On Idolatry and Altruism

In class the other day, we discussed the section in “From Nature to Creation” on idolatry. The author gives a harsh criticism on the world, and proclaims that idolatry is the sin of the world in which we make all things about ourselves and self-serving. The purpose of all objects and people alike become a means of pleasure for us in idolatry. We have come to view idolatry as a negative concept from God’s commandments to not have idols. However, people in class were adamant to critique this view and asked if the implications were that we cannot admire anything. I think that the author takes it to the extreme, but has a valid point. We use everything to serve ourselves. Everything from our phones to places have been warped to serve humanity. I had the unpopular view that this can even apply to traveling. We are consumers of every single things these days, including the natural world. We go on vacations to exotic places because we tire and do not appreciate the world around us. It has been reduced to a commodity that has no use to us, so why would we bother with it? This is not how we are meant to dwell in the world.

The conversation then took a turn, and we began talking about altruism and if we can truly do things selflessly for others, with nothing to do with what we get back. This was a tough question for me to grapple with. On one hand, I know that I enjoy getting something out of the effort I put in. I am committed to my friends, but expect a similar level of commitment from my friends. But there are more selfless kinds of love, such as the love of a parent for their child, that seems to go beyond a desire for something in return. My final thought, then, is that you know a love is true when you truly want the best for another and will take action for them without any want for something in return, though you can enjoy the pleasure you get out of it as long as it is not part of the motivation.