A Golden Idol – Exploring Gold in the Religions of the World
At a Glance:
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- Gold has been used in religious ceremonies by cultures around the world for thousands of years.
- Christianity and Hinduism are to major religions that have historically revered gold artifacts.
- On this page, learn more about gold’s role in religious practices throughout human history.
A Golden Idol – The Relationship Between Gold and Religion
Even the earliest human civilizations revered gold. The metal’s unique shine makes it perfect for creating gorgeous gold coins and jewelry. Gold’s greatest impact on ancient human culture, however, might actually have nothing to do with golden currency or glimmering fashion. Gold bullion has played a crucial role in the religious beliefs and practices of dozens of religions throughout human history.
From the Ancient Greeks to modern Christians, gold has always occupied a special place in human theology. Archeological dig sites frequently reveal new religious uses of gold, which was likely first discovered around 2,450 BCE by the Ancient Egyptians. Since the very first gold nugget was pulled from the ground by Egyptian alchemist Zosimus, gold has been celebrated as one of the most divine materials on the planet.
But why is gold so important to many of the world’s most popular religions?
On this page, we’re exploring the complex, fascinating relationship between gold and religion to give readers just one more example of how our favorite precious metal helped to shape the course of human history.
Why Is Gold an Important Religious Symbol?
Gold has been considered a revered material in nearly every religion from throughout history. Although most religions share some type of reverence for gold, the importance of gold varies from religion to religion and has shifted over the past several thousand years.
Why is gold important to religious practice? In many religions, gold serves one of two functions.
First, gold is a rare and valuable metal, so using it to pay tribute to a divine being represents a sacrifice. After all, making a religious statue out of dirt doesn’t exactly mean as much as sacrificing a rare, valuable metal to pay respect to an omnipotent God. Many ancient civilizations, including Christianity and Hinduism, created golden statues, symbols, and other decorations to celebrate their deities.
Second, gold can play a symbolic role in religious practice. In the Hindu religion, for example, gold represents purity, light, and divinity. Buddhists often decorate the possessions of the deceased to symbolize the detachment of the offeror from material desire and the deceased spirit’s transition to their next life through reincarnation.
Which Religions Revere Gold?
Gold has always been an obsession of mankind in nearly every facet of life, and religion is no exception. Because of its rarity and beauty, several of the world’s most popular religions have ascribed a holy meaning to the precious metal. The role that gold plays in religious practice varies from religion to religion, but almost every religion considers gold an important part of religious practice and tradition.
Which religions revere gold? Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism are four religions that have historically considered gold an important part of religious practice and worship.
Gold in Christianity
What role does gold play in Christianity? The importance of gold to Christianity has roots in the Holy Christian Bible. Upon the birth of Jesus Christ, the Magi are said to have given gold to the newborn as a symbol of his kingship and holiness. In various biblical parables, gold is used to represent both material and spiritual wealth. The Kingdom of Heaven, according to the Bible, features streets made from gold.
Gold has also played a vital role in the creation of worship and holy objects within the Christian tradition. Many Christian churches make crosses out of gold, and celebrated Christian artifacts frequently contain actual gold. As we mentioned earlier, gold’s rarity and value make it the ideal material for celebration and worship. Aside from the actual value of gold ascribed in the Christian Bible, the precious metal is one way that Christians can demonstrate their devotion to God – and their detachment from material, earthly wealth.
Gold in Hinduism
Like Christianity, Hinduism’s modern interest in gold originates from the religion’s holy text, the Vedas. In Vedic scriptures, gold was a key symbol associated with Lakshmi, the Hindu Goddess of wealth, fortune, and prosperity. Even today, Hindu symbols, idols, and even places of worship frequently feature gold bullion.
What does gold represent in Hinduism? Gold represents many things within Hindu theology, but it is mainly associated with health, wealth, and feminine beauty. Modern alters and dedications to Lakshmi, a Goddess of wealth and prosperity, are often made and adorned with gold jewelry, coins, and statues.
Gold in Islam
Unlike Christianity and Hinduism, Islam theology often attributes a negative symbolism to gold. Instead of a symbol for purity and holiness, some Islamic scriptures consider gold to be representative of arrogance and a lack of humility.
The Qur’an recommends that Muslim men and women avoid using precious metals for vain purposes. In Islamic scriptures, humility is considered an important virtue for believers to possess. An overreliance on precious metals can be seen as a sign of vanity and pridefulness, which is why many devout Muslims avoid opulent gold jewelry. The Prophet Muhammed associated gold with extravagance and a preoccupation with social status, qualities discouraged under his philosophy.
But on the Arabian Peninsula, and in many Islamic civilizations, gold has been used to symbolize power and status. Ancient Muslim worship objects have been made with gold, and gold jewelry remains very popular within much of the modern Muslim world.
Gold in Judaism
Gold has been a prized precious metal throughout much of Jewish history and theology, but it may also carry a negative symbolism. In the Book of Exodus, Moses was forced to sacrifice a golden calf after the Israelites incurred the wrath of God by worshipping the animal. Because gold often invokes what is commonly called the “sin of the golden calf,” some Jewish men and women believe gold to be inferior to silver.
Silver is instead often used in Jewish objects of worship because of its association with righteousness, light, and purity. Some Jewish artifacts are made using gold, even though some devout Jewish people negatively associate the yellowish precious metal with the idolatry disavowed in the story of the “golden calf.”
Final Thoughts: Gold’s Importance to Religion
Throughout human history, very few elements have been as important as gold. The multi-billion dollar gold industry is one of the largest sectors on the planet, and gold is widely considered a symbol of wealth, prosperity, and status. But gold’s lasting impact on human civilization may have more to do with religion than economics.
For thousands of years, gold has been an important symbol in many of the world’s most popular religions. From Islam to Hinduism and in nearly every religion in-between, the same shiny metal that captivates investors today has been used to remind man of the higher powers that they worship.
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About The Author
Michael Roets
Michael Roets is a writer and journalist for Hero Bullion. His work explores precious metals news, guides, and commentary.