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1999•Unpublished venueRequires access

The Concept of Idolatry

Brian S. Rosner, Brian S. Rosner

Open publisher page 4 citations

Abstract

The concept of idolatry in the Bible is powerful and complex, diverse and problematic. Even though, as Halbertal and Margalit note, ‘the central theological principle in the Bible is [the refutation of] idolatry’ (10), it is ironic that the ‘category that is supposed to be the firmest and strictest of all... [exhibits] an astonishing fluidity’ (250). A theological treatment of the subject must consider the close association of idolatry with sexual immorality and greed and attempt to answer fundamental questions: What is idolatry? What constitutes a god?

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What this paper is about

The concept of idolatry in the Bible is powerful and complex, diverse and problematic. Even though, as Halbertal and Margalit note, ‘the central theological principle in the Bible is [the refutation of] idolatry’ (10), it is ironic that the ‘category that is supposed to be the firmest and strictest of all... [exhibits] an astonishing fluidity’ (250). A theological treatment of the subject must consider the close association of idolatry with sexual immorality and greed and attempt to answer fundamental questions: What is idolatry? What constitutes a god?

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OpenAlex reports 4 citations for this work. Citation counts describe recorded attention and do not establish research quality.

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Available abstract

The concept of idolatry in the Bible is powerful and complex, diverse and problematic. Even though, as Halbertal and Margalit note, ‘the central theological principle in the Bible is [the refutation of] idolatry’ (10), it is ironic that the ‘category that is supposed to be the firmest and strictest of all... [exhibits] an astonishing fluidity’ (250). A theological treatment of the subject must consider the close association of idolatry with sexual immorality and greed and attempt to answer fundamental questions: What is idolatry? What constitutes a god?

Key concepts: Idolatry, Immorality, Philosophy, Subject (documents), Epistemology, Theology, Morality, Computer science

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