My whole point was that visual symbols can communicate powerful meanings to even the illiterate, and indeed up until the time of Gutenberg and for a while afterwards, much of what the faithful knew of their faith came from sermons greatly enhanced by sculpture, painting, stained glass, etc.
There's a fascinating little passage in the movie The Mission, when Jeremy Irons's character meets up with the Guarani Indians. One of the few items he has to instruct the natives is a small painting of a Madonna and Christ child.
Most Christians imagine that since Christians don't do that, and Jews no longer do it, nor do Moslems or a number of other fairly well known religions that we have reached that "time".
Hindus still use the burnt offering ~ particularly those who also "adore" a portrayal of a young child (as an icon, not a statue) who is also Krishna ~ a presumptive messiah sent by God or God's counselors or a Heavenly committee (or another hundred ways of describing how that happened).
I think we are falling behind with the Hindus. Words alone, and even limited Christian iconography have not succeeded in pushing aside one messianic vision with another.
We haven't even converted the Jews !!!
Note, I have a friend who does his "adoration" while standing on his head with his legs in a seated lotus position. He's now in his 70's. Try it some time. Otherwise his bigtime traditional "god" is the one of money ~ keeps a copy on his keychain.
I know enough about this business to figure out what is simply imagery used as a memnonic, or to push a certain philosophy into the mind, and also to figure out what is traditional idolotry.
