# Idolatry ## Catechism of the Catholic Church The divinization of a creature in place of God; the substitution of some one (or thing) for God; worshiping a creature (even money, pleasure, or power) instead of the Creator ([[3.2.1.1.p7e#^ccc-2112|2112]]). ## Ignatius Catholic Study Bible **Idolatry** Confusing the Creator with the created: [[acts-of-the-apostles-14#^acts-of-the-apostles-14-11|Acts 14:11-18]]; [[acts-of-the-apostles-17#^acts-of-the-apostles-17-23|17:23-31]]; [[romans-01#^romans-01-23|Rom 1:23, 25]]; [[revelation-19#^revelation-19-10|Rev 19:10]] Expressing the divine by using created forms is not idolatry, so long as the divine is not reduced to the created or confused with it: [[john-01#^john-01-14|Jn 1:14]]; [[acts-of-the-apostles-07#^acts-of-the-apostles-07-56|Acts 7:56]]; [[colossians-01#^colossians-01-15|Col 1:15]]; [[revelation-04#^revelation-04-2|Rev 4:2-3]]; [[revelation-05#^revelation-05-1|5:1, 7]]; [[revelation-20#^revelation-20-11|20:11]] Gravely sinful nature of idolatry: [[romans-01#^romans-01-23|Rom 1:23, 25]]; [[1-corinthians-05#^1-corinthians-05-11|1 Cor 5:11]]; [[1-corinthians-10#^1-corinthians-10-14|10:14, 19-21]]; [[2-corinthians-06#^2-corinthians-06-16|2 Cor 6:16]]; [[galatians-05#^galatians-05-20|Gal 5:20]]; [[1-john-05#^1-john-05-21|1 Jn 5:21]]; [[revelation-09#^revelation-09-20|Rev 9:20]]; [[revelation-21#^revelation-21-8|21:8]]; [[revelation-22#^revelation-22-15|22:15]] Idols are nothing in themselves but their link to false worship involves demonic beings: [[1-corinthians-08#^1-corinthians-08-4|1 Cor 8:4]]; [[1-corinthians-10#^1-corinthians-10-19|10:19-21]] Involves treating any created thing as if it were the supreme reality (God): [[ephesians-05#^ephesians-05-5|Eph 5:5]]; [[colossians-03#^colossians-03-5|Col 3:5]]; [[1-peter-04#^1-peter-04-3|1 Pet 4:3]] Leads to other sins: [[romans-01#^romans-01-26|Rom 1:26-31]] ### Sources [[index-of-doctrines|Index of Doctrines]]