Youcat commented through CCC – Question n. 355 – Part VIII.

YOUCAT Question n. 355 - Part VIII. “You shall not have strange Gods before me.” What does that mean?

(Youcat answer - repeated) This commandment forbids us: to adore other gods and pagan deities or to worship an earthly idol or to devote oneself entirely to some earthly good (money, influence, success, beauty, youth, and so on); to be superstitious, which means to adhere to esoteric, magic, or occult or New Age practices or to get involved with fortune telling or spiritualism, instead of believing in God’s power, providence, and blessings; to provoke God by word or deed; to commit a sacrilege; to acquire spiritual power through corruption and to desecrate what is holy through trafficking (simony).   

A deepening through CCC

(CCC 2125) Since it rejects or denies the existence of God, atheism is a sin against the virtue of religion (Cf. Rom 1:18). The imputability of this offense can be significantly diminished in virtue of the intentions and the circumstances. "Believers can have more than a little to do with the rise of atheism. To the extent that they are careless about their instruction in the faith, or present its teaching falsely, or even fail in their religious, moral, or social life, they must be said to conceal rather than to reveal the true nature of God and of religion" (GS 19 § 3).       

Reflecting and meditating 

(CCC Comment)

(CCC 2126) Atheism is often based on a false conception of human autonomy, exaggerated to the point of refusing any dependence on God (Cf. GS 20 § 1). Yet, "to acknowledge God is in no way to oppose the dignity of man, since such dignity is grounded and brought to perfection in God...." (GS 21 § 3) "For the Church knows full well that her message is in harmony with the most secret desires of the human heart" (GS 21 § 7).        

(This question: “You shall not have strange Gods before me.” What does that mean?  is continued)