This question has been on my mind for a while. I was wondering if a person believes in an entity why do they WORSHIP it? Why don't they just know it's there and let that be that?
I hear the religious say all the time that religion and faith are a personal thing but yet most of them continue believing what the church tells them and attending services.
Maybe I'm wrong but it seems as though these people are reminding themselves or need reassurance that their god exists.
Besides why all the worshipping? I used to think it was a human condition but now I know it isn't. We N/B's don't worship.

I'm just curious why they can't just believe without all the hooplah of worship.

I believe there is a god[s], but i dont worship him...i think religions and church are all a gimmick...but thats just me.

The way i see it it, why worship somthing you don't actually know is a real thing, it seems pointless to me...

That's the way I see it the only difference is that I don't believe that an entity exists in the first place.

If you believed in an entity that created you and sent his Son to die to save you and all he asked in return was that you'd worship wouldn't you?

hey girl great thread....Worship has been the most harmful idea man ever came up with, worshipping his own self it is plain as day where it has taken him.......He's created constructs around his ideas and kills to enforce them...If it shows anythig it shows how ignorant man is how primitive, when do we ever see worship in nature??????

I think it is basically a hold over from prehistoric times.
"Hey, if we sacrifice this goat, the earth goddess will love us and the harvest will be good!"
has become
"Hey, if I pray/confess/behave, then my sins will be forgiven and I will go to Heaven!"
Worship is not a selfless act. It is an act of adoration with the expectation of reward.
If you don't believe me, compare the sexual politics of a D/s relationship with religion.
Better than acid for twisting your head.

I would not worship someone who sent his own child to die.



I worship my children.

Not really.
I never could figure out how a god could give one person to another person and then die for that persons sins. This make absolutely no sense at all.

This brings up another question. I have always tried to show devotion to myself and in return I show kindness to others. But I wonder what it would be like on a larger scale. Would the human condition take over and make us self absorbed and narcisistic? Just like their god. Or would we be content within ourselves to overflow with kindness and happiness. To give that to each other and get it in return.

A better question might be "why not worship". Depending on the point of view of the individual, the question may be reversed. But to answer from the Christian perspective, we worship God because God is worthy of worship. As creator, life-bringer, saviour, God, friend, confidante, protector, provider, God is worthy of devotion and adoration (the essentials of worship).

Does worshipping God cause us harm? There are some that seem to think so, but I cannot see how. I believe very much that there are many more harmful things that humans have done other than worship (not saying worship is harmful either, just comparing to Sheri's post).

ANyway, I do believe the question works both ways. Why not worship?

~ PA

Well.. I think I've given my reasons as to why I worship the gods that I do.

I'm a drunken cat lover that loves sex. So.. Dionysus, Bast and Kokopelli!

Ok seriously though, Gods throughout the millenias have sacrificed their kids for their "human creations" and such, so I see no reason to think one is special over another. Aside the three I personaly feel a connection to.

That's what I feel faith should be. A personal connection to what god/dess you like, and not what you feel what others should worship.

Why would an all powerful being...........thing send his it's son to die when he it could have snapped his it's fingers and everything would have been the way he it wanted?

Violent tendencies maybe.

or zannie, it is applying the first rule of guilt.

either way, the behavior is quite a bit less than one would expect from something deemed a "god"....

But truth none the less.


True

Alas this is a question of why and not, why not. You gave me your own reasons and that should be enough but you went just that little bit further to defend it. I have to ask why to that as well PA. I never said that worshipping a god was harmful I just asked why do you worship a deity.
I have another question though. Do you have devotion to yourself as much as you do your god?

The section of my post dealing with worship being harmful wasn't really directed at you, Curiosity. Sympa Sheri stated (and I quote) "Worship has been the most harmful idea man ever came up with". Whether you intended to say it was harmful or not, Sheri did. Would you not have "defended" also?

Could you expand on what you mean by "devotion to yourself"?

Why do I not worship a god?
I choose to not worship something that doesn't exist.
Personally I can't rationally believe what is written in an ancient novel that has been changed more times than I have changed my childrens diapers.
I worship a pink elephant....which isn't real either but everytime I see it I feel sooooo good.

Sure, what I mean is do you treat yourself well, do you care what you do to yourself and how does what you do to/for yourself effect others. Are you healthy in mind and body? This is what I'm getting at.

Not unless it steps on your head. That doesn't feel so good.

Worship equals great or excessive love, admiration, and respect felt for somebody or something.
Transitive verb to love, admire, or respect somebody or something greatly and perhaps excessively or unquestioningly.

Whatever in our live we deem to be most important is the object of worship that is deified. For some it is wealth and power and for others it may be narcissistic or hedonistic. Others choose to worship a deity or person.
One of the most important life lessons is to decide what most worthy of our adoration and respect is.
We need to ask ourselves what is it that we value most in life and does it deserve our devotion and love. Does it serve us temporarily or eternally? Does it bring us joy and fulfillment? Is it self serving and disrespectful of others in our lives? Does it impact others positively? Is it creative or destructive?
This is our spiritual side that will survive the mortal coil, is your choice the best decision for you?
Irish

I belive in GOD and pray every night I dont go to church maybe once in a blue moon. I dont really care for church I belive GOD can hear me any time any place.

Why do we eat? Because we need nourishment= worship is the same as spiritual nourishment.

It is a great thing imo to do.

I take offense to that sherri, keep in mind that is your opinion and until you come up with VALID proof it will be just your opinion.

so then you serve them? THey control you?


God didn't give anything to anyone, he gave salvation to us and that's it.


Because he doesn't want to force us into worship. All Satan did was give you the choice of God or No God, and we were created for God.

"The Proof" is called a quick glimpse at a history book.

If I am right and I'm no Bible scholar, God gave us that choice not Satan. According to scripture.

That depends on which bible you read.

There are to many different translations and points of veiws...

yes i do and that definitely carrys over into my relationships with others....do i worship myself lol for me is egotistical, its practical and useful makes for a richer life experince a peaceful journey... i care for myself so i can care for others i respect myself so i can resepct others, i use my life to be the differnce meaning the things that I can look around and see that could use support i stand for it, such as non violent parenting, stewardship to the planet , no harm to animals, i share the food supply by not eating what isn't nessecary to my existance, i support the home school movement so many one day all will have a education that is fun and rewarding, i home school to show my support, i will be purchasing a hybrid, i use my life to support the kindness and resepct to the planet that supports me, i see myself as one and I see others as one, yes the way i treat myself is the way i treat others...i feed myself healthily and by default model that for my kids....jesus said the same thing...do unto others its jsut backwards do to self first because self is source all things proceed from self, its not complicated.....

Pa i did say I feel christainity has used worship in the most harmful way, i was specific, what are you worshipping, a violent vengeful ineffective diety basically....We show whta we kow by the way we use our lives.....what we stand for......this isnt a righth and wrong thing its just walking in awareness....why would you need to worship PA and that is the condition with christianity it is a requirement for the rewards , would you honestly choose to worship te austere diety and why, be honest....

you can't see something in yourself you won't in anyone else either...

Didn't I read somewhere, I think it was Thomas??? who said that jesus told him that you only have to look within to find the god. I have always felt that the higher power is us and not some other entity.

I agree curiousity, it seems we have the things we need when we look within, forgiveness was there when i needed it , kindness, caring, etc etc...Quite frankly religon didn't really give me any help with these things.....we are all things all life..they say now that the mouth is a macrocosm of the whole body, I say the inner life is a marcocosm of the outer life.....something like that Hyper can give a better analogy lol...

Ah, no wonder you commented about what I said. All I know is that my church has had miracles happen, my mother sees saints on a regular basis, knows knowledge about life that others do not, was cured from breast cancer by a saint, and has friends who see Mary in my church while they're at mass.

Personally, I know my mother. I know that she's not a liar or a nutter. I've had faith all of my life but after this year, I've had more of it than ever. That's enough for me. It's not about worshipping. My family doesn't 'worship God,' we love 'him,' and seek him when we need help.

Maybe that's how others feel as well. I'm not trying to debate. This is my input.

A challenge....

hmmm.....

"As within, so without" or something like that.

Ahhh, now why to worship> The answer is simple, because some humans have been programmed to do so. Then throw in the biological reactions from the group feedback and voila... a bunch of pumped up individuals misinterpreting their state as something to do with a deity. As usual, the forces that are signifigant come from below, while the forces attributed above are non-existant.

Why worship... because humans are the same animals they were 10000 years ago, and the animalism is what shines through. Group worship is like a pack of wolves howling at the moon.

So many are rotting from the inside it is no surprise so much effort goes into dressing up the outside.

Why because it questions your practices???? How is it that worship isn't dangerous??????Have you heard the hitler story???

worship is to uncritically except things, to idolize is it me or doesn't the bible frown upon idols????why would a diety need worship.especially a omnipresent deity as you explained ot me...How is worship good for you pres is what I'd like to know.....

why not worship? its usualy a benefitial exchange but with a feeling of security and knowledge, less worring and so on. my opinion what can it hurt ?if you ask most that constantly do worship God that is , it is a experience that is worth doing worshiping and seeking what pleases god.

Again I didn't ask "why not"? I asked "why"! If you're satisfied with the god/desses you idolize then why worship them. Is it the whole ritual thing or is it because you think there is a reward for you?

To worship is to be thankful for all God has done in my life and around me. It is not for reward or gain but an appreciation of generosity and love.
It is simply the highest form of “Thank You”
Irish

I know how you feel about this, thanx. I was commenting on abercrombies post. But now that you brought it up, shouldn't we be greatful to all of those who help us along the way and those who are kind to us in our lives? Shouldn't we appreciate them and love them for the same reasons? Give the real people the highest form of thanx.

You may give your highest form of “Thank you” to whomever you believe deserves it. In my life I feel God deserves that honor. I honor others in my life with gratitude, love and respect, so in a way I worship them to.
Irish

Ps, and it is not as if I have a limited supply to pass on.

I respect what your beliefs are Irish.
I personally give thanks to the people who have helped me through life that are real.

Oh darn!

I think we misunderstand the word 'worship'. I think God is asking that we 'worship' him like we 'worship' our children. Because He 'worships' us to. Furthermore he want's us to pray, so that we don't forget Him, stay in contact with Him etc. Think of it as making a phonecall to a distant familymember just to let them know you love them and haven't forgot him/her. In my opinion, churches have nothing to do with God. First of all, all the things they did in the past: not good How rich they got, for example do you know how much money you need today to build a cathedral? I also believe that the church altert the bible a bit to make people go to churches and donate. If you think about it, how did they get rich? Just like fake sekts, make people believe that if they give money they would go to heaven. But why would God want us to pay for churches instead of using all or as much of our money to help other people? There are lot's and lot's of people dying because they don't have money!

I'm a deity, my mind creates all of you and I'm worshipping myself. So far I seem to be doing good.

Though in other religions, if you don't worship you end up in hell or something bad because god's are sadistic sociopathic freaks like that.

Praise me and I'll continue to collect your money.
If I don't have 2 million in the next month.....
I'll make up a reason why god lied to me.
Wake up people

Well the thing is God (Gods) doesn't really care if you worship or not, you aren't going to hell or anything if you don't, but we feel that those who do their duty in the service of god/gods, earn their friendship (and its always good to have friends in high places ).

It is your opinion of my deity that it is a violent vengeful and ineffective one. I must disagree in the strongest possible way. Especially on the last. My opinion of God (my opinion is after all what I'm basing this on) is that God is none of these. You disagree and think you are right. I disagree and think I am right.

On rewards, if it is your honest belief that a Christian worships in order to receive rewards, then I think you have seriously misunderstood the basis of the Christian Faith.

On other matters now. Curiosity, on your question on devotion, using your definition, I would say I am devoted to myself. I maybe do not eat as healthy as I should, but overall I am devoted. However, to say I am as singly devoted to myself as to God would be wrong. God is the one who i see most worthy for all my praise and devotion. But to use a quote from the Sound of Music, as the Mother Superior says "just because you love this man doesn't mean you love God less". Know what I mean

Regards, PA

So you see nothing violent and vengeful and or ineffective in the christain diety, okay not a problem whatever works for you I have no need to be right PA , actually I'm open to the idea that diety isn't any of this so far I'm waiting....'shrugs'

i actually didn't mean that a christain is doing things for reward, they most likely are phantom IMO..but that is neither here nor there...I think they are sincerely being a good warrior or ambassador for god...What I meant is it is a requirement to even be in the presence of this diety to begin with..to ask for worship in the return for love is highly suspect to me...lets not forget i have no need for deitys and certainly my posts will reflect that ...Its not personal...my intent wasn't to insult you PA....

What makes you think God needs worship? I worship out of my desire to because I find it refreshing and it has lead to my enlightenment. but you wouldn't know that would you? you will spend your whole life trying to get there never knowing how, and you never will reach there till you accept God and the Bible. Like it or not sherri it is the truth, and nothing you can say can disprove me.

and so the prez says...

of course you won't be disproven because you have already declared yourself absolutely correct, which of course means all the evidence showing christianity to be a crock is incorrect.

To each his own. To tell you the truth a christian reality would make me suicidal.

What I meant is it (worship) is a requirement to even be in the presence of this diety to begin with

It isn't, actually. The requirement is to accept that God took the punishment that we deserve. From that acceptance that God has acted so lovingly, it naturally stems that we love God back. Worship then follows naturally as we get closer to God and realise how great he is and worthy of worship. Worship is not in any way a requirement to be in God's presence, it's just the natural evolution of the relationship.

That aside, I believe you are completley mistaken about the nature of God. Because everything I have learnt of God shows different. You have had experiences with Christianity based on the upbringing of your parents, which is tragic. No parent should act the way they did. Our experiences with the proponents of Christianity colour our perception, most definitely. Your first experience was one of violence. One of my first experience is one of love. I can elaborate on the specifics of that experience if you wish, just let me know.

What I know is that God models love and acceptance of all, regardless of what they have done. It is unfortunate that not all followers of God model the same values.

Imagine if someone saved your life, you would be thankful.

Imagine if someone saved your life several times, you would be truly grateful.

Now imagine if someone saved your life for ALL OF ETERNITY.

That's worship.