3-D image reproduction of a human form

[Director Michael]

This question was received about humanoid robots:

I believe that in terms of military research, it may be necessary to build humanoid robots, and that research is already underway. However, I think at a consumer level, they could be used for sexual purposes,

That could certainly involve sexual transgressions in the categories of licentiousness and emitting semen "in vain." By the way, it's already possible to purchase humanoid robots that are designed for that purpose. But that's separate from the issue of idolatry.

and people could come to "idolize" them in a secular sense.

Nevertheless, "idolize in a secular sense" is not connected with the Noahide commandment that forbids idol worship.

I think one of the determining factors would be whether the robot were designed to mimic human flesh.

A brick or the dust on the ground can become an idol, if it's bowed down to as a person's deity or as a symbol of the deity that the person is worshiping. The sin of worshiping an idol doesn't have anything to do with the appearance of the object.

However, it's recognized in Torah law that people could be more readily drawn to worship an object that has a 3-D accurate appearance of human being - even if it's made only of stone or metal, even without a surface that mimics human flesh. That's why there is a prohibition for Gentiles against even making or owning a 3-D statue of an idol (for example, a statue of the idol J'sus).

As an offshoot of this, Gentiles are forbidden to have 3-D full or frontal anatomically-accurate figures of persons or angels exclusively for decoration. Such objects are not idols in general, and having them as decoration is not idolatry or idolatrous in and of itself. But because people have a tendency to gaze at, appreciate and contemplate decorative objects, therefore, the accurate forms of humans or angels (e.g., angels in human form as described in prophetic visions in the Hebrew Bible) are forbidden for decoration, in order to distance people from transgression of the prohibition against turning toward idol worship.

For Gentiles, the Torah Sages did not extend that prohibition to objects that are made to have for some practical use - for example, the practical things that humanoid robots can be used for.

For example, a display of a human skeleton is not idolatrous, but if one were to sculpt clay around a skeleton, it could become an idol.

A human skeleton could also become an idol, if someone decides to worship it.

Do you think there should be a prohibition on mimicking human flesh?

I think that it's enough if the existing prohibitions would be accepted and observed by the society - please G-d, if only that would happen. But if a Noahide wants to go beyond the letter of the law and accept upon himself that additional restriction for the purpose of more stringently distancing himself from the actual prohibition, that's a pious and praiseworthy thing to do. But one shouldn't require other Gentiles to observe that extra stringency that isn't part of the Noahide Code.

To adhere to The Divine Code, I don't own any statues of humans, but I own small silver statues of animals. At a certain point of delineation, a humanoid robot can become like a statue of a human, which I avoid.

I have The Divine Code book as well as the accompanying prayer booklet. I have read the prayers many times, it is one of my favorite prayer books.