[stephenkhoo]

Today, in the light of secularism and individualism, the same struggles exist even in non-believers. Secularism denies the first commandment outright, because it does not subscribe to faith in any God. Their god is humanism, science, technology, pleasure and power. This was what the Israelites were doing in the first reading. Instead of relying on God, they relied on Assyria, their horses and military might. Today, the world believes only in themselves. They supplant the place of God and make themselves their own gods. They believe that they have the answers to all the mysteries of life and all the challenges. They trust in no supernatural being except themselves. Unless they see, hear or feel, they will not believe. Everything is empirical, rational and experimental. Not believing in any God, they hold that there is only one life and this life is on earth. When we die, we will disintegrate and be molecules for new bodies to be formed. There is no life after death and certainly no soul.

Following from secularism is individualism and materialism. Instead of imbibing in the principle of loving our neighbor as ourselves, they just love themselves. If they choose to love their neighbor, it is only because they can benefit from the relationship. So it is about me above everyone else. We fight for our survival, our happiness, our comforts, our security and our popularity. This is why the world today makes use of people and not just things. People are digits that they manipulate and use for their advantage. The powerful control the weak by using money, economic power, pleasures and fame to work for their interests.

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