{"id":10107,"date":"2013-02-24T16:59:12","date_gmt":"2013-02-24T21:59:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/kathyschiffer\/?p=10107"},"modified":"2016-09-30T15:58:18","modified_gmt":"2016-09-30T20:58:18","slug":"moloch-has-an-off-switch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/kathyschiffer\/2013\/02\/moloch-has-an-off-switch\/","title":{"rendered":"Moloch Has an “Off” Switch"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"\"<\/a>CARDINAL GIANFRANCO RAVASI WARNS AGAINST CHILD SACRIFICE?<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

Cardinal Ravasi, who is leading the Lenten retreat for Pope Benedict and the Roman Curia this week, took an unexpected turn in his meditation on February 20\u2014warning against society\u2019s worship of the pagan god Moloch.<\/p>\n

WHAT WAS HE TALKING ABOUT?<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

Who is Moloch?<\/strong> \u00a0It was the Canaanites, the Phoenicians and other cultures in north Africa who worshiped the god Moloch.\u00a0 In the Book of Leviticus, the sons of Israel are warned that anyone in Israel\u2014either a native son of Israel, or a traveler who passes through their land\u2014will be put to death by stoning if he sacrifices his children to \u00a0Moloch.\u00a0 You see, the cult of Moloch requires that living children be thrown into a burning furnace.<\/p>\n

You shall not give any of your offspring to offer them to Moloch, nor shall you profane the name of your God; I am the LORD.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u2013Leviticus 18:21<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0Then the\u00a0Lord\u00a0spoke to Moses, saying,\u00a0\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>\u201cYou shall also say to the sons of Israel:<\/em><\/p>\n

\u2018Any man from the sons of Israel or from the aliens sojourning in Israel\u00a0who gives any of his offspring to Moloch, shall surely be put to death;\u00a0the people of the land shall stone him with stones.\u00a0\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>I will also set My face against that man and will cut him off from among his people, because he has given some of his\u00a0offspring to Moloch,\u00a0so as to defile My sanctuary and\u00a0to profane My holy name.\u00a0\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>If the people of the land, however,\u00a0should ever disregard that man when he gives any of his\u00a0offspring to Moloch, so as not to put him to death,\u00a0then I Myself will set My face against that man and against his family, and I will cut off from among their people both him and all those who play the harlot after him, by playing the harlot after Moloch.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n

\u2013Leviticus 20:1-5<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Since then, Moloch has stood as a symbol of a depraved culture.\u00a0<\/strong> In Milton\u2019s Paradise Lost<\/em>, Moloch is named as the first god to join Satan\u2019s war on humankind:<\/p>\n

First\u00a0Moloch, horrid king, besmear\u2019d with blood<\/em>
\n Of human sacrifice, and parents\u2019 tears,<\/em>
\n Though for the noise of Drums and Timbrels loud<\/em>
\n Their children\u2019s cries unheard, that pass\u2019d through fire\u00a0<\/em>
\n To his grim idol. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u2013Paradise Lost\u00a01.392-96<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\"\"<\/a>Cardinal Ravasi, though, had a different monster in mind.\u00a0 He was talking about the television set.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Reflecting on Psalm 39, he shared with the Holy Father his concern about contemporary culture\u2019s superficiality, worrying that people will be lulled to sleep, and will not bother to wonder about the meaning of life and the existence of God.\u00a0 This, he preached, is a \u201cnarcosis which eliminates the big questions.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Citing the effect of this false god, Cardinal Ravasi said:<\/p>\n

\u201cJust think of the television, which is the true and great Moloch within our homes. \u00a0We already know all about fashion, about what we should eat, how we should dress, choose, etc.; \u00a0but we no longer have a voice that shows us the path and meaning of this life, especially when it is so fragile, so miserable. \u00a0That is why it is important to come back again to the great themes. \u00a0Have the courage to propose great thoughts; I think one of the great problems of today\u2019s youth is that they are no longer able to find meaningful answers and so they allow themselves to drift and be swayed by contemporary society.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"<\/a>According to a study released in 2011 by The Nielsen Company (State of the Media, Trends in TV Viewing\u20132011 TV Upfronts)<\/em>, the average American watched 34 hours, 39 minutes of television per week<\/strong> in the fourth quarter of 2010.\u00a0 That\u2019s more than five hours per day\u2014hours which could be spent instead on family activities, productive work, community service, prayer, exercise and fitness, or recreation.<\/p>\n

Lent is a good time to reflect on this,<\/strong> and to consider what other goals might be achieved during those lost hours on the sofa in the family room.<\/p>\n

Remember:\u00a0 Moloch has an \u201cOFF\u201d switch.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

CARDINAL GIANFRANCO RAVASI WARNS AGAINST CHILD SACRIFICE? Cardinal Ravasi, who is leading the Lenten retreat for Pope Benedict and the Roman Curia this week, took an unexpected turn in his meditation on February 20\u2014warning against society\u2019s worship of the pagan god Moloch. WHAT WAS HE TALKING ABOUT? Who is Moloch? \u00a0It was the Canaanites, the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":556,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10107","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nMoloch Has an "Off" Switch<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"CARDINAL GIANFRANCO RAVASI WARNS AGAINST CHILD SACRIFICE? 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