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Author Topic:   Money Isn't a False God
GDR
Member
Posts: 6202
From: Sidney, BC, Canada
Joined: 05-22-2005
Member Rating: 1.9


Message 13 of 150 (614356)
05-03-2011 6:54 PM
Reply to: Message 4 by purpledawn
05-03-2011 7:34 AM


Re: Money Isn't a Deity
GDR writes:
For example I contend that when the Israelites claim to be told by God to slaughter every man woman and child amongst their enemies we are to understand that we are to learn not to let other gods, (in modern terms I suggest that the other gods are money and power), become part of our lives as they had done
purpledawn writes:
I expect those who consider money to be a false god will explain how they feel money can be presented as a deity, false or otherwise. How is money worshiped? Wanting something doesn't mean it is viewed as a deity or is a deity.
I'll try and explain what I meant in the quote you used.
My contention is that the early Hebrews were still heavily influenced by the pagan gods of their neighbours, and as a result they transferred some of the pagan beliefs into their own theology. When they did that they were in effect worshipping false gods in their attempt to gain favour with whatever god would give them power and influence, even though they still claimed that it was Yahweh that they worshipped. It was Yahweh in name only. I think that is often still the case today, and that is the lesson to be learned from the scriptures.
CS Lewis writes in Mere Christianity that the "great sin" or the all encompassing sin is pride or self conceit. It seems to me that one of the major ways that pride shows itself in our lives is in a lust for power. One major ways of achieving power is to acquire wealth.
If we make the attainment of wealth and power one of the central features of our lives, I maintain that we are worshipping false gods in a less blood thirsty, but still similar way to the various cultures in the ancient world.
There is also the obvious difference between serving a god and serving God.

Everybody is entitled to my opinion.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 4 by purpledawn, posted 05-03-2011 7:34 AM purpledawn has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 14 by purpledawn, posted 05-03-2011 8:04 PM GDR has replied

  
GDR
Member
Posts: 6202
From: Sidney, BC, Canada
Joined: 05-22-2005
Member Rating: 1.9


Message 15 of 150 (614377)
05-03-2011 8:35 PM
Reply to: Message 14 by purpledawn
05-03-2011 8:04 PM


Re: Money Isn't a Deity
purpledawn writes:
Ignoring the Christian God and attaining wealth and power isn't worshiping a false god.
I wasn't making this about the god of any particular religion. I'm just talking about where our heart is. If it's all wrapped in money and power then I still maintain that we are serving false gods. In this case the money is the road to the power.
If you want to bring Christianity into it then Jesus says that the road to power is through loving and serving others, which makes power look very different than we normally imagine.
Edited by GDR, : written in haste and later corrected

Everybody is entitled to my opinion.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 14 by purpledawn, posted 05-03-2011 8:04 PM purpledawn has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 17 by purpledawn, posted 05-04-2011 7:55 AM GDR has replied

  
GDR
Member
Posts: 6202
From: Sidney, BC, Canada
Joined: 05-22-2005
Member Rating: 1.9


Message 20 of 150 (614431)
05-04-2011 10:31 AM
Reply to: Message 17 by purpledawn
05-04-2011 7:55 AM


Re: Where The Heart Is
purpledawn writes:
Our hearts are wrapped up in survival. That's what we do on a daily basis. Money is necessary for survival. How is being "wrapped up" in money any different than being wrapped up in hunting for food or growing food. We are wrapped up in survival and survival of our families.
I'm not talking money for "survival". I'm talking about accumulating money in order to gain power and influence, or accumulating money just for the point of seeing rich you can become.
Money for survival, or money to help those that need help is a good thing.
Edited by GDR, : No reason given.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 17 by purpledawn, posted 05-04-2011 7:55 AM purpledawn has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 22 by purpledawn, posted 05-04-2011 7:01 PM GDR has not replied

  
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