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God is the absolute
ideal because He is perfect by definition. We should adore only Him since everything else is
transitory. By creating idols, we are moving away from God. Actually, we try to replace Him,
the Absolute, with something which is finite and visible. But why we do that? The reasons are
three:
- In an epistemological sense, our intellect is subordinated to our sensual nature, i.e.,
we perceive the world as a source of sensual pleasures, without looking for truth or the
ultimate principles. Although human reason is able to go beyond these limitations, this is a
matter of personal will and strong spirituality.
- In an ontological sense, we are finite and mortal beings. Hence we cannot
comprehend what is infinite and absolute. For that reason, it is natural to us to adore material
and transitory things. Our disposition to create idols and to worship them comes precisely
from the limitations enforced on our nature. Even human intellect cannot grasp the Absolute
as such and perceives it in an anthropomorphic form.
- In a psychological sense, idolatry is an outcome of our need for security and safety.
The strive for them both penetrates all our life. The fear of the unknown, of the endless, of
what our intellect cannot grasp, makes us create objects of cult, objects which are visible and
easily accessible. They give us security. In contrast with them, monotheistic religions require
sacrifice from us, thereby making us overcome our fear of the unknown.
