Global Left’s Machiavellian Misrepresentation of the Pope Is Failing

The American Spectator ^ | June 8, 2015 | Gene J. Koprowski

[Mrs. Don-o]

Speaking of inanimate objects like Fire or Moon or Earth, as if they were "beings" (as you say), is idolatry?

I invite you to take into consideration that personification or anthropomorphism is a literary device found the Hebrew Bible and Christian New Testament, especially in allegories, parables and metaphors in the Bible.

In Isa. 55:12 Isaiah speaks about the restoration of Israel in conjunction with the nature, which is personified: "the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands."

But mountains, hills and trees, in your words, "aren’t alive, they don’t have free will, they are inanimate objects and simple chemical reactions."

Cities and countries are often addressed as if they were individuals and not locations. In your judgment, then, was Jesus wrong in addressing "Jerusalem" or "Capernaum" as they they were persons, instead of cities?

How about the Psalmist saying, (Psalm 77:16) The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled. Does "water" have eyes to see, or emotions like fear?

Proverbs 1:20
Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares"

Look at how Wisdom is portrayed in the Book of Proverbs: as a woman who is passionately pleading with people to and not to live as fools. If Solomon says he "pursued" Wisdom and "clung to" Wisdom, "loved" her and "paid heed" to her precepts and counsels, and "embraced" her and "extolled" her that she might in turn exalt him, (Proverbs 4) does that make Wisdom a goddess and Solomon an idolator?

Clearly not: there is nothing wrong with personifying a place, a thing or even an abstract concept like Wisdom.

But if you address them and talk to them, isn't that idolatry?

I don't think Paul would say so.

"O grave, where is thy victory? O Death where is thy sting?" (1 Cor 15:55)

[dila813]

I invite you to read about “context” my friend.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Thank you! My thoughts exactly!

[momincombatboots]

I am sorry, but the world is sinking further into a cesspool of un- saved, un- repentant hell on earth and the pope is talking about the environment? Uh, that was so two decades ago.
Stick to the Humanae Vitae.. or better yet, come up with a modern version of it (I am not catholic, but I love this discourse) and address the real problems of the globe. Maybe discuss Islam and the problem of modern slavery? I dunno, like I said I am not a catholic but a few trees and oceans pale in comparison to the countless lost.