Why limit art?

[Abdullah]

My understanding is that Islam believes that God is not human, so images of human beings are not considered appropriate in art. The other day, I went to an exhibit of Islamic art - & I must say, there were some beautiful, spiritual pieces!

And I am beginning to believe God is spirit (love), & not limited to a person. Still, how we resonate to God is often through loving others. Some of the most inspiring art is about people - their expressions of happiness, sadness, silliness, consentration...
I can see how pictures of Jesus or Buddha could distract from spirituality, & even inspire prejudice (ie "white images of Jesus").

Yet, as long as you don't worship images of people, but just enjoy them as a form of resonating to love (within & for others), isn't that GOoD?

Hi persona

yes that is good, but only in a sense

when considering the good and bad, the general influences and dangers should be taken into consideration and the overall harm weighed against the good

in the case of images of living creatures [except inanimate things] it gave birth to the most deadly sin of all; idolatry; the very antithesis of monothiesm

and uptill today it continues to influence people in idolatry, from images worshipped directly, to people worshipping their 'idols' subconciously

thus it only makes sense for God to ban the inspirer of the greatest evil of all

hope this helps

 

[Abdullah]

i know pork is haraam i just wanted to know what source you would use to show that.

NCOT

i think i know why you left islam; you apperantly never studied the Quran mate, thus you did not get a clear picture of this amazing religion

anyone who reads Quran would find it hard not to come across the pork forbidding verse

“O ye who believe! Eat of the good things wherewith We have provided you, and render thanks to Allah if it is (indeed) He whom ye worship.
He hath forbidden you only carrion, and blood, and swineflesh, and that which hath been immolated to (the name of) any other than Allah. But he who is driven by necessity, neither craving nor transgressing, it is no sin for him. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful” (2:172-3).

“Forbidden unto you (for food) are carrion and blood and swine-flesh, and that which hath been dedicated unto any other than Allah, and the strangled, and the dead through beating, and the dead through falling from a height, and that which hath been killed by (the goring of) horns, and the devoured of wild beasts, saving that which ye make lawful (by the death-stroke), and that which hath been immolated unto idols.

And (forbidden is it) that ye swear by the divining arrows. This is an abomination. This day are those who disbelieve in despair of (ever harming) your religion; so fear them not, fear Me! This day have I perfected your religion for you and completed My favour unto you and have chosen for you as religion Al-Islam. Whoso is forced by hunger, not by will, to sin: (for him) lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful” (5:3)

peace

 

[radarmark]

This issue shares a lot with the story of the Golden Calf from Exodus 32 (I think). However, methinks both Judaism and Islam over-reacted. The problem is not the Calf, but the worship of it. Visual art, from Michaelangelo to the Bamyan figures, are beautiful offerings to the Divine, not the Divine. The Pieta still makes me cry, anf the drawings of Ueshiba bring a smile to my lips.