Sermon Illustrations
Worship No Other Gods—Except Celebrities
A few research psychologists have looked into the relationship between religiosity and celebrity worship. The team, consisting of a researcher from England and the United States, conducted a study in which 307 participants were asked questions that gauged their attitudes toward religion and toward their favorite celebrities. The final paper from the research, titled "Thou Shalt Worship No Other Gods—Unless They Are Celebrities," found that "as religiosity increases, for both men and women, the tendency to 'worship' celebrities decreases."
This seems to suggest that religiosity and celebrity worship are mutually exclusive activities—or competing "faiths." But the study also found a distinct subgroup of dual worshipers who scored high on both scales. They concluded, "Many religious people apparently ignore the religious teaching that 'Thou shalt worship no other gods,' or fail to connect it to their 'worship' of celebrities."
Possible Preaching Angles; Idols; Idolatry—This isn't just true in regard to celebrities. We can also conclude with the author by stating, "Many religious people apparently ignore the religious teaching that 'Thou shalt worship no other gods,' or fail to connect it to their 'worship' of ___________." Fill in the blank and you'll uncover your idol.