THE CATHOLIC PRIEST IN A NEW VICIOUS-IDOLATROUS CULTURE AND SOCIETY

Abstract

This essay addresses the prevailing rate of idolatrous practices in the contemporary society and the challenges posed to priestly ministry. The African society has always been known for its notoriously religious character, but the form of religiosity one encounters in many contexts today is a clear departure from the known traditional religious heritage. The essay examines the meanings of idol and idolatry and how they are understood in some cultures and in the biblical text. It also exposes the different forms of idolatry in the contemporary culture, with particular focus on the Nigerian society and the challenges they pose for the priestly ministry.