This-essay is a7310043.htm which is available at the web-site www.essayz.com. See more notes at the bottom. Previous-Essay <== This-Essay ==> Following-Essay By-Months By-Years By-Words Webs of Like-&-Un-Like ESSAYS <==> Like-&-UN-Like This-One ========================================================== %IDOLATRY 731004 Idolatry is the worship as of ultimate concern any created thing. If former times it was respectable to worship images made of gold, silver, or clay. Such idolatry is no longer respectable, and so no longer profitable---either to those who would make the idols or to those who might worship them. Modern humans know the nature of reality far more analytically than do primitive humans, and so do not address with ultimate concern idols made of gold, silver, or clay. Such created things have been recognized as not being durable, and not embodying ultimate power. The primary word 'I-Thou' is not spoken in relations with such idols. Modern humans have created presumably enduring systems of ethics, morality, analysis, government, economics, and religion. Through them, and the presumably eternal verities which they embody, modern humans are empowered to do what primitive humans could not imagine to ask of their idols. It is a matter of great concern to modern humans to preserve and augment these systems. To some it is a matter of ultimate concern, and it is they who are the modern idolaters. The objects of their worship are more modern and complex, in keeping with the technocratic society over which they rule. The primary word 'I-Thou' is not spoken in relation with such idols; for 'I-Thou' is rarely spoken within a technocratic society. Modern technocrats maintain idols and speak the primary word 'I-It' to them, and to others. Modern technocrats idolatry is perverted. They do not worship that which is the central focus of authentic life in 'I- Thou' relationships. The maintain 'It' and augments 'It'. Modern technocrats attempt to speak 'I' as a primary word without speaking the primary word 'I-Thou', and only unconsciously speaks the primary word 'I-It'. To modern technocrats that which is not known analytically is not real, and so life is impoverished. 'It' will continue in isolation so long as leading scientists and technocrats speak not the primary word 'I- Thou' with an awareness of the limitations of science. Modern technocrats need to regain an awareness of the realities of the primary words 'I-Thou' and 'I-It' as they are known in the eternal now. Only then may the nature of reality reveal its full richness. They that seek shall be known. (c) 1999 by Paul A. Smith in GO: essayz.com "Search for Integrity and Honesty" (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy) ==========================================================
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