I would even include the unbridled economic disorder by persons pursuing a consumption lifestyle of avarice and greed. Would the idolatry be similiar or different underlying them as the cultural issues? The economic problems seem to lack a guiding ethic or regulatory will in persons, organizations and government. Everyone seems to have been abandoned to pursuing self interest and maximization of utilitarian pleasures. What is the idolatry behind it, if St Paul’s assessment is applicable.
Yes I think you are correct. Passions, lusts, greed, love of Mammon.
I don’t know. These are the consequences of idolatry. I wonder what are the specific idolatries today.
I think people worship MONEY. They think that people who have more money are better than the poor.
These might be a consequence of idolatry of sexuality and pleasure. Morality requires a guiding ethic for the will. Once the will turns over to a created good rather than the right ordering of such goods to the Creator, Absolute Good, then nothing natural can withstand the disordered turning inward upon the self. I will have to study and ponder St Paul’s Romans Chapter 1 further. To me, St Paul seems to say that idolatry in general is the cause. I thought maybe someone might have some suggestions for the specifics of idolatry behind these persistent cultural phenomena of late.
In a general sense, it is a turning from God to that which He has created. An example is that we are called to be good stewards of the earth - speciaifcally because God created it. However, the environment has become a god of its own. Worship of creation rather than the Creator. As well, we seek disordered pleasure by abuse of that which God has given us in our bodies.