On Adulation, Worship, Adoration, Veneration
Posted on Monday, 5 October 2015
On
Adulation, Worship, Adoration, Veneration
By Apolinario Villalobos
To idolize, worship, adore, or venerate is
to give respect and recognition to someone or something believed to be powerful
and strong. History and mythology are replete with instances on this act given
to idols which later have been referred to as idolatry. An “idol” is something
that represents the power of what is venerated, worshipped or adored. It could
be a rock, a mountain, a tree, a sculpted object, nature such as wind, fire, water,
even, heavenly bodies such as sun, moon, planets, as well as, spirit of
ancestor, or a living person. The manifested forms of these powers, except the
last two mentioned, are considered gods or their abode, by believers. In the
past, human sacrifices were offered to the gods in exchange for a favor. Today,
people still make sacrifice to whoever they have faith, so that their petition
will be granted.
From the aforementioned act, many occults,
religions, and lately, “awakened groups”, the “new Christians”, have evolved.
Remarkably, Hinduism has millions of gods, and among which are Brahma, Vishnu,
Siva, Sarawati, with Ganesa as the most popular being symbolized by an
elephant. Among the symbols venerated by the Hindus is the phallus or lingam,
symbolizing the male sexual organ. The Ganges River in India where adherents
cleanse their bodies is also given utmost veneration. Among the Chinese and
Japanese, ancestor worship is very prominent. In the Philippines, natives of
Davao in the past venerated Mt. Apo as the abode of Sandawa, and the early
Filipinos of the north also practiced ancestor worship, aside from the sculpted
“anito”.
In the Old Testament, it is implied that
the God of the Israelites was a “jealous” God, as He required them to adore
just Him. But despite this instruction, time and again, the chosen people went
back to their idolatrous practices and the most popular among these instances,
was when Moses found them to have been worshipping a golden calf in his
absence. The Old Testament, also has bloody chapters on how the chosen people
tried to show the heathen tribes that they have a more powerful God than what
they were worshipping.
When the Spaniards came to the Philippines,
they found the natives worshiping their ancestor, idols and nature. The friars
then had a grand time in destroying the symbols of the natives’ faith, just as
they did in South America. The friars brought with them the cross which the
natives were forced to venerate as the symbol of Christianity. Idols of saints
were also introduced. In one of his writings Rizal mentioned that it is better
to give honor to the virtues of our ancestors whom we know, than the saints who
are strangers to us. The message was in reference to the ancestor worship of
ancient Filipinos vehemently criticized by the friars.
Today, “idols” and adulation take may form.
For the politician, it is money and power that they adulate, so that they will
do anything to have them. Of course, corruption need not be emphasized as the
tool that they use. Government officials are idolized through their photos
prominently displayed in offices. Heads of nations who want to be idolized
perpetually, declare Martial Law to ensure a despotic and dictatorial rule, but
as the saying goes, the bad does not last long, and so were the egoistic
leaders.
Physical beauty and body symmetry are also
idolized. Out of this adulation, beauty pageants and physique competitions have
evolved. Sadly, not all attempts to be beautified and scientifically sculpted
are successful due to failed operation and drug overdose.
Talents are also idolized, especially,
those in the show business and music industry that gave birth to the likes of
Fernando Poe, Jr., Dolphy, Nora Aunor, Pilita Corrales, Charise Pempengco. The
current addition to the long list is the fanatically- followed “Kalye Serye” of
Eat Bulaga, a noontime show of Channel 7, that elicited millions of tweets from
all over the world. The trend has made
“Al Dub” and “Yaya Dub”, the current idols of the Philippines. Other
personalities in different fields of the arts such as painting, literary, and
sculpture are likewise adored and their styles emulated by admirers.
The worst kind of adulation is the one
which is given to oneself – an act of narcissism. Many people today,
especially, those in the field of politics believe that they are the best, and
that they are the only ones who can save their country from despair. In the Philippines, politicians compare
themselves with their opponents to prove their point, but with the help of lewd
shows and paid singers during electoral campaigns. They promise heaven and
earth to those who worship them – the paid impoverished voters.
It is good to “idolize” but only the good
should be emulated. Unfortunately, many are “idolizing” the bad manifestations
of certain “heroes” which is the negative side of adulation. Idolatry, with
reference to all that have been mentioned earlier, is practically bringing
humanity back to the past, proof that it cannot be overpowered even by the
modern technology. It is the innate desire of man that takes many forms, with
each, coming out during certain appropriate time.
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