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   %IDOL SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY OBJECT IDEAL VALUE GOAL 921012

     When  do the following become idolatrous?:   objects,
objectivity,    sciences,   means,   ends,   technologies,
attitudes,  goals,  purposes,   principles,  laws,  rules,
policies,      religions,     rituals,      organizations,
administrations,  cities,  states,  nations,  governments,
professions, relationships, prohibitions, taboos, leaders.

     Any  one  of the above realities  becomes  idolatrous
when it:

     1.  Is  regarded  as  more important  than  open  and
honest  human relationships characterized by personal  and
communal integrity.

     2.  Is put beyond being evaluated in terms of relaxed
reflections  upon  liberating human  experiences which are
discussed openly and honestly.

     3.  Becomes  part  of  a comprehensive  system  which
dictates how to perceive and interpret human experiences.

     4.  Becomes part of a system which concentrates power
in  the  hands  of a few people  having  some  distinctive
characteristic, and robs other people who do not have that
distinctive characteristic of power.

     5.  Casts pervasive shadows  upon realities which are
complimentary  to itself,  placing them in the shadows  of
its own pretentions of ultimate worth and importance.

     6.  Leads  people to see themselves and each other in
terms of dichotomies;  rather than leading people to  find
ways to transcend dichotomous perceptions, attitudes,  and
thinking.

     7.  Heightens conflicts  among  people,   perpetuates
conflicts among people, or leads  to  the  development  of
more sophisticated  and  powerful means by which to engage
in conflicts among people;  rather  than  leading  to  the
transcendence/resolution  of  conflicts among  people  and
among the realities  which  they  regard  as  of  greatest
importance.

     8.  Demands    unquestioning   respect,    reverence,
service, or agreement.

     9.  Pretends  that  there  are  no  realities   which
transcend it.

     10.  Fails   to   show   a  practical   interest   in
facilitating personal and  communal integrity through open
and honest dialogue among differing peoples and cultures.

                                                                                                                               
                         (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in      
                    (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)  
                                                                                                                               
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