So, I hope you'll agree, I approached the experience with something of an open mind and an accepting heart.
My question is this: If God exists, why does 'he' want to be worshipped?
I'm not trying to be clever - if anyone can suggest a reason, I'd be glad to hear it. I can understand why humans might decide to worship (some of the experiences I've noted above, such as building a community spirit and having a shared sense of belonging, to name just two) but why would an all-powerful deity want to be worshipped? Is there any evidence (or, at least evidence in the tenuous, religious sense: scripture, commandments etc.) which explains why God wants to insist upon this constant, fawning servility? I know that the bible is emphatic about not worshipping false gods, but why worship 'the big man', exactly?
To my understanding, the reason for God's incarnation as a human, through Jesus, was for him to experience the vulnerabilities and frailties of the human mind at first hand. If this is the case, surely he would have noticed that, within the human sphere, 'worship' (i.e. excessively being pre-occupied with one person or thing, obsessively celebrating their mere existence) is a wholly negative thing. To my mind, at least, it leads to dependency, repressiveness and low self-esteem: we can never live up to the example set by the object of our 'worship'.
So why would God insist that we worship Him? I won't be so glib as to suggest it's sheer conceited arrogance on His part, but I truly can't come up with a better reason.
I would welcome your (or His) enlightenment...
5 comments:
I'm no Christian as you know but have tried to at least understand Christian worship as best I can in light of Laura's belief as a Salvationist.
I think the idea of 'worship' should be understood seperately to what we would call 'idolisation'.
You could argue that worship is a devotion of time and love whereas idolisation is more of an unquestioning, zealous, obsession.
God himself said that we should have no idols so I don't think he demands this unquestioning obsession of himself.
God is not human and therefore, even if it is an 'idolisation', which I've argued is the incorrect term, then it's not of 'him' as we might percieve in human form but of his truth or his word.
Of course to be a believer you have to take that leap of faith and unquestioningly accept the word i.e. the bible and Christian teachings.
But to those who do, to worship the figurehead representing this higher truth wouldn't seem strange in the slightest.
Thanks, that's really thoughtful.
I'm guessing the 'line' here is blurred slightly because many 'worship' God in a more literal way than you suggest. Although I see your point about God as a symbol or as a representation, linguistically "he's" been personified to such an extent that this more direct form of 'humanised' worship still prevails.
Christopher Hitchens asked: "Why should we constantly 'praise' God for something that comes naturally to Him?" I think this is at the heart of my question. Effectively, if I'm to have a relationship with God, I'd like it to be based on the things I've learned on 'His' earth. Among the things I've learned is that a doting, servile relationship is not a healthy one.
Perhaps, the simple fact is that I find religion such a problematic concept to begin with, that I'm not going to get anywhere by approaching it piece-meal. As you say, it's all to do with unquestioning faith.
I have exactly the same problems with it mate. It's a ruddy nightmare. I went on an Alpha course with Laura before we got married. It was fascinating but by the end of it I had more questions than answers!
Might be tempted to go to one myself - were there many dolly-birds?
Dollycious!
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