This is the first blog interaction activity of four that will be required for the post. Please respond to the following question:
1. In class today we discussed how Romans worshipped their gods. Read the article about the worship of Roman Gods at the following site: http://www.allabouthistory.org/roman-gods.htm
2. Discuss parallels between the Roman worship of gods and the kinds of "gods" Americans worship today. In what ways can the Christian message challenge and meet what pagans - whether Roman or American - are looking for?
15 comments:
The Romans, in my opinion, seem to have craved the thought of authority. They wanted the authority over others and they seemed to like the option of blaiming the bad on the gods. they worshipped gods that affected everyday life. So do we as Americans. The worsip of the god of entertainment and self seems to be most evident. We too entertain the idea that if something bad happens it is simpy ue to something sles other than our own mess up or the reality of life. everyone both past and present has been on the search for something. many find the fill of their void thought "faith." Sadly, like the romans, we too tend to place more faith in the gods of this world rather than the God of our lives. The Christian message declares that we are to place god above all else. PERIOD!
The Romans had gods of all sorts. They worshipped everything from the god of gods (Zeus) to the god of door hinges! Another notable characteristic of Roman worship was their freedom to pick and choose which gods they would serve. The pantheon offered many different deities to choose from. Similarly the American pantheon has choices of all kinds. You might want to worship TV, football, golf, NASCAR, the internet, food, money, or most popularly yourself. The American and Roman pantheons are of amazing diversity. This is a definate problem, and leads to all sorts of distorted views of life and all its aspects. The only real cure for this religious confusion is the Word of God. In light of the turth we can easily see that there is only one true and living God. There is really only One who is worthy of worship, and this simple truth can clear up all those problems with religious ambiguity.
The Romans had a different god for each area of their life. there was one for the sun, one for the rain, and so on . . . But the one thing that stands out is when things are on the right track, most of the time the gods are forgotten. When things are wrong the gods are blamed. even though we in America seem to be a Christian nation, we always forget about God. Our eyes turn to the worldly things (especially entertainment) to pass the time. When God blesses, sometimes he is forgotten, and another takes his place. The funny thing is, the Romans had many gods; so none of them seem to have stood out as greater in power than the other. As Americans, and even American Christians, our lives can sometimes reflect that of the Roman pagans. None of our 'gods' or even God stands out in greater power to the other . . . That's why our jealous God says, 'have noe other gods before me'
Romans did have gods for everything, god of War, god of Love, god of Sun, god of anything they could think of. They had each one for a certain task or area of life.
We too as American Christians believe it or not have many gods too. Many Christians wont believe it or admit it but money, entertainment, sports, music, girls, all serve as gods to us. But our true "G"od, the one who sent his son to die on the cross for our sins, wants to be the "ONE AND ONLY GOD!" Notice i spelled the other gods with a lower case g because THERE IS ONE TRUE GOD! AND HE LOVES AND CARES FOR US! Its a constant struggle in life to keep Him as your only God.
It seems the Romans were searching for just the right god to worsip and fulfill them. They tried everyone elses gods, but the search never ended. No god could satisfy them. The sad thing is the One True God was available to them all along. They denied Him and even persecuted and killed his followers. Ultimatly they crucified the only God that could fulfill them. The sad thing is this is true of America today. People are searching for fulfillment, but nothing satisfies. Money and posessions are the biggest gods in America, but these don't last. Religion has become a god to many. The gods of this world leave people empty. If only they would look to the True and the Living God, for only He can satisfy. Instead Christains are beginning to face trials and persecution for thier faith. Is America becoming like Rome? Is history repeating itself?
I agree with Beth on this one. Man is his own god. We put too much emphasis on oursleves. Bottom line, we are selfish people. This is a problem among Christians as well the lost world around us. Very few Christians find their completeness in God. We fail to live out our faith and so how can we expect those around us to find God in us when we don't believe He is truly our all in all.
Just as in the day of the Romans there are many "gods" that are worshiped today such as sports, TV, money and outdoor recreation. Anything in our lives that consumes a majority of our time may be considered a god if it is not kept in the proper prespective. Although we may not outwardly call them gods they do the same thing as the gods of Roman days. They occupy our every resource, from time to personal wealth. We even attribute our success in life by the things we have not who we truly are. As Christians we know a God that is larger than life and is the provider of all that we ever have or do. It is our task, privalige, and command to share our awesome God with those who God has placed in our path daily. And on top of all that we do we need to show, through the way we live our lives, that the one true God is Lord over our lives and no some other false god who can do nothing for us. Praise be to God that lives and has died for us so that we might live and one day dwell with Him in heaven.
Matt Thorpe
Meisha, what a great question! I agree that like the people of Rome people here in America are looking for something to fill the void in their lives but are looking in the wrong place. I think America is becoming like Rome. History tends to repeat itself and I believe our modern days are no exception. It is for this reason that we, as Christians, need to share the truth about the one true, and living, God with others.
Matt Thorpe
The biggest part of the Roman gods that I see can parallel into American "gods" is the adoption. The Romans "adopted" the gods of their choice. They chose the gods they wanted to worship. While they looked at what other places where doing, they found something they liked at the moment and decided to bring it into their culture. They chose the gods of other cultures to fulfill the needs that they had. Americans adopt any god they can to try and fill the void in thier lives. Although these gods may be television, alcohol, music, religion or anything else tey are still worshipped by the American society. When they are needed to "help" the life of an individual they are called upon and if they fail something else is called on the replace them. They may find this something from another person that seems to be just a little happier than they are so they adopt their ways in hopes of gaining their happiness. Unless they're adopting the God of my life, their search will continue and their gods will change until it's too late.
Heather B
The gods of the Romans started out as just little gods that helped the farmers and thier crops, but grew into so much more. They believed that spirits inhabited everything from places to living things. The gods consumed thier personal lives and everyday activities. They also began to adopt the religions and gods from other countries as well. Many of the Roman gods took on the Greek culture they were emersed in many of thier old gods were changed into some of the more popular ones venus,Diana,Mercury,Neptune and Vulcan. Americans also let thier gods affect every aspect of thier lives and the let the culture around them change thier religios beliefs. Americans gods can include sports, athletes, musicans, movie stars and anything people put before God. It is very easy to spot the gods that American worship they usually have the person or group plastered on the wall, they can quote more about that person than they can verses in the Bible and it consumes thier lives and free time. I believe the Christian message can challenge and fulfil what the pagans are looking for. God can fill the void and lonliness that they are searching for and putting all thier energy into. They will find that the time spent with God and learning more about him is more profitable and fulfilling than anything thier gods will offer.
Lindsey Cepak
The Romans, worshipped idle gods which found them no fulfilment. Americans to day also worship idle gods such as, our homes, cars, jobs, spouse, children, etc., still no fulfillment. I believe if we focus on the true and living god and let the Holy Spirit come in and fulfill all of our needs, then idle gods would not be necessary. We forget that christ died for us to live and worship him and only him. Joshua 24: 19 & 20 acknowledge god as a jealous god, and he does not want us to serve strange gods.
Therefore we need to get back to worshipping the true and living god and leave the little idle gods along. Serve God and serve him only.
Thank you
Carl Morgan 09-11-07
The parallels between the Roman worship of gods and the kinds of "gods" Americans worship today are that they start small and end up consuming their lives. Many times it starts so innocently with occasionally watching of a football game or NASCAR race then it begins to consume their lives where they have to see every game or race and it does not matter what else is going on in their lives. They integrate it into every part of their life. Not only that but they also begin to worship the people involved in the sports. This can change by worshipping the one true God and getting into His Word.
Beverly Thorpe
Sam, I agree that Americans have so many things that they can choose to worship. For many they also worship more than one. Though God is the one true God, there can be some born again believers that are very close to worshiping any of those that you mentioned. There are so many believers that are obsessed with sports. I believe that this ongoing battle can change by getting into the Word of God.
Beverly Thorpe
I'm going to have to echoe what a lot of people said about the parallels between the Roman "gods" and what Americans put before God today. We as Americans enjoy a life of luxury as did the Romans. We put things in place of God such as work, sports, or even friends and family. We often take for granted our freedom as both Americans and Christians.
- Aaron "The Real O.G." Culver
My thoughts line up with others in the class. Romans adopted Gods of choice. The gods Romans adopt are gods that support their life style. Americans tend to do this same thing. They tend to create gods according to their life styles. Tv or music is a good examole. Some Americans get so obssesed with tv or radio that it totally controls their lives. Americans put things in their lives that take dominance over them. Romans were similiar. what ever dominated their lives or life styles became their gods.
Chris Fobbs "AKA" Half
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