To the fundamentalist, sure-there-is-a-God mind, "idolatry" is not only the practice, it's a "thing" that exists all by itself, by virtue of its own presence as

To the fundamentalist, sure-there-is-a-God mind, "idolatry" is not only the practice, it's a "thing" that exists all by itself, by virtue of its own presence as a concept. As long as there are still idols -- images of false gods -- idolatry is still alive and well, even if no one prays to them. It's the same rationale as behind not allowing the representation of human shapes (or, for most Islam, the figure of the Prophet): to "us", it seems to be a simple case of "then don't fucking draw it", but in fact any representation is, to "them", insulting.