Therefore the king asked advice, made two calves of gold, and said to the people, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, O Israel, which brought you up from the land of Egypt!” 1 Kings 12:28

It’s amazing how fear causes people in power and wealth to often do unethical, immoral, and sinful things in order to keep their wealth and power.
Such is the case with King Jereboam.
He became fearful of his subjects going to Jerusalem to worship at the “new” Temple and their hearts returning to King Rehoboam.
Therefore, Jereboam built two golden calves and set each one up in the northern and southernmost points of his kingdom, including on the way to Jerusalem.
He also made a feast to copy those God ordained and sacrificed to the golden calves.
He knew it was wrong. The people must realize this is wrong.
Yet, they did it.

Paul wrote, “The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” 2 Tim 4:3-4

You live in a time in which the golden calves are conveniently set up for you. It’s a time in which a feast and celebration are in honor of God but the celebration has little to do with Him.
You live in a time in which some preach a gospel but it is not from Christ.
You also have a great advantage over the subjects in Jereboam’s kingdom – you have the word of God to read to compare to the word of God you hear!
Read your Bible!