[Dialogue] Seious Objections

[aiseayew]

Karl,

I don't think a "Christian context" has anything in particular to do with my 
basic objection, which is to equating idolatry with paganism.

I went to the suggested website and enjoyed the great quotes and excerpts, 
but they were about idolatry--period.  I have no argument with your general 
definition of  idolatry in Christian theology.

In your illustration from the Egyptian sociologist, I am not sure whether 
you are describing a veneer of formal religion
 over ancient religions or a veneer of ancient religion over formal 
religions.  In either case I don't think this rises to the level of 
idolatry.

That 70% of Republicans say we should fight for our country whether it is 
right or wrong comes to me as a clear illustration of idolatry, making the 
nation god or the final reality before which one stands.  I do not see any 
relationship of that stance to paganism. (In fact, I suspect most pagans 
would be apalled to think such a stance had anything to do with their belief 
"system".)  As long as you are not equating Muslim or Buddhist or, or, or, 
with idolatry, I can't discern any reason to equate paganism with idolatry. 
If, on the other hand, all belief systems other than Christianity are to be 
equated with idolatry, I would suggest that christianity itself has become 
the god before which the knee is being bent, an idolatry supreme.

Margaret



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Karl Hess" <khess at apk.net>
To: "Colleague Dialogue" <Dialogue at wedgeblade.net>
Sent: Wednesday, July 06, 2005 8:02 AM
Subject: Re: [Dialogue] Seious Objections


> Margaret,
>
> My mistake was assuming a Christian context.  My apologies.
>
> Here's what I understand.  See also 
> http://www.serve.com/thibodep/cr/niebuhr.htm
> In Christian theology generally God is understood to take a dim view of 
> other gods.  Other gods are understood as anything which takes the place 
> of god in a person's life - money, power, sex, nation, ideology - thus 
> these are forms of idolatry.
>
> Animism is a particular group of religions, most commonly found in 
> pre-literate societies.
>
> The Egyptian sociologist was studying female genital mutilation, and told 
> me that this practice goes back into pre-history in Egypt and that 
> Christians and then Muslims had tried to eliminate it and failed.  This I 
> take as an example of the veneer of formal religion over ancient 
> religions.
>
> A current example is that 70% of Republicans say we should fight for our 
> country whether it is right or wrong.  I take that to be an example of 
> paganism.
>
> Karl
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