noun
idolatry; idol worship
Refers to the worship of idols or images, especially in a religious context. Often used in discussions of monotheistic prohibitions or cultural criticism.
旧約聖書は偶像礼拝を禁じている。
The Old Testament forbids idolatry.
彼は現代の偶像礼拝について批判的な意見を述べた。
He expressed critical views on modern-day idol worship.
Nearly synonymous; 偶像崇拝 is also common and interchangeable in most contexts, though 礼拝 emphasizes the act of worship while 崇拝 emphasizes adoration.
Compound of 偶像 (idol, image) and 礼拝 (worship, religious service). The term is a direct translation of the Western concept of idolatry, likely coined in the Meiji period for theological discourse.