The Incoherence of Secular Messiahs

Why the New Paganists Cannot Fill the Void of Nihilism

“For monotheists, if the next totalizing system to fill the void invokes some form of paganism, then the contemporary moment will evoke the eras in which the prophets were sent, for their message of monotheism was a safeguard from polytheism and often deployed in polytheistic environments. According to the Old Testament, the Ten Commandments granted to Moses begin with the proclamation of God’s oneness and the rejection of graven images (Exodus 20:1–6), thus establishing the ethical foundation of his community. Centuries later, when Jonah (peace be upon him) supplicates from the belly of the great fish, he contrasts his pure monotheistic gratitude with a rejection of idol worship: “Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them” (Jonah 2:8–9). While the immediate reference is to the pagan sailors whom he recently accompanied, the message is salient for any fellow Israelites who had fallen into idolatry. In yet another context, Isaiah conveys to the exiled Jews God’s scathing critique and condemnation of idolatry (Isaiah 44:6–20)—“All who make idols are nothing” (44:9)—lest they be tempted by the pagan milieu of Babylon to abandon God’s oneness.” —Faraz Khan

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