It’s interesting how society has long accepted idols of Roman, Babylonian, and Greek origin, displayed in public squares, churches, universities, and even government buildings without question yet the moment a “strange” or unfamiliar structure is erected, such as the one on All Saints Road in Antigua, there’s widespread uproar. If we are to condemn one, then consistency demands we examine and renounce them all, because their roots all trace back to the same ancient pagan systems.
Historical Context
The Roman Empire, in its process of expansion, absorbed the deities of Babylon, Greece, and other conquered nations, giving them Latin names but retaining their pagan functions. For example:
- Zeus (Greek) became Jupiter (Roman)
- Aphrodite became Venus
- Tammuz, the Babylonian god, was syncretized into Roman mystery religions and is even referenced in the Bible (Ezekiel 8:14).
These idols were then integrated into Western art, religion, and architecture, persisting into the modern era through statues, holidays, and place names. Many “Christian” symbols today are actually Romanized pagan symbols rebranded through centuries of empire and church influence.
Biblical Understanding
The Bible is clear and unwavering on the issue of idolatry:
- Exodus 20:3–5 — “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image… thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them.”
- Deuteronomy 12:2–3 — “Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods… And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire.”
- Isaiah 42:8 — “I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.”
- Acts 17:29 — Paul, speaking in Athens, says: “We ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.”
These passages show that God made no distinction between “old” idols and “new” ones all are forbidden, regardless of cultural origin or familiarity. Whether they are Greek, Babylonian, Roman, or modern if they are idols, they fall under the same command.
The Issue of Selective Outrage
What we see today is selective moral outrage. People accept statues and symbols of pagan gods often seeing them as “culture,” “history,” or “art” but when something unfamiliar or “foreign” arises, suddenly it’s seen as a spiritual threat. Biblically and historically, there’s no difference. Both are pagan; both are contrary to the commandments.
If one is to be rejected for spiritual reasons, then all must be examined under the same standard. Otherwise, it’s hypocrisy holding on to the familiar while condemning the unfamiliar.
In short: If a strange idol on All Saints Road is cause for alarm, then the Roman-Babylonian idols that have been normalized for centuries must also be questioned and, if we’re standing on biblical principles, renounced and removed as well. The Most High doesn’t play favorites between idols.
Shalom
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Christmas and all its various aspects are rooted in paganism…. Christmas tree, the star at the top, the falsely accepted notion that Christ was born on December 25th…. although known to be wrong, known to be associated with pagans gods are practice and integrated in 99% of churches. The day will come when the Lord would say…” I know you not you doers of evil”
Well said, such hypocrite ppl that don’t read an educate themselves, when something new arises as mentioned cause the no nothing bout it the call for alarm 🔥🔥🔥 flames for them
All these different ministries of worship popping up, exciting only to brain wash the poor and weak, while building themselves up financially and it seems to me if the pastor was blessed with a foreign accent the more believable he becomes.
I want to believe we are all Bible believing people here in Antigua, so when did we start worshipping idols? We bitch about all these crimes existing now that never existed before, I guess you can look at Christianity here and concludes that Christianity is on the same pathway, since church going is not the same.
Bowing down to idols.
@writer, unless u live under a rock, do you see any srange statues unless for the former PM around Antigua? We are not use to this and it’s not part of our culture so take your delusional self back where u came from!!
@ Shalom your analysis is quite correct. The erection of the statue that comes from Daniel chapter 2 cannot be equated to IDOLATRY. The latter is the worship of idols. I am sure Elder Weaver and his church members are not worshiping the statue erected there. They are still worshipping the Caucasian Jesus and God in the Sky that we were all socialized to believe in. I heard the discussion in the SNAKEPIT yesterday and it was pure nonsense.This whole uproar is making a big deal out of nothing.
Well even the statue of Prime ministers, Sports men or anything are all graven image.
Going to church and bowing down, kneeling and making sign about the body it all Idol worshipping and y’all are practicing these things for hundreds of years and called y’all selves Christian.
Christmas, Easter, carnival and all these holidays y’all are so proud to celebrate is all pagan holidays. Christianity is corrupt and so is society. A bunch of falsehood and hypocritical behavior, and y’all are wondering what is happening in society? Take a look in the mirror and you all will understand that as human being
Y’all need to change our wayward ways.
You guys are so dramatic about some statue. Being in the foot of the artist and his team who was developing this, is too frustrating how a bunch of ignorant are barking with or without reason.
That is why the culture of Antiguan are 300 years back in time from the rest of the world.. You are ready to kill and demolish literally everything that smell progress. You want to enjoy nice paved road, beautiful gardens and well looking neighborhoods. But when someone close by your house start doing something in that direction, the envy of majority jump and start blasfeming that person with: Ohh that’s is too whity, Ohh now you wanna be over the rest, Ohh you thing you are better than us, etc. And gossiping start to spread around about you and how you wanna be on “Top of the rest”. Is pure Envy. That is why no progress in culture is visible here. How many Classic instrument players live between us? very few, because you hate that, you prefer the noise steel band with a truck with huge speakers blasting the streets and dancing almost naked. Look St. City.. Ugly like hell, nobody can present a nice house design to be done in St. Johns because DCA is going to DENIED IT. No progress.. NoNo NO.. Lets keep our old creepy wooden structures around because is OUR CULTURE, lets keep our nasty gutters around because is our culture.
The Good Book says that God judges the heart. Having created everything around us, it would seem that God must be quite intelligent. So, He would naturally be able to tell whether someone is worshipping a statue or just viewing it as a work of art or just using it as a reminder if something. As a just God, He would not be in the business of condemning people if their hearts are innocent. This also applies to celebrations such as Christmas – as long as a person’s heart is in the right place – celebrating the birth of Christ not ancient pagan entities, that would not likely be regarded as idolatry.