Even within Christianity there is a strong current which rejects the representation of religious figures. However there is a much more 'visible' tradition of iconography and portrayal of figures such as Jesus and various other prophets, the Virgin Mary, various saints , and of course angels. Some of this is devotional, other elements belong to a more secular artistic tradition. As a child I grew up with many icons then commonly found in traditional Irish Catholic homes. I wonder do many Christian Europeans view the current debate over the Danish Mohammed caricatures from within the cultural framework of their religious traditions? Shouldn't those from the more austere and iconclastic Protestant background empathise more with the Islamic position on representation of revered religious figures?
The dispute over 'idolatry' and the worship of symbols and images is not just an intercultural matter. Within Islam itself there are conflicts over the reverence shown to certain symbols, tombs, shrines, memories of pious figures etc.... The tomb of the Prophet Mohammed himself was obliterated several hundred years ago by purist zealots anxious to prevent it becoming a place of devotion.
It is intstructive to watch the reaction within the Islamic world to the 'cartoon controversy'. Widespread public demonstrations and protests are taking place even in countries where such peaceful public reaction to domestic concerns with never be tolerated.
I find the political manipulation of such issues and the 'digging in' by entrenched positions on both sides of great concern. As a believer in intercultural dialogue and understanding I despair at the ease with which people are accepting the 'self fufilling prophecy' of theories like Huntington's Civilisational Clash. Such deterministic world views are to be resisted, not passively embraced as some kind of ireversible dynamic of history. Issues should be opportunties for interaction and discussion fostering more communication and insight; instead they become clarion calls to arms (sometimes literally so).
