The chapter 'We Agnostics' talks
about worship of people, sentiment, things, money, or ourselves. My experience
is this:
I recently heard a teaching to the effect that,
whilst most sins cause proportionate spiritual harm, the sin of chasing after
'other gods' undoes and nullifies the benefit of all of the good deeds one
otherwise does. The cost is incalculable. This is consistent with my
experience. When something other than serving God is my priority and/or the
perceived source of good in my life, I will not be at peace, regardless of how
well or right I act, superficially. The harm appears disproportionate, but the
reason is clear: having God as the centre and main objective of my life,
without whom I am nothing, to quote Bill W, to whom I am to turn in all
matters, and in whose hands I am to place everything, brooks no opposition or
compromise. If I bow down before and worship other things, the entire purpose
of the AA programme is confounded.