a destructive god
There are two essential spiritual truths that we ignore at our peril. The first is that a variety of “gods” seek our allegiance. The second is that we take on the qualities of the gods we worship. Jesus described money as one of these alternative gods, and the secular world is now telling us how worshiping this god affects us.…
what do you worship?
"Whether it’s a supernatural being . . . science, money, wisdom, information, ritual, power or love,” says social commentator Hugh Mackay, “most of us assign the status of god to something in our lives.” The truth is: Modern, secular people still worship something even if they’ve abandoned belief in God.
The first chapter of Romans describes this human religious impulse…
sacred scarecrows
I wandered around at the annual Scarecrow Festival in a neighboring town, the smell of fried dough, popcorn, and hot dogs filled the air. Multitudes of scarecrows masquerading as different characters—athletes, pirates, farmers, cheerleaders—were arranged on platforms for everyone to admire. I thought of Jeremiah as he commanded the Israelites not to admire the gods of the surrounding nations. He…
sacred spaces
A torii is a traditional Japanese gate typically painted brilliant red and found at the entrance of Shinto shrines and Japanese Buddhist temples devoted to particular gods. Adherents to those religions believe it marks the point where one leaves the secular world and enters the holy. A large and famous torii stands off the shore of Miyajima Island in the Hiroshima…
