An idol is a symbol mistaken for a fact.
Symbols and parables can lead to wonderful insights about life, but, if we come to believe in our symbols literally we can find ourselves trapped in a prison of words and images. And, it is very hard to escape from a prison we don’t even know we are in.
An idol can be disorienting even when rejected. Literalism misses the point whether it is used to prove or to disprove the symbols of religion. It can be very disorienting to believe the virgin birth or Eden’s fall as historical facts. It can be almost as confusing to reject symbols as if they were mere definitions.
It would be sad to spend our lives trying to prove the historical accuracy of Aesop’s fables, but it would almost as sad to spend our lives arguing against them. A symbol, if understood, leads to insights for living and loving. An idol can only deceive because it points to nothing beyond itself.