There are certain trends that we can watch over centuries, even millennia. We can see them more clearly than others because they occupy such a central place in our ancestor’s lives.
Then, as we look over the relatively small span of our own brief existence, we can put our observation in this much larger context.
For instance, our culture loves to idolize actors. The bigger the actor, the more successful the movie, and the more publicity they get. The more publicity, the more we talk about them, and the larger they loom in our lives. Eventually they start selling things like coffee makers or exercise machines.
As a youngster, I didn’t see this as much. The idols back then were astronauts, or men who’d fought the enemy in the great war. There were even a few scientists who were considered cutting edge, representing the future of our world.
Quick Quiz; name a famous scientist of today. Or an astronaut. How about a humanitarian working in a poor country who has no money? Did you get three out of three? It’s even hard for me, and I pay attention to these things.
As our nation gets dumber, our idols become idiots. We want to associate them with ourselves, and it’s so much easier to follow the antics of a beautiful spoiled brat than the brainy mind-benders of some old geezer.
And so it was many many years ago. The gods started out as highly regarded for their strength and abilities, and this was the Golden Age of Greece. A few hundred years later, Rome had embraced the love-making nature of Venus and the partying nature of Bacchus.
Who are your gods? If they hail from Hollywood, then you do indeed sacrifice something to them. You sacrifice your time and attention. For every moment you spend with them you lose to the rest of the universe. If your gods are noble and great, then the moments you spend with them will make you a better person, improving the lives of all those who love you.
So, to paraphrase a popular credit card commercial;
Who’s on YOUR altar?
Behavior, study of... 