Romans 1:22

‘Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,'

Consequently they began to associate the divine with the world around and above them and set up images of earthly things, over which they could keep control and which they could manipulate, and they did it in order that men might worship these things. They sought to give an impression of wisdom. But in giving the impression of wisdom they became fools, something that was already recognised in Paul's day. Men had been carried away by their own cleverness with the consequence that they had invented folly. Few philosophers encouraged idolatry, and thinking men laughed it to scorn. They saw the world as full of fools. See also Isaiah's mocking remarks (Isaiah 40:18; Isaiah 41:6; Isaiah 42:17; Isaiah 44:9)..