[FormerLib]

It is inevitable that when we rely upon religious icons as an enabler of our faith we will eventually associate our spiritual well-being with that icon.

Ah, see there's the error: we do not rely on them as an enabler of our faith. Reliance implies a necessity, which it is not or no Orthodox could pray without an icon (which is not true at all).

It is not a matter of "living strictly in context of our 5 senses" but using our senses at part of our rightly directed worship of God.

[SoothingDave]

Ah, see there's the error: we do not rely on them as an enabler of our faith.

Next you'll tell me you can pray without incense. ;-)

SD

[Frapster]

I think you're describing the ideal. While I don't disagree with the notion of the ideal the reality of human nature doesn't always prove to be so ideal.