Es ist nicht alles Gott, was glänzt

The gods of our time, the modern idols, are money, power, and sex. Or, to put it more positively: success, prosperity, true love. Many people chase after these ideals. Yet, no one would think that achieving these grand goals could be the worst thing that could happen to us. Timothy Keller identifies the modern idols - all those seemingly good things that we have turned into gods and worship: "The practices of our world today are not fundamentally different from those of antiquity. The human heart is an idol factory. Every era has its own idols, its priests, its guardian spirits, and rituals. Every society has its temples - whether they are office skyscrapers, wellness oases, or fitness centers, studios, or stadiums. There, the sacrifices are made that are necessary to claim a good life and keep misfortune at bay." Timothy Keller is convinced: An idol arises when we absolutize a goal that is inherently desirable and make it the sole purpose of life. Even if we do not worship idols made of wood or stone, modern idols cannot provide us with what we truly need. Only those who recognize the gods that influence themselves and their culture can understand themselves and their world. In this book, Timothy Keller helps to uncover one's true "gods" and liberate oneself from them.