Of all the issues surrounding religion, the idea of worshiping god seems completely beyond dispute. Whether you are catholic, protestant, mormon, muslim, or jewish.... it seems there is universal agreement that god wants us to worship Him. I ask: Why? Why would God be interested in our worship? If any man demanded my worship, i would judge him as tremendously insecure. I just cannot imagine that my estimate of a person would increase because that person insisted on being worshiped. god does not seem greater for demanding worship while brandishing threats of hell and bribes of heaven. what sort of god is such a god?
It's a great question, Ardy. Since there still isn't even a teeny-tiny crumb of credible or compelling evidence to support this wild, fantastical hypothesis that a god exists, I'd have to say that the most likely correct answer is … it's just how the mentally ill roll...
From a Catholic perspective that includes Orthodox\ Lutheran and most Anglicans the holy Communion is a direct encounter with Christ as it pertains to the doctrine of the Real Presence. There can be over a thousand worshipers and still hear one person cough at the cathedral and why Catholics bow\ kneel in front of altar. The belief that God forgives\ comforts\ guides\ feeds his children in worship.
Why did Moses kill all of those people who didn't believe in his delusion? He wanted power as the God's best buddy and he wanted the people to support his family with their money and food so that they wouldn't have to work. It is always about the money.
There might be value in worship as a physical act oriented to keeping centered on what is important - somewhat like meditation. It could exist for man, not for god.
praying is an emotionally driven event. Its a coping mechanism providing the ultimate, intimate expression of an individual's hopes, needs and fears. Intellectual contradictions and logical conundrums take a back seat to strong emotional need in a large majority of humans. Thing is, it actually works for them, whereas we unbelievers intellectually reject it out of hand. A chacun sont gout.
Yes, i agree. For instance, my family always gave thanks before meals.... and it turns out that there is research showing that adopting this attitude is healthy
So far the answers seem to be centered around why humans should worship, given certain god-given needs. I don't think anyone has approached the question about why God would want or require worship. But I think this is an issue for theists in general: how to address God's desires. If these desires are based on anything, even basic rationality, then this makes God answer to higher powers. But without such guiding forces, God's desires seem arbitrary.
God demands worship because it is an anthropomorphic creation. Puny humans attributing their own emotional needs and motivations to their perceived creator. Just another example of our human conceit.
Good question......... on one level it may be due to us being the replacements for Lucifer's one third of the angels who fell........ He had been in charge of worship........... https://www.near-death.com/science/articles/richard-eby-and-secomd-coming-of-christ.html#a03
How ever you look at it, i cannot conceive that we humans could understand god wishes and motives. Just to put things in context, it is already near impossible to map out what drives a fellow human being. If we have such difficulty understanding a human.... how could we ever understand a being advanced enough to create the entire universe?
As an atheist who has studied first-hand into early Christian writings and practices, Hindu writings and practices, and Buddhist writings and practices, I can tell you first that there isn't so much difference as most people believe there is. But secondly and more to the point, I can also tell you that the call to worship is intended to initiate HUMANS into the esoteric and mystical experiences of the practice. Worship is not for "god". It is for people and their beginning walk on the path to higher experiences of "spirit". But it is the most basic, minor beginning that most religionists fail to transcend so that they might move on to higher experiences. Rather, they think worship is the whole enchilada, and that is because they think there is a Great Being Who will do nice things for them if they do what "he" wants them to do. In short, they fail to see their own role in their own growth. They want favors done for them. And they think there is a God Who will provide them.
An interesting point that indirectly raises the issue concerning the degree that todays christians are generally unfamiliar with the beliefs and practices of early Christians... which they might well regard as unchristian cults. IMO The extreme diversity of early Christians dogma (and even sacred texts) undermines the credibility of claims of a unified message and inerrant scripture. That is an interesting point... and certainly has a lot of validity from the perspectives of pschology or eastern spiritual practices... However imo this concept is an incompatible with the fundamental dogmas of christianity (at least as the religion is promulgated today) Christianity is presented as a means of salvation of ones immortal soul, not as a means of improving our earthly life... as might be the case with meditation for example Yes. Imo this relates back to an unstated aspect of the point which i was making. Whether there is, or is not a god... imo god would logically have no personal interest in our worship or religious beliefs. Since he had created us on this earth he would logically want our live here to be as fulfilled as possible. And religious practices might concievably facilitate that fulfillment. Not for god’s benefit, but for our own. However, the fulfilment potentially derived from religious practices would be the same regardless of gods absolute existence. And would be independent of beliefs concerning the superiority of various incarnations of religious practice.
I don't believe God requires or 'demands' worship. I think its good for us to recognize and celebrate all positive aspects of our existence, be they love, prosperity, generosity or our Creator. I believe He deserves worship, and we make ourselves better people by recognizing and celebrating all good things.
I really doubt some God is sitting there listening to 8 billion people constantly tell him how cool he is.
He's most likely sitting there listening to 8 billion people constantly tell him how cool he is and thinking 'go help some folks instead'.
Worship for Christians is actually more receiving than giving. The hymns glorify God for the gift of love. The entire service is focused on getting peace/ comfort to be a better human being. For sacramental Christians the presence of Christ is quite sobering.
But all that is simply the inner workings of the mind and emotions. The bible would have us go far, far beyond such superficial benefits to discover and explore the depth of consciousness and being.
One poster commented on the therapeutic benefits of worship. Seems a while back I read a poll that suggested that people who attend church tend to have an even keel.
I doubt that God needs me to worship Him but I do it for me. It makes me feel closer to God and is very comforting and it stays with me throughout the whole day. And I'm not sure what you think worship is, I'm assuming you think it's some really weird act with a dark room and candles but it could be as easy as taking a minute out of your day to just say thank you to God.
We will worship God, or we will worship something else. When people stop believing in God, they don't believe in nothing, they believe in anything.
'Worship' is very misunderstood. When caricatures and mockers describe it with no semblance to genuine worship, it is obviously something that must be experienced. This from the only One worthy of true worship: John 4:19“Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” 21“Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” Here are some points, regarding worship: 1. It is directed toward someone known. 2. It reflects a bizarre mix of love, fear, devotion, and gratitude. 3. It is not a religious act.. or something an institution can mandate. 4. It is not affected groveling, or pretended humility. 5. It is a recognition of Divine Reality.. both the nature of self AND the Almighty. 6. Fake worship is for fake gods. The Real God will not be fooled by smarmy groveling. 6. It is a genuine expression, from a sincere heart.
Sitting in church pews never gave me joy except on my wedding day. As a boy I had to sit in crowded hard pews and was not permitted a game boy, not permitted any book other than the Bible, not allowed to talk to my neighbor (usually my brother), not allowed to fall asleep, scolded for fidgeting in boredom and impatience, and on top of that not allowed to daydream unless it's about religion (great! more thought crime!). The ONLY relief I was granted were a few candies. I will never return to the pews. Tell me Christians: why did that poor boy that was me have to endure that?
I'm the creator of the Political Forum Tennis Tournament. Here are the rules in order to win the $5,000,000 prize and be crowned champion: 1. Must behave properly and under emotional control during and between all matches 2. Must be courteous to all the judges of the tournament 3. Must be courteous to all other participants and fans 4. Must not cheat in any way 5. You must defeat all participants that are trying to hold you back from your crowning glory as champion 6. You must not let obstacles and anything negative get in your way from doing your very best and keeping all the rules 7. If you do not follow the above rules, you may lose points or be disqualified to continue in the tournament and be banished Is there anything wrong with establishing a competition with rules that if you do not follow the rules you will be banished and lose the reward you could have by winning? Of course not. The rules actually are put into place to make it easier for participants to do their best and have the most fair way of participating and winning. As the creator of the tournament, I demand that if you participate, then you must follow my rules. Which is in a way, worshiping me. You are following my laws and commandments based on how I organized the tournament which is a form of worship when you follow my laws and commandments. So, how do we worship the Father? Well, we do all things in the name of the Son. When we pray, we pray to our Father in Heaven and conclude by closing the prayer in the name of the Son, Jesus Christ. Prayer is simply a method of communication we can have with Father in Heaven. The cord is the Holy Ghost and the electrical power is in the Son. Prayer is a way we can worship our Father in Heaven. Communication is then equated with "worship." How else can we worship Father in Heaven? Keeping his commandments and following his laws and ordinances. Not only to bless ourselves, but to bless others so that they know what the rules are to receive our Father's crowning glory and live with him again. See, it's not what you think worship is. Worship is how we help each other in keeping the commandments. Not through force or threat. But, just as we need to know the rules for the tennis tournament, we need to know the rules for obtaining the highest kingdom in Heaven too. And, how to help others get there as well.
Very well stated. God wants us to worship or love him so that he can bless us. And, you are very correct when you relate worshiping to communication with God.
