The atheism that truly stands opposite authentic faith is the one described by Psalm 14. "The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God,' " and on the basis of that denial, lives a life of corruption and perversity (Ps 14:1-7; see also Ps 53:1-6). This "practical atheism" is based on a decision of the heart rather than a conclusion of the mind, and is expressed by serving oneself and oppressing others. Practical atheists have their "gods" - all humans must center their lives somewhere - but they are gods that are crafted according to their own desires. Practical atheism finds its expression in idolatry. . . . .
The Book of Wisdom and Romans [14:12-31; Rom 1:24-32] remind us that the awesome power of idolatry is found above all in its ability to shape the structure of society so that they suppress the possibility of perceiving the world in any way other than idolatrously. It is idolatry when much of the world is constructed on the basis of economic and political systems that foster radical individualism, that make competition the supreme value in life, that reward greed, that enslave families to endless work without meaningful rest or spiritual growth, that camouflage such slavery by an endless round of entertainment diverting attention from the deadening boredom of life dedicated exclusively to acquisition of meaningless things, and that, through its control of the media, progressively convinces all the enslaved that this pattern is "natural" and "good" and "free"
Children born and raised within such a totalitarian system of meaning (even if it is called capitalism) can only with great difficulty learn to see the world in terms other than those given by these structures of society with their massive powers of persuasion. . . .
The pretense of idolatry to give life or identity or worth apart from God is always a lie. The pretense that the world is all there is does not lead to greater independence and freedom, but to ever greater degrees of dependence and slavery. And has the earth ever seen humans as dependent and needy and addicted as those now inhabiting contemporary Westernized countries?
Taken from The Creed, by Luke Timothy Johnson pp 70-72
The Book of Wisdom and Romans [14:12-31; Rom 1:24-32] remind us that the awesome power of idolatry is found above all in its ability to shape the structure of society so that they suppress the possibility of perceiving the world in any way other than idolatrously. It is idolatry when much of the world is constructed on the basis of economic and political systems that foster radical individualism, that make competition the supreme value in life, that reward greed, that enslave families to endless work without meaningful rest or spiritual growth, that camouflage such slavery by an endless round of entertainment diverting attention from the deadening boredom of life dedicated exclusively to acquisition of meaningless things, and that, through its control of the media, progressively convinces all the enslaved that this pattern is "natural" and "good" and "free"
Children born and raised within such a totalitarian system of meaning (even if it is called capitalism) can only with great difficulty learn to see the world in terms other than those given by these structures of society with their massive powers of persuasion. . . .
The pretense of idolatry to give life or identity or worth apart from God is always a lie. The pretense that the world is all there is does not lead to greater independence and freedom, but to ever greater degrees of dependence and slavery. And has the earth ever seen humans as dependent and needy and addicted as those now inhabiting contemporary Westernized countries?
Taken from The Creed, by Luke Timothy Johnson pp 70-72
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