"You shall make no idols." This commandment is reiterated in a different form in the New Testament: "God, who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands." — Acts 17:24 God resides only within the relationship between your soul and its quest to know Him. It is through this personal connection that you will discover the divine nature you seek. Yet, religions often rely on physical symbols to entice its congregation, appealing to our fears and desires. A visit to any cathedral reveals how far we’ve strayed from this commandment. Jewish talismans and amulets, meant to ward off evil and sickness, are common, alongside countless statues and relics used by the Church. Religion serves as psychological and political control for the masses, with idols as the props of its propaganda. 407
