A number of passages in the Bible make the ironic point that idols do not have any real existence beyond their physical form, which is only a creation of those who worship it (e.g. Psalm 115:4-8; Jeremiah 10:14, 51:17-18; Habakuk 2:19; Acts 19:26; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6). Of course, whereas idols back then were generally statues or effigies of some sort, the idols of today are generally activities (e.g. sports), people (e.g. celebrities), or possessions of various kinds. Unlike ancient idols, these modern idols do not purport to be gods in a categorical sense, as they normally have some function beside taking the place of God (with the possible exception of celebrities).
Perhaps the ultimate idol of modern times, however, is money. Like the olden-day idols, money does not really exist in the way that we normally imagine. Indeed, this has been the case ever since money first emerged. Although there were times when usable commodities like cattle were used as money, more often it appeared in the form of objects like shells that otherwise contained little value. Gold is the perennial currency; but, as the Diamond-Water Paradox demonstrates, the presumed value of gold is specious.
Today, of course, we normally think of money as cash. As the famous images of people using Reichsmarks or Zimbabwean Dollars as tinder attest, bills, coins, and cheques would be virtually useless if they did not function as money. The situation appears even more stark when we consider that most money today exists not as physical cash, but rather as virtual bits.
Like ancient idols, money is a creation of human beings. In the modern economy, moreover, money is constantly being created or destroyed in the blink of an eye, at the push of a button. Indeed, the counterfeit nature of money is most obvious when too much money is created (as hyperinflation wipes out its value) or when too little is created (as consumption and investment grind to a halt). When real or potential resources lay idle while people struggle to survive, the divinity of money is called into question.
Money has no real existence, and in this sense it is the quintessential idol.
Perhaps the ultimate idol of modern times, however, is money. Like the olden-day idols, money does not really exist in the way that we normally imagine. Indeed, this has been the case ever since money first emerged. Although there were times when usable commodities like cattle were used as money, more often it appeared in the form of objects like shells that otherwise contained little value. Gold is the perennial currency; but, as the Diamond-Water Paradox demonstrates, the presumed value of gold is specious.
Today, of course, we normally think of money as cash. As the famous images of people using Reichsmarks or Zimbabwean Dollars as tinder attest, bills, coins, and cheques would be virtually useless if they did not function as money. The situation appears even more stark when we consider that most money today exists not as physical cash, but rather as virtual bits.
Like ancient idols, money is a creation of human beings. In the modern economy, moreover, money is constantly being created or destroyed in the blink of an eye, at the push of a button. Indeed, the counterfeit nature of money is most obvious when too much money is created (as hyperinflation wipes out its value) or when too little is created (as consumption and investment grind to a halt). When real or potential resources lay idle while people struggle to survive, the divinity of money is called into question.
Money has no real existence, and in this sense it is the quintessential idol.
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