In the USA, there is a particular deity that has become somewhat of
a national icon, possibly unintentionally. Many people do not realize
this figure is indeed an idol, that is, a representation of a deity.
Although I had realized this, it wasn’t until a year or so ago that I
consciously noticed its presence on the New York state quarter.
In Exodus 20:4-5, we are first commanded regarding idolatry and the making of representations. It could be argued that since we did not make these coins, nor did we bow down to them, that they are not technically “idols” (“carving”, phesel, or “casting”, masekah). This passage, however, is not the only passage of relevance.
In Deuteronomy 7:25-26, this passage refers to inhabiting Canaan and commands that any idols be burned, and that the silver and gold that might be on them is not to be desired whatsoever. This presumably would connect with the idea of desiring the item’s value aside from it being an idol, i.e., in the case of coins, not wanting to destroy it because of desiring its money value. An idol is very strictly considered an abominable thing (v.25) and we are commanded twice to absolutely hate them (v.26). We are also told in that verse that bringing such an abomination into our house brings a curse upon the household itself.
Surely the abominations of Kemet and Canaan (which certainly have permeated other belief systems) are not the only images which are abominable, as images of deities in general are repeatedly prohibited. Would Elohim hate only the idols from Canaan at the exclusion of other idols? The command to hate such an abomination surely would extend to the images of deities present on the coins in question as well, even if the primary one in question is Roman in origin.
It has been argued that a being (specifically an image of that being) that was once worshiped can achieve a point in time where it is no longer considered a deity, assuming the worship of it is no longer popular, which would result in it either achieving a status of “art” or “symbolism”. I do not have this perspective for a number of reasons. For one thing, if something was created as an image of a deity, it would inherently be a “carving” or “casting”, from my understanding. If the people become apathetic and no longer worship it, I see no precedent for that image to no longer be treated as such. By its very definition it was made to be an image of an elohim, whether the people believe in it or not, and that god isn’t real regardless. Second, the argument that “no one worships it” is not on any solid ground. The most obvious idol cast into American coinage would seem to be a very real object of worship, even if people do not “know” that it is a Roman god or “worship” it in the sense of burning incense/etc. If I recall correctly, its name is printed on every coin minted in the US and it has multiple images that are cast into coins which are not circulated (such as precious metals).
These images were originally created to be images of elohim, therefore they would be idols, even if people decide to not worship them and just treat them as “symbolic” images (which ultimately would connect with an elohim idea anyway). They are things we are commanded to hate and not bring into our houses.
In this case, this would definitively include the New York state quarter, as well as many US silver and gold coins and older mintings of coins. Even though that deity-image is part of a larger casting, it is indeed the cast image of a deity. Also in question are the Pennsylvania state quarter and the NM state quarter. The Pennsylvania state quarter has a woman statue on it that seems deity-like in its description, so I strongly question it, and NM has a religious sun symbol, though I couldn’t find much information on whether it was actually an object of worship. I would consider those latter two to very much be “suspect”.
Ultimately, we should rid ourselves of such an abomination in our possession. Images of deities should not be held in our possession, and we are commanded to absolutely hate them. They should be destroyed, and we should stay away from them in the future. It’s easy enough to ask for dimes back instead of quarters at the store, or to check your quarters when you get them. Its value is irrelevant, and it is to be abhorred.
(From prior posting on Gr. 8/13/14)
In Exodus 20:4-5, we are first commanded regarding idolatry and the making of representations. It could be argued that since we did not make these coins, nor did we bow down to them, that they are not technically “idols” (“carving”, phesel, or “casting”, masekah). This passage, however, is not the only passage of relevance.
In Deuteronomy 7:25-26, this passage refers to inhabiting Canaan and commands that any idols be burned, and that the silver and gold that might be on them is not to be desired whatsoever. This presumably would connect with the idea of desiring the item’s value aside from it being an idol, i.e., in the case of coins, not wanting to destroy it because of desiring its money value. An idol is very strictly considered an abominable thing (v.25) and we are commanded twice to absolutely hate them (v.26). We are also told in that verse that bringing such an abomination into our house brings a curse upon the household itself.
Surely the abominations of Kemet and Canaan (which certainly have permeated other belief systems) are not the only images which are abominable, as images of deities in general are repeatedly prohibited. Would Elohim hate only the idols from Canaan at the exclusion of other idols? The command to hate such an abomination surely would extend to the images of deities present on the coins in question as well, even if the primary one in question is Roman in origin.
It has been argued that a being (specifically an image of that being) that was once worshiped can achieve a point in time where it is no longer considered a deity, assuming the worship of it is no longer popular, which would result in it either achieving a status of “art” or “symbolism”. I do not have this perspective for a number of reasons. For one thing, if something was created as an image of a deity, it would inherently be a “carving” or “casting”, from my understanding. If the people become apathetic and no longer worship it, I see no precedent for that image to no longer be treated as such. By its very definition it was made to be an image of an elohim, whether the people believe in it or not, and that god isn’t real regardless. Second, the argument that “no one worships it” is not on any solid ground. The most obvious idol cast into American coinage would seem to be a very real object of worship, even if people do not “know” that it is a Roman god or “worship” it in the sense of burning incense/etc. If I recall correctly, its name is printed on every coin minted in the US and it has multiple images that are cast into coins which are not circulated (such as precious metals).
These images were originally created to be images of elohim, therefore they would be idols, even if people decide to not worship them and just treat them as “symbolic” images (which ultimately would connect with an elohim idea anyway). They are things we are commanded to hate and not bring into our houses.
In this case, this would definitively include the New York state quarter, as well as many US silver and gold coins and older mintings of coins. Even though that deity-image is part of a larger casting, it is indeed the cast image of a deity. Also in question are the Pennsylvania state quarter and the NM state quarter. The Pennsylvania state quarter has a woman statue on it that seems deity-like in its description, so I strongly question it, and NM has a religious sun symbol, though I couldn’t find much information on whether it was actually an object of worship. I would consider those latter two to very much be “suspect”.
Ultimately, we should rid ourselves of such an abomination in our possession. Images of deities should not be held in our possession, and we are commanded to absolutely hate them. They should be destroyed, and we should stay away from them in the future. It’s easy enough to ask for dimes back instead of quarters at the store, or to check your quarters when you get them. Its value is irrelevant, and it is to be abhorred.
(From prior posting on Gr. 8/13/14)
