A
religious image is a work of
visual art that is representational and has a religious purpose, subject or connection. All major historical religions have made some use of religious images, although their use is strictly controlled and often controversial in many religions, especially
Abrahamic ones. General terms associated with religious images include
cult image, a term for images, especially in
sculpture which are or have been claimed to be the object of
religious worship in their own right, and
icon strictly a term for
Eastern Orthodox religious images, but often used more widely, in and outside the area of religion.