British Academy: The UK's National Academy for the Humanities and Social Sciences

ICONOCLASM

The 37th British Academy Conversazione

Professor Robert Hinde, FRS, FBA
and
Dr Margaret Aston, FBA

at the British Academy on 21 February 2003

Professor Robert Hinde, FRS, FBA
Formerly Master St John's College, Cambridge

The Nature of Iconoclasm

Iconoclasm poses a whole series of problems for psychologists. First, some consideration of the nature of religious belief is necessary. Second, for those who worshipped or venerated artifacts, just what was the role of the images? Third, how far should we ascribe belief in the power of images to the cultural background of the time, how far to the manipulations of the religious specialist, and how far to psychological processes similar to those that govern our own behaviour? Fourth, what motivated iconoclasts? In attempting to abolish a mode of worship, were, most iconoclasts merely demonstrating the powerlessness of the images, or did some of them believe that the images really did have certain power?

Dr Margaret Aston, FBA
Historian

Iconoclasm: Making and Breaking Images

Iconoclasm is an activity that has inspired historical movements as well as individual actions. There are broad questions raised by Byzantine and Reformation iconoclasm that are relevant to subsequent manifestations of the phenomenon, even today. The understanding of image and idol, the problem of defining idolatry and the nature of the church’s concern can be approached by looking at scriptural authority, beliefs in the power of images, and the treatment given to broken images. Human responses to both the making and breaking have left traces that help us to interpret past iconoclasm.

Tea will be served at 4.45pm and the meeting will start at 5.15pm until 7.45pm, followed by a buffet supper. You are welcome to attend the meeting free of charge, and to bring guests. Graduate students are always welcome. All those attending are warmly encouraged to stay to supper afterwards, when there will be an opportunity to meet the speakers and continue discussion with other members of the company in an informal setting. (Supper, including wine, costs £11.00 per person).