The 'golden calf' of the 21st century

Ingrid Peschke, Staff Editor

WHAT I SAY UNTO YOU I SAY UNTO ALL, WATCH.—JESUS

A friend of mine told me about a party she attended for other mothers like herself. What surprised my friend was that when the conversation turned to the subject of breast implants, she was in the minority. Most of the women were considering the idea or had already had the operation. It was as if they were talking about brushing their teeth.

Now I'm certainly not suggesting this is the norm everywhere, but this obsession with surgically changing one's body has become a form of idolatry—to the point of being the subject of several major TV shows. Having a "perfect" body image, at whatever cost, may just be the golden calf, if you will, of the 21st century.

It's true that idol worship has always been around—it was certainly prevalent in the Bible. But either way, a culture that worships money, body, possessions, power, brings with it the danger of diverting thought from a spiritual focus on life—the one focus that brings about true satisfaction. The media and pop culture often feed this frenzy, making such American celebrities as Paris Hilton and Britney Spears worthier as top news items than more pressing issues affecting our world and requiring our prayers. (See The Christian Science Monitor's February 28 article, "Character—not celebrity—should count in news and politics," by John Hughes.)

As I've thought about this, the words from a hymn in the Christian Science Hymnal keep replaying in my thought:

Arise ye people, take your stand,
Cast out your idols from the land,
Above all doctrine, form or creed
Is found the Truth that meets your need.

(Violet Hay, Christian Science Hymnal, No. 12)

So what is the antidote to a gross materialization of worship? We hope you'll find some satisfying answers in our magazine this week. Together we can "rise up and take a stand" against anything that turns our gaze from the one God, Truth.

The Christian Science Sentinel was founded in 1898 by Mary Baker Eddy, and its mission remains the same: "to hold guard over Truth, Life, and Love." The Sentinel continues to report on the unlimited ways that the healing power and presence of the Christ activates, uplifts, and transforms the lives of everyday people around the world.

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