Idolatry

Idolatry is that form of superstition which sets up false gods, and pays divine honor to what is not divine. St. Augustine*(De Doct. Christ, ii*) says: “Anything invented by man for making and worshiping idols, or for giving divine worship to a creature, or any part of a creature … is superstitious.” The superstition here indicated is that of idolatry.

It is certainly a sin to worship idols, outwardly orinwardly. It is right to give honor to superiors, but not to regard them as gods. Idolatry is utterly inordinate; it is flatly contrary to reason; it conflicts with religion; it is a thing evil in itself. Hence, idolatry is never to be tolerated. We must reject the error of those heretics who say that, in times of persecution, it suffices to hold the true religion in the heart,and, for the sake of freedom from trouble, to take part in the outward worship of idols.

It is a sin, and in itself the gravest kind of sin, to practice idolatry. For it is directly against God, like hatred of God which we have called the worst sin in its kind. Idolatry would upset the order of the universe by ascribing universal control and absolute power to a creature. Some sins may be worse than idolatryby reason of the contempt for God and his law that exists in the sinner’s heart; but no sin is worse in itself.

Men cause idolatry by their excessive affections,inordinate loyalties, too high an esteem for artistic objects, and also by ignorance. Scripture says (Wisd. 14:14): “By the vanity of men, they [idols] came into the world.” A further cause of idolatry is found in the solicitation of demons who offer themselves to be adored.