Lets name what it is we are in danger to idolize

Onesimus

I think we often idolize each other especially in the business of the arts, we tend to look up to people like John Lennon, Michael Jackson, Princess Diana etc etc. It seems to work on that level a lot. We live in a world that idolizes money, business, economy, houses, cars and other peoples thoughts such as secular philosophers.

Anyone want to add to this list? less or more obvious things we tend to idolize?

Did the celebrity status ever exist in ancient times? or is it something unique to the 19th century?

Manach

Who is most idolised? - I reckon ourselves. Historically there has been a shift from a spirit of community, of belonging to a greater whole to that of the modern ideal of autonomous individuals whose goals in life are in the pursuit of maximum enjoyment with least effort. That there might be something else out there, besides a reflection of oneself, would be a disruptive idea.

BTW - during ancient times there were plenty of idols, such as gladiators or chariot racers who were lionised and gained riches if successful. However they were not canvased for their opinions or seen as role models for future generations to aspire to be.

torrentum

Interesting topic. Technology is almost worshipped in our time. Religion seems to be a percieved opposite to advancement and technology, and is probably the main reason it is so disliked nowadays. I think technology is great, but not obsessivly so.

Celly Smunt

jesus said to worship god and only him right?

why do you worship jesus?

jesus is god,holy trinity?

i thought there was only one god?

if jesus is god,and god is jesus father and different to jesus,aren't there two gods then?

im invisible

i'd say the Virgin Mary, all the Marian shrines we have around the country....

totus tuus

im invisible wrote: »

i'd say the Virgin Mary, all the Marian shrines we have around the country....

I don't know of anyone who worships Mary, I know many who venerate her, including yours truly!

Onesimus

torrentum wrote: »

Interesting topic. Technology is almost worshipped in our time. Religion seems to be a percieved opposite to advancement and technology, and is probably the main reason it is so disliked nowadays. I think technology is great, but not obsessivly so.

I agree but we have to understand that the Gospel and Christs Church is always current and always works with technology using it for good rather than bad. The Church never has a problem with technology just the bad motives behind it and the danger of idolizing it as you have just mentioned.

But people have always thought the Church was never current of their time, right from Eygpt up to Roman empire and onwards. The human heart never really changes at all I guess.

Gumbi

Worshipping terminology? Do expand.

georgieporgy

pmcmahon wrote: »

jesus said to worship god and only him right?

why do you worship jesus?

jesus is god,holy trinity?

i thought there was only one god?

if jesus is god,and god is jesus father and different to jesus,aren't there two gods then?

Jesus also said "The Father and I are one"

philologos

pmcmahon wrote: »

jesus said to worship god and only him right?

why do you worship jesus?

jesus is god,holy trinity?

i thought there was only one god?

if jesus is god,and god is jesus father and different to jesus,aren't there two gods then?

Read John chapter 10 and John 17 for the relationship between the Father and the Son.

OP: its many things for me. Work / success can very easily become my idol, financial security, relationships / family. In short anything that causes me to trust less and less in God's sovereignty and His revealed Word and trust more in the passing things of this world. The Bible promises us that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever more and that heaven and earth will pass away but the word of God will remain forever.

The Bible is more and more the moderator of my life. I need to immerse myself and meditate on it day and night and do so more.

sbsquarepants

For the non religious there are any number of people/things who are idolised - sport stars, actors, singers and every make and creed of vacuous celebrity imaginable. (I would enormously admire a few myself, maybe even idolise - personal examples that spring immediately to mind are, Messi, Bruce Springstein and Steffi Graf:D) A lot of people could have numerous "non person" idols, such as money, fame, even things like sex and drugs i suppose.
But i assume your question is aimed more at religious people, in which case i would say there is a huge percentage of religious people who idolise certain saints, saint Anthony being one who imediately springs to mind. There are also a lot who idolise the likes of Padre Pio, or mother Theresa, or the previous pope even. I would imagine that the number of religious people who idolise only god are very small.

Northclare

There is no God but God.
A lot of Religion is man made.
If Jesus was walking amongst us as man,he would be disgusted with a lot of the idolized saints etc.

The catholic church is a terror for idol's isn't it....

tommy2bad

I am struck by the fact that Sunday morning radio is dominated by business shows, time was the same slots were filled with religious shows. Dose this mean we now worship money and business is the new religion with entrepreneurs the new priesthood?

They've not done much better than the old one if so.

georgieporgy

Northclare wrote: »

There is no God but God.
A lot of Religion is man made.
If Jesus was walking amongst us as man,he would be disgusted with a lot of the idolized saints etc.

The catholic church is a terror for idol's isn't it....

Here's a little snippet from the Catechism of the Catholic Church on idolatory. I would say a lot of ideas about religion are man made.

2779 Before we make our own this first exclamation of the Lord's Prayer, we must humbly cleanse our hearts of certain false images drawn "from this world." Humility makes us recognize that "no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him," that is, "to little children." The purification of our hearts has to do with paternal or maternal images, stemming from our personal and cultural history, and influencing our relationship with God. God our Father transcends the categories of the created world. To impose our own ideas in this area "upon him" would be to fabricate idols to adore or pull down. To pray to the Father is to enter into his mystery as he is and as the Son has revealed him to us.
The expression God the Father had never been revealed to anyone. When Moses himself asked God who he was, he heard another name. The Father's name has been revealed to us in the Son, for the name "Son" implies the new name "Father."

newmug

OP what is your definition of "idol" or "idolize"? My understanding is that an idol is a statue with which people attribute false Godly supernatural powers. If it moves or speaks, its supernatural alright, but it is not God. It may be of God, but if it actually is God, then by definition its no longer an idol.

Northclare

I think the OP is on about putting celebs artists and musicians on pedestals.

I can see what he means,like one can idolize others,try to be like their idols worshiping DJ's in a club hands in the air like you just don't care etc...

Even religious or spiritual people can get caught up in that sht.
Worshiping saints guru's new age spiritualist's etc.

Like no one can deny at some stage of their life, they idolized or worshiped someone.

And if you didn't your a liar....

Remember that person you were obsessed with all those year's ago

newmug

Northclare wrote: »

I think the OP is on about putting celebs artists and musicians on pedestals.

I can see what he means,like one can idolize others,try to be like their idols worshiping DJ's in a club hands in the air like you just don't care etc............

Remember that person you were obsessed with all those year's ago

But is that IDOLIZING? I mean really, is it? I have never, ever, ever attributed supernatural status to someone who I ADMIRED. We need to get some definitions straightened out here.

Northclare

newmug wrote: »

Northclare wrote: »

I think the OP is on about putting celebs artists and musicians on pedestals.

I can see what he means,like one can idolize others,try to be like their idols worshiping DJ's in a club hands in the air like you just don't care etc............

Remember that person you were obsessed with all those year's ago

But is that IDOLIZING? I mean really, is it? I have never, ever, ever attributed supernatural status to someone who I ADMIRED. We need to get some definitions straightened out here.

Are you sure about that ?

Maybe not supernatural status,more like a superficial status,they're both similar in ways...

uck51js9zml2yt

totus tuus wrote: »

im invisible wrote: »

i'd say the Virgin Mary, all the Marian shrines we have around the country....

I don't know of anyone who worships Mary, I know many who venerate her, including yours truly!

what's the difference?
she is being put in a place that is never mentioned in scripture.
she is prayed to. the only one scripture tells us to pray to is God.

tommy2bad

Sincere Beautiful Spinach wrote: »

what's the difference?
she is being put in a place that is never mentioned in scripture.
she is prayed to. the only one scripture tells us to pray to is God.

Being put in a place never mentioned in scripture is not idolizing. Scripture isn't a 'this much and no more' thing.
She isn't being put in the place of God which is what if forbidden by commands against idols.

And scripture tells us to pray together, that includes the communion of saints living and dead so directing prayer to God through the intersession of any saint isn't un scriptural.