In the book of Acts, 14, 12, the author calls Hermes (the Greek messenger God) the deceiver--hence paganism (that is, a religion based on naturalism, hedonism, superstition) deceives its adherents, even deceives them into thinking men are gods.
Hermes is a perfect symbol for paganism and its many offshoots--humanism, narcissism, hedonism--because Hermes is the Deceiver, as such convinces humans that living in the moment, physical pleasure, escape, materialism, self-satisfaction, are all acceptable, valid, good. If this life is all there is then why not enjoy it to the fullest before it is gone? If this life is all there is then the transcendent, that is, any kind of truth, does not exist. Without a sense of truth, to have only a truth in every moment, means that experiences that have the highest value, or rush, in the moment have meaning—such as the orgasm, high from drugs, violence--any sensual experience that is immediate and not long lasting. And these momentary experiences, done to experience life in the instant, actually end in deadening the person to the meaningful truths of life.
Love is universal, the most powerful transcendent truth, such that it requires exceptional deception to convince a person that something is more important. Only the most powerful temptation, the most powerful and exhilarating momentary experience, can do this. The more powerful the more deceptive.
Hermes is a perfect symbol for paganism and its many offshoots--humanism, narcissism, hedonism--because Hermes is the Deceiver, as such convinces humans that living in the moment, physical pleasure, escape, materialism, self-satisfaction, are all acceptable, valid, good. If this life is all there is then why not enjoy it to the fullest before it is gone? If this life is all there is then the transcendent, that is, any kind of truth, does not exist. Without a sense of truth, to have only a truth in every moment, means that experiences that have the highest value, or rush, in the moment have meaning—such as the orgasm, high from drugs, violence--any sensual experience that is immediate and not long lasting. And these momentary experiences, done to experience life in the instant, actually end in deadening the person to the meaningful truths of life.
Love is universal, the most powerful transcendent truth, such that it requires exceptional deception to convince a person that something is more important. Only the most powerful temptation, the most powerful and exhilarating momentary experience, can do this. The more powerful the more deceptive.