Talk:aniconism

RFV discussion: January–February 2019

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aniconism

Rfv-sense "The conviction that artists should not depict human beings." Tagged but not listed. Probably not too hard to attest in relation to Sunni Islam, but should perhaps be widened to any living beings. ←₰-→ Lingo ^Bingo _Dingo (talk) 14:55, 21 January 2019 (UTC)

I have had a great deal of trouble finding this term specifically limited to human beings, but it is clearly used more broadly than the other definition which simply lists a prohibition of depictions of the prophets or divinity. I suggest a broader definition, which indicates the use of the term to indicate that there are images that it is considered wrong to depict, be they the divinity, humans, animals, etc. Kiwima (talk) 20:57, 21 January 2019 (UTC)

The key concept in Abrahamic religions is a prohibition on depicting anything that might theoretically be construed as a deity. It's an extension of the prohibition against worshiping idols. Chuck Entz (talk) 21:13, 21 January 2019 (UTC)

Indeed, the absence of figures – not just human beings – has become a characteristic feature of (Sunni) Islamic aniconism: [1], [2], [3], [4]. I think that this sense should have a label reflecting the Sunni Islamic context; moreover, rather than “conviction ... that ... should not” I‘d use the term proscription in the definition.  --Lambiam 21:12, 21 January 2019 (UTC)

RFV-resolved. I have merged the two definitions. Kiwima (talk) 21:35, 26 February 2019 (UTC)