Discussion 3 to the 2nd Commandment
A prohibition against idols serves a political purpose
by Loren Taylor
To add to this discussion (or any other,) please use the Contact form. This exchange of views has been continued.I posted this same comment on Convert the Atheist Contest, the place where I found the link to your site.
I think the real significance of the 2nd is lost in this debate. It is simply a directive to the Jews to refine their practice of not depicting their god as a material object.
If we think of a religion as having a political component, then a prohibition against idols serves a political purpose. if an idol or object is revered by a society, then the person(s) in possession of that object holds great power. Jews & Christians are freed from this constraint (in theory), allowing the religions to establish themselves anywhere they can gain enough followers.