Hi Billy, > Most Westerners have struggled at one time or another to understand the > attraction of idolatry in the ancient world. What could be so compelling > about an inanimate block of wood or chunk of stone? Hard care idolatry feels > as tempting as beet juice. It's likely someone out there loves a frothy glass > of obscure vegetable extract, but the temptation doesn't weigh heavily on our > souls. > Substitue "pornography" for "idolatry" and suddenly it becomes much easier to understand why people found it compelling...
-- Ernie P. On Apr 18, 2012, at 10:16 AM, [email protected] wrote: > This article over-simplifies the issue of idolatry. In ways it is a > caricature of the practice. > To understand idolatry maybe the best things to do is consider its survivals > in today's world, > like processions of saints' images in Catholic countries, or of deities in > Hindu India. > > Yes, De Young's critique applies, but not really the way he presents his case. > For there was --sometimes still is-- the religion of the masses and > spirituality > of another kind that can exist or even thrive in the shadows of idolatry. > Sure, in parts of Italy , etc, statues of the Virgin Mary are taken on > promenade, > but there also are smart-as-hell Catholic theologians and tireless workers for > good like mother Teresa, plus an army of dedicated servants for common > welfare, > parish priests, people who work for St Vincent's, etc, and the like, with > some number > of Hindu counterparts. > > De Young minimizes that side to idolatry, if not denying it altogether. And > in idolatrous > societies there could be prophets / prophetesses of moral standing, and > charitable > organizations and ethical teachers who reached the multitudes. There is, > within > monotheistic tradition, a strong desire to demonize all non-monotheistic > religion > and, sad to say, it sometimes is outright dishonest. Or willfully uninformed. > > However, all of this said, De Young's points should not be overlooked. > I have been thinking about putting together a list of 10 things that I dislike > about Goddess tradition --from the viewpoint of someone who identifies > with that tradition. I won't be using all of De Young's 9 criticisms verbatim, > but they are essential considerations toward such a critique. > > Yes, indeed, there are serous problems with idolatry, some that are > monumental, > which is why, for me, any understanding of the Holy Spirit --in a form that > is > really no different than a Goddess-- must not be associated with idolatry > in any way. > > Next question, and a source of innumerable Protestant sermons, is what are > the idols we actually worship in our time of history ? These may not be > statues made of wood that are covered with gold leaf, but such things as > high status possessions, as worship of money, as a feel-good ideology, > and still more. > > Maybe the worst problem with idolatry is that it is Hydra-headed > and can take thousands of forms. > > > Billy > > ========================================== > > Christian Post > Why Idolatry Was (and Is) Attractive > > > By Kevin DeYoung , CP Guest Contributor > April 18, 2012|8:58 am > Most Westerners have struggled at one time or another to understand the > attraction of idolatry in the ancient world. What could be so compelling > about an inanimate block of wood or chunk of stone? Hard care idolatry feels > as tempting as beet juice. It's likely someone out there loves a frothy glass > of obscure vegetable extract, but the temptation doesn't weigh heavily on our > souls. > > But idolatry made a lot of sense in the ancient world. And, had we lived two > or three millennia ago, it almost certainly would have been tempting to each > one of us. In his commentary on Exodus, Doug Stuart explains idolatry's > attraction with nine points. You'll likely want to save this list and file it > for future sermons or Bible studies. > > 1. Idolatry was guaranteed. The formula was simple. Carve a god out of wood > or stone and the god would enter the icon. Now that you have a god in your > midst, you can get his (or her) attention quickly. Your incantations, oaths, > and offerings will always be noticed. > > 2. Idolatry was selfish. Scratch the gods backs and they'll scratch yours. > They need food and sacrifices; you need blessings. Do your stuff and they'll > be obliged to get you stuff. > > 3. Idolatry was easy. Ancient idolatry encouraged vain religious activity. Do > what you like with your life. So long as you show up consistently with your > sacrifices, you'll be in good shape. > > 4. Idolatry was convenient. Gods in the ancient world were not hard to come > by. Access was almost everywhere. Statues can be used in the home or on the > go. > > Like us on Facebook > > > 5. Idolatry was normal. Everyone did it. It's how women got pregnant, how > crops grew, how armies conquered. Idolatry was like oil: nothing ran in the > ancient world without it. > > 6. Idolatry was logical. Nations are different. People are different. Their > needs and desires are different. Obviously, there must be different deities > for different strokes. How could one god cover all of life? You don't eat at > one restaurant do you? The more options the better. They can all be right > some of the time. > > 7. Idolatry was pleasing to the senses. If you are going to be especially > religious, it helps to be able to see your god. It's harder to impress people > with an invisible deity. > > 8. Idolatry is indulgent. Sacrificing to the gods did not often require > sacrifice for the worshiper. Leftover food could be eaten. Drink could be > drunk. Generosity to the gods leads to feasting for you. > > 9. Idolatry was sensual. The whole system was marked by eroticism. Rituals > could turn into orgies. Sex on earth often meant sex in heaven, and sex in > heaven meant big rain, big harvests and multiplying herds. > > Can you see the attraction of idolatry? "Let's see I want a spirituality that > gets me lots, costs me little, is easy to see, easy to do, has few ethical or > doctrinal boundaries, guarantees me success, feels good, and doesn't offend > those around me." That'll preach. We want the same things they wanted. We > just go after them in different ways. We want a faith that gets us stuff and > guarantees success (prosperity gospel). We want discipleship that is always > convenient (virtual church). We want a religion that is ritualistic (nominal > Christianity). Or a spirituality that no matter what encourages sexual > expression (GLBTQ). We all want to follow God in a way that makes sense to > others, feels good to us, and is easy to see and understand. From the garden > to the Asherah pole to the imperial feasts, idolatry was the greatest > temptation for God's people in both testaments. > > A look around and a look inside will tell you it still is. > > > > -- > Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community > <[email protected]> > Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism > Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org -- Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community <[email protected]> Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org
