2nd commandment: Do not worship idols

How do we make the 2nd Commandment, You Shall Have No Other Gods, relevant in an age when the practice of idolatry is largely obsolete? In this episode, we seek to challenge our understanding of what truly counts as “idol worship” in today’s society. There is a fine line between sincere worship of God and ego-driven ritual, and only by reflecting on our ego’s worship of Self can we achieve true spiritual fulfillment and transcendence based on the worship of God alone.

Big Ideas

1. The challenge of idolatry today is not in worshiping actual idols, but ensuring our actions focus on God instead of ourselves and our own interests.
2. Worshiping God requires a healthy balance between ego and humility.
3. Ensuring we are putting God, and not ourselves, first requires constant check-ins and personal accounting. 

Essential Questions

1. How can we ensure that we are serving God and not merely serving ourselves?
2. How might we balance a healthy sense of ego with an appropriate amount of humility?
3. Is there value in doing Mitzvot and good deeds for selfish reasons?

video Transcript