The First Commandment, Part 2

(Plain Text Version)

Our search for happiness will be satisfied only by union with our Creator. To reach our goal, we must seek God sincerely and avoid many hazards.
What the First Commandment Forbids
Atheism is the denial that God exists. Just as religion is promoted by presentation of doctrines about God, atheism is spread by doctrines which claim that there is no God. Atheistic doctrines never stand up to honest scrutiny. They often use scientific principles mixed with unprovable assertions.
In modern society, Marxism tirelessly promotes the idea that belief in God keeps people from working for a better life on Earth. Only those who deny the existence of God can be Marxists.
The bad conduct of people who claim to believe in God contributes to the spread of atheism.
There is also “practical atheism”, in which one simply doesn’t care about God. A practical atheist goes through life without considering that there may be a Creator who wishes to guide our lives.
Just as God is the source of all happiness, the exclusion of God brings great unhappiness into our lives. When the creator is denied, there is no basis for things like justice or kindness.
Idolatry is the substitution of some person (or some thing) for God. There are many types of idolatry: worship of an image or figure, worship of nature, or worship of any other created thing.
Worship of civil leaders persists to this day. When one willingly obeys unjust laws, civil authority takes the place which belongs to God alone. This is a distortion of our obligation to obey legitimate laws.
In Western society, many people have such exaggerated self-love that they worship themselves, recognizing no higher authority.
Satanism is gravely wrong because it is the worship of the devil, who hates God and all human beings.
Superstition takes many forms. One type of superstition is the belief that material things can have magical powers. This is an offense against the true God.
Superstition also refers to misdirected attempts at worship. This happens when one thinks that prayers and religious practices will produce results apart from the action of God.
Our prayer must always be a humble expression of our love for God and trusting submission to His will.
Other Offenses Against the First Commandment
Things like seances, palm reading, horoscopes, astrology, charms, magic, and sorcery are offences against the true God.
Sacrilege is treatment of holy persons, places, or things with contempt.
Simony is demanding a fee for performance of a religious ceremony. Those who minister must remember that they are instruments of God, not the giver of the spiritual benefits.
Tempting God is the attempt to force God to take some particular action.

Many thanks to: Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J., Pocket Catholic Catechism, 1989, Doubleday
Catechism of the Catholic Church