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The chief symbol of this compromise was the [[high place]] ([[Hebrew]] ''bamah'', plural ''bamot''). This was always at root and at heart a place to worship pagan gods of fertility, husbandry, and so forth. The children of Israel often presumed to worship God at such places, but God was ''not'' pleased.<ref>God permitted people to come to a [[high place]] only as a temporary provision, when they had neither Tabernacle nor Temple--but once the Temple was built, the high places ought to have been abandoned.</ref> Inevitably, the high places returned to their original purpose: the paying of homage to pagan gods, not to the True God. Yet the confused dual use of the high places sometimes confused ''even the enemies'' of ancient Israel.<ref>Among these was [[Sennacherib]], whose chief officer, Rabshakeh, once ridiculed Israel for trusting in God after they (under King [[Hezekiah]]) had just finished removing "His" high places. Little did Rabshakeh or Sennacherib realize that God in fact detested the high places and ''wanted'' them removed.</ref>

The chief symbol of this compromise was the [[high place]] ([[Hebrew]] ''bamah'', plural ''bamot''). This was always at root and at heart a place to worship pagan gods of fertility, husbandry, and so forth. The children of Israel often presumed to worship God at such places, but God was ''not'' pleased.<ref>God permitted people to come to a [[high place]] only as a temporary provision, when they had neither Tabernacle nor Temple--but once the Temple was built, the high places ought to have been abandoned.</ref> Inevitably, the high places returned to their original purpose: the paying of homage to pagan gods, not to the True God. Yet the confused dual use of the high places sometimes confused ''even the enemies'' of ancient Israel.<ref>Among these was [[Sennacherib]], whose chief officer, Rabshakeh, once ridiculed Israel for trusting in God after they (under King [[Hezekiah]]) had just finished removing "His" high places. Little did Rabshakeh or Sennacherib realize that God in fact detested the high places and ''wanted'' them removed.</ref>

Today, the classic high place is symbolic of anything that dilutes the Message of God, or presumes to add to It.<ref>In this regard, consider John the Revelator's explicit warning ''against'' adding to, or subtracting from, the Bible ({{Bible ref|book=Revelation|chap=22|verses=18-19|version=-NASB}}).</ref> The belief in extraterrestrial persons or races--many of which are looked to as [[God-substitute]]s--is indeed a figurative "high place."

Today, the classic high place is symbolic of anything that dilutes the Message of God, or presumes to add to It.<ref>In this regard, consider John the Revelator's explicit warning ''against'' adding to, or subtracting from, the Bible ({{Bible ref|book=Revelation|chap=22|verses=18-19|version=NASB}}).</ref> The belief in extraterrestrial persons or races--many of which are looked to as [[God-substitute]]s--is indeed a figurative "high place."

And again, not all those who believe in the existence of extraterrestrial races are would-be Bible compromisers. Some are openly hostile to the Bible. They not only ''acknowledge'' that extraterrestrial races are incompatible with the Bible; they explicitly ''declare'' and even ''celebrate'' this incompatibility. They also are among those who search the hardest for evidence of non-human races or civilizations--''even though, if such civilizations existed, they might be far more powerful militarily than the combined militaries of all human nation-states, and worse yet, be disposed to attack and conquer the earth.''

And again, not all those who believe in the existence of extraterrestrial races are would-be Bible compromisers. Some are openly hostile to the Bible. They not only ''acknowledge'' that extraterrestrial races are incompatible with the Bible; they explicitly ''declare'' and even ''celebrate'' this incompatibility. They also are among those who search the hardest for evidence of non-human races or civilizations--''even though, if such civilizations existed, they might be far more powerful militarily than the combined militaries of all human nation-states, and worse yet, be disposed to attack and conquer the earth.''