What is Idolatry? Is it relavant in a postmodern society?

Question

Since most people have a pluralistic idea of religion, that all religious roads lead to "heaven," what would you call idolatry and how is it relavant in a globalistic world where we all repect each others beliefs equally? A postmodern world believes that no one knows absolute truth absolutely.

Can we have idolatry without an absolute standard by which we measure it. In other words: "Can we have idolatry if we cannot agree on who God truly is?" Is there such a thing as Idolatry in a postmodern culture?

I'm really dissappointed. Postmodernism is a way of thought that permeates our current thought. It looks back on the past decades and sees literally hundreds of world leaders who have promised the best things for us and have let us down (particularly in WWI and WWII). It looks at religion and laments that every religion has a pretty solid explanation of pain and suffering and gives good reasons for how to cope. Postmodernists throw their hands up on any hope of finding the one way of life and instead create their own. If you don't understand this, then you will not make as much of an impact to people in this world. Research this: start at www.en.wikipedia.com

Answer 1

Idolatry is some kind of worship to an animate object just like what the roman Catholic and pagans do. They worship stones, walls, etc. Witchcraft is also an example of this.

If postmodern world means that no one knows about the absolute truth absolutely, therefore, everyone is free to believe in things. This could be quite relevant and people may not care since people have the choice but this would not necessarily mean that idolatry is the ablsolute truth...

Answer 2

Idolatry is when you worship something or someone. You put more value to that something or someone more than God.
Idolatry happens in so many ways like when you worship yourself (when you feel like hope is gone, look inside you and be strong and you'll see the truth, that a hero lies in you), money, clothing, earth, trees, gold, whatever the case may, that is idolatry. Respect or not when it's idolatry it's idolatry. Some make excuses that don't say that, that's so mean but when you see something is wrong tell your views and try and correct the person.

Answer 3

Idolatry is worshipping things (such as money and power) other than God. The most common form of idolatry is greed. Colossians 3:5. Ephesians 5:5. People are not satisified with what they have and want more. More money, more power, a bigger house, a more expensive car, more clothes, etc. It has little to do with respecting others' beliefs equally. Instead of bowing to a statue of wood or stone, people bow down to the Almighty Dollar. Those who have want more and those who don't have, what little is theirs is taken away from them.

Answer 4

Idolatry will always be relavant. For those of you who don't know what it is, Idolatry is the worship of anything besides God, like an image, or a statue or something.

I am Catholic, and a lot of people think we worship idols because we have statues in our churches. This is incorrect. We do not worship statues or pictures or anything like that. We worship God and God alone. They also think we worship Mary. Again, we do not. Only God. Having a statue of a saint or anybody is no different than having a picture of them, like having a polariod. Just a reminder of a loved one, like a daddy who has pictures of his kids in his wallet so he can look at them from time to time.

Today, most of us don't bow down to statues, but we worship idols in other ways: money, sex, fame, or other addictions and fixations we might have.

If there is something in your life that you are placing before God, you need to do a reality check. Nothing, i repeat, NOTHING comes before God. If something is, you need to consider making some changes.

God bless.

Answer 5

Idolatry simply means making an absolute out of something which is not absolute. Secular society is saturated with idolatry: sex, wealth, popularity, cars, sports, drugs -- all of those things can be idols if they occupy the place of "ultimate commitment" in your life.

By that standard, by the way, even from a Christian perspective, a Hindu venerating a lingam is *not* an idolater.

Answer 6

Idolatry is very relevant today. People worship "Idols" nowadays just as much if not more then in the time of Moses. Idols can be things like Money, sports, women, cars, anything that distracts us from the important things like our family and The Lord.

Answer 7

The absolute truth is....Idolatry is when you place more value or importance (i.e. money, career, a new car, sex, anything) on a created thing instead of God.

Do you dwell on when you'll get to go golfing? On the upcoming weekend on the new bass boat? Or do you think about God?

Answer 8

I would interpret idolatry in a postmodern society, one where a person values anything else before valuing God. To some it is money, to others it is drugs, to others it is revenge, etc. etc.

Answer 9

Believing that an angel is a formidable power against 'God' could be called idolatry after a fashion -- which is how Christianity (not Judaism) views Satan.

Answer 10

There is idolatry all around us, with the veneration of music stars and athletes. When one loses focus on that which is truly important, one can slide into idolatry.