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The Sacred Icon: Confronting the Anthropocentrism of a Secularized World

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Representations of Peace and Conflict

Part of the book series: Rethinking Political Violence series ((RPV))

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Abstract

This chapter is concerned with the pedagogical use of sacred icons in nurturing human qualities which promote and support the dignity of all life and respect and empathy for each other. Christian Orthodox teaching is used to provide a framework to explore this topic in the contemporary context with its wide diversity of religious and non-religious belief positions. The Orthodox Church came about because of the split, known as the Great Schism of 1054 between the Eastern and Western Churches. Historically, Orthodox Christianity has been mainly located in the Middle East and parts of East and Central Europe, but through the migration of people Orthodox Churches can be found in most regions throughout the world. It is made up of four Patriarchates, nine autocephalous churches and four autonomous churches, all self-governing and independent, but held together by unity of faith and communion in the sacraments.

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Authors
  1. Pauline Kollontai
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. York St John University, UK

    Stephen Gibson

  2. University of Liverpool, UK

    Simon Mollan

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© 2012 Pauline Kollontai

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Kollontai, P. (2012). The Sacred Icon: Confronting the Anthropocentrism of a Secularized World. In: Gibson, S., Mollan, S. (eds) Representations of Peace and Conflict. Rethinking Political Violence series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137292254_12

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