| Summary: | This chapter suggests an explanatory framework for the iconic dimension of the Qur’an as sacred scripture; that is, of physical copies of the book, for example as objects of veneration, respect, and protection, and as sources of a power with perceived effects on health and well-being. It suggests that diverse beliefs and practices within the iconic dimension are consequences of a “personification” of the scripture, which in turn can be explained as a result of two basically human mental abilities and proclivities: conceptual blending and psychological essentialism. The chapter also notes different aspects of the iconic dimension identified in previous research and discusses it in relation to the overall theoretical framework. Finally, it suggests that the framework has wider application for the iconic dimensions of sacred scriptures in general, it and can be useful for explaining the psychological infrastructure of human sacralization as such.
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