>> And Aaron made proclamation and said, “Tomorrow shall be a feast to the Lord.” 6 And they rose up early the next day and offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings. And the people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play. Compare the two passages. “God just isn’t enough. Bring out the idols.” Some things never change, do they? <<
The difference, of course, was that the Golden calf was an alien god. Catholics pray primarily with SAINTS because we can have full confidence that their wills are united with God. Moses had the Israelites craft a staff with a seraph on it, and the people bowed to the staff, and were healed. How is this not idolatry? Because seraphim are servants of God Most High, and their will is in unison with God’s; the people did not obey the seraph, they obeyed God Most High.
The one thing in common is to elevate something/one to where they are not to be.