The changing face of idolatry




Idols - images or representations of god used as objects of worship, have been revered, talked about, written about and noted as evident through ancient manuscripts and the Bible.  Of course there is no way to actually determine a date that we would recognise when this type of worship started – although the earliest understood use comes from the Shvetashvatara Upanishad, dated from the millennium BCE (when even is that?)

Idolaters are those who worship an idol or idols.  In its original definition, idolatry was where the subject of worship was seen as more important than God (the term ‘God’ being used here as a term that identifies the highest power in a religion) – a physical manifestation of worship, something that absorbed the heart and imagination more than God.  God of course isn’t physical, hence the choice to believe or not in his existence.   Through the Bible, the word of God s smart enough to call out that any other form of worship was in fact a distraction from the good life that his worship preferred.

Why do we need idols, how do they enhance our lives?  Why is the need to worship so compelling to so many?    Through time the worship of something/anything has become a form of comfort and also maybe an opportunity to relinquish need to make personal decision or take personal control.  If we can say that our idol tells us, then maybe we feel that we don’t have to take on the responsibility for our actions.  This of course, may be a personal view, and it’s probably better to remain within the law even with this thinking.   But of course there are various options that you can choose to follow, or not to follow, all of which have variation in rules and requirements. 

While there are those who worship idols, there are also those who condemn them.  Hitler for example was considered an idol, as his words and direction absorbed the heart and imagination but to his dissenters these were the antithesis of good.   Often idolators have competing views and may suggest that their particular idol is better than yours. 

With the growth of communication options, the internet, social media – the opportunity to share details of your particular idol are easy and widespread.  But even more, the opportunity for an individual to present themself to a wide audience is available.  Take the Kardashian family – they seem to have become idols.  Why?  They seem to have captured the hearts and imagination of at least hundreds of thousands, if not millions.  Their power is evidenced by their earnings from product placements and creation of their own ranges of clothes and makeup.  They are even able to influence their idolators to change their body shape through surgery.  This is pretty scary and it’s hard to say that their influence is for anyone’s good but their own. 

It’s hard to understand why this has happened, somehow they represent an opportunity or way of life that people aspire to and idolise.  But then who ever said that idols are all good?

 

 

 

Comments

  1. myarmJanuary 31, 2021 at 12:13 PM

    Interesting commonalities with mine Bridget. 🤗

    ReplyDelete
  2. AliceFebruary 6, 2021 at 5:52 PM

    "If we can say that our idol tells us, then maybe we feel that we don’t have to take on the responsibility for our actions" ... I think this is really interesting 🤔

    ReplyDelete

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