idolize (someone or something) as (something)
To view someone or something in a particularly admiring or reverential way. Johnny, your siblings idolize you as a real celebrity now that you've had the lead in a play. I'm not surprised that he's getting divorced again, what with the way he idolizes relationships as a cure for his depression.
idolize someone or something as something
to worship or adore someone or something as being something. We all idolized Jim as our hero. They idolized wealth as a cure for all their ills.