Protestant Iconoclasm

Protestant Iconoclasm refers to the movement within the Protestant Reformation during the 16th century that rejected the use of religious images and icons in worship. Protestants believed that these images could lead to idolatry, detracting from a direct relationship with God. They sought to remove or destroy statues, paintings, and other religious symbols from churches, advocating for a focus on scripture and personal faith instead. This movement significantly altered religious practices and aesthetics in Protestant denominations, emphasizing simplicity and the word of God over visual representations.