The Veritas Forum What Gods Do We Believe in Now? | N.T. Wright
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Oct 19, 2023 
N.T. Wright, best-selling author and New Testament Scholar, discusses the enduring influence of ancient gods on our desires for money, sex, and war. He explores the historical and cultural context of belief in a new order, the rise of secularism, and the role of Jesus in a divided world. The podcast explores wisdom, science, fear of the Lord, and the significance of Jesus' resurrection in transforming worldviews.
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Modern Worship of Ancient Desires
- Despite changes in technology and culture, our internal desires for money, sex, and power remain fundamentally the same as 2,000 years ago.
- The sacrifices we make for an "ideal" life today are a form of worship similar to ancient religious sacrifices.
Epicurean Roots of Secularism
- The Enlightenment philosophy of Epicureanism dismissed gods as distant and indifferent, promoting autonomy in nature and politics.
- This laid the foundation for secularism by detaching divinity from the world and enabling scientific and political autonomy.
Unnamed Gods in Modern Life
- Ancient gods like Mars (war), Mammon (money), and Aphrodite (erotic love) remain influential, though often unrecognized and unnamed.
- Modern society's uncontested desires for power, wealth, and sex are effectively a form of worship to these gods.