[Greek} μωρία (mōria), [Latin] morus: being a moron, foolishness, absurdity, moronic; 1Cor.1:18,21,23, 1Cor.2:14, 1Cor.3:19
Background Information:
Greek Hellenism: This term, conveying various meanings, can pertain to deficiencies, medicine, foods and seasonings, animals, and folly. Foolishness is illustrated by mental (and physical deficiencies) in the conduct and actions of man and animals. Foods can become bland, tasteless, or rotten, requiring the need for seasonings and preservatives. In a medical sense, examples include mental dullness, fatigue, and nerve dullness. Hibernating animals are perceived as sluggish creatures. Moral and spiritual weakness (dullness) relates to flawed judgment, flawed decision-making, and spiritual ignorance. Man is perceived as being controlled by folly, a power which confuses his understanding and causes him to do mad things.
Foolishness/madness/folly:
Sophocles’ Electra 889: make a too hasty decision
Euripides’ Medea 6014: fail to accept a gift
Desmothenes’ Philippic 9.54: make a poor political choice
Sophocles’ Oedipus at Tyrannus 540: attempt to overthrow a powerful king
Aeschylus’ Persians 719: recklessly make an expedition
Euripides’ Hippolytus 950: Aphrodites stirs young hearts
Sophocles’ Antigone 220: foolish desire to crave death
Sophocles’ Antigone 469: a fool accuses another of folly
Sophocles’ Ajax 1150: desecrate the dead
Herodotus’ Histories 1.131: who think the gods are like men
Influences of Greek Hellenism: This Greek philosophy stresses the importance of man’s intellectual understanding and perception of his environment in a rational way. There comes an inevitable tension between the depths of human reason and faith in God (or other deities). Fate becomes a rational explanation for those who face inexplicable difficulties or circumstances. Man, ensnared by folly, cannot escape by means of his own reason. Folly is inherent in man’s nature.
Old Testament: The Greek terms moria (foolish) and aphron (unwise) both essentially convey the same meaning. Foolishness is often associated with failure (caused by fate), sinfulness, blindness, lack of knowledge, cleverness, ungodliness, weakness, indifference, and confusion. Practical wisdom and warnings against fools become a rule of life in the wisdom books. Such foolishness can be from simple lack of manners to willful disdain for God. Greek Hellenism inserts its influence regarding this term in both positive and negative ways.
The fool steps boldly in a house, while the well-bred man remains outside (Sir.21:22). Pay attention to this, foolish and senseless people (Jer.5:21). No more will the fool be called noble (Isa.32:5). Fools say in their hearts, ‘There is no God’ (Psa.14:1). Better are those who hide their folly than those who hide their wisdom (Sir.41:15). Take away your servant’s guilt, for I have acted very foolishly (1Chr.21:8). Take no counsel from a fool (Sir.8:17). To be a fool’s parent is grief for a man; the father of a numskull has no joy (Prov.17:21). He frustrates the plans of the cunning, so that their hands achieve no success. He catches the wise in their own ruses, and the designs of the crafty are routed (Job 5:12).
New Testament: Paul provides insight into man’s perception towards God. God’s will, the cross, and God’s reconciling Himself to the world are perceived as foolish. These ideas are beyond human reason (unintelligible) and logic. The Greek Hellenist scoffs at the folly, tasteless mention of, purpose, and offensive nature of the crucifixion. Christ crucified is a theological stumbling block (obstacle) to the Jews. What is perceived as God’s foolishness profoundly surpasses man’s wisdom. The world’s judgment on the ‘foolishness’ of the cross is without substance. Ultimately, Christians find wisdom as wisdom belongs to His glory.
Scripture:
“The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1Cor. 1:18
The cross is unfathomable to those who use human reason.
“But we proclaim Christ crucified, as a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to Gentiles.” 1Cor. 1:23
The Jews cannot theologically accept Christ as the Messiah. The Gentiles cannot see the redemptive action of Christ.
“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God, for it is written, ‘He catches the wise in their own ruses.’” 1Cor.3:19
God already knows the foolish and cleverness of man. God know that man’s knowledge and wisdom is without substance.
Conclusion:
Moron, moronic
Whether for good or for bad, it is perhaps not surprising how we can derive ‘moron’ or ‘moronic’ from mental deficiencies. I was surprised that this also referred to hibernating animals and bland (or tasteless) food. Blandness and tastelessness can refer to laziness, dullness, listlessness, and indifference. Even a rational explanation was developed in order to explain how one could be lead into disaster. This was called fate. Fate, folly, questionable moral choices, and foolish all become all linked together. There is certainly no lack of foolish behavior in the Hellenistic era.
Folly and foolishness are important recurrent themes in the Old Testament, ranging from simple matters to apostasy. The Wisdom books offer sage advice to live a life from foolishness and folly. Hellenism’s influences introduce human reason which sometimes opposes faith in God. Foolishness and folly take on spiritual and moral dimensions.
Paul provides very insightful psychological and sociological understanding of the Gentiles. The Gentiles could not have fathomed the foolishness of the cross of Christ. The Gentiles, with their human reason, were acting like “wise guys”. But they were ones who were fools (morons). Quite a fools’ errand!
In ancient times, even useless salt was used for paving roads. It is also interesting to note that Jesus described His followers as salt of the earth (Mt. 5:13). Jesus said a ‘saltless disciple’ was good for nothing except to be thrown out and trampled under foot.
And now some wise advice from St. John Paul II about stupidity.