Why is it important to worship?
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Anonymous
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I'm wondering why religions seem to believe it is important to worship the creator.
I can understand respecting, loving, appreciating, studying, and/or honoring, but why worshiping? If you consider the analogy of a God to a parent, it does not seem appropriate at all for a parent to expect their child to worship them. It's narcissistic and unreasonable. While it's possible a child might worship a parent for various reasons it still does not seem like good parenting to expect them to worship. Can you explain to me why anyone in any religion thinks worshiping their supreme being is necessary? |
Anonymous
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In Catholicism, worship is not about feeding God’s ego but about responding rightly to who He is, the all-powerful, loving Creator. Worship acknowledges God’s goodness, fosters humility, and deepens the relationship between God and humanity. Unlike a narcissistic parent demanding admiration, God asks for worship because it transforms and benefits the worshiper, aligning them with truth, love, and virtue. It is an act of justice, giving God the honor He deserves, and a way for people to grow in holiness. Scripture and tradition affirm that worship is central to faith, with the Mass being its highest expression.
This is a very deep question, and more answers and understanding can be found by learning about the Catholic faith. Understanding the Word of God takes time, a whole lifetime. |
Anonymous
Who He is: the all-powerful, loving Creator with a huge ego. |
Anonymous
Hero worship seems to come easily to humans. Some of us worship movie stars, rock bands, etc. Teenagers are known to scream just when seeing their heroes. But it usually wears off when they're adults. |
Anonymous
This is the very core of any idea of God, in any religion. We were created to be their playthings, and/or to obey or experience repercussions. Whether it's contemporary religions or ones we deem as "antiquated," it's all the same. Even the idea of ancestor worship - you need to do things so they favor you. You don't want to anger them. It's all completely the same. |
Anonymous
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One reason right now to worship is that dictators do not like religion. They do not like anyone having another source of inner knowing or power. You can see this is why China and other such countries like to squash religion of any kind.
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Anonymous
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Q. Why does God demand, seek, or request that we worship Him?
A. https://www.gotquestions.org/God-demand-worship.html |
Anonymous
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I don’t really understand your question.
I choose to go and worship with others who feel the same way I do about God and what it means to be a Christian. Going to a worship service brings us together as a community. It’s a way to be involved and help others. We live stream our service and several people watch it. They are not the people signing up to help with the pancake dinner coming up, or to pack lunches once a month for a local homeless shelter…. |
Anonymous
Perhaps they are sick, poor, without means. |
Anonymous
People who are religious are easy to lead astray because they are used to being told what to believe. A believer = useful idiot. Politicians love 'em. Dumb as they come. |
Anonymous
God doesn't demand it, humans demand that people worship and pay the houses of worship. It's a business. Just look at the wealth of the TV preachers. It's a lucrative, tax free business with plenty of suckers/believers. |
Anonymous
This is a very specific type of religious person. Some people seem to need the threat of hell in order to treat others with respect and kindness. Others don’t. However the commandment against idolatry is actually meant to prevent the very core of what we tend to see these days — blind idolatry of political leaders, wealth, etc. |
Anonymous
I think "worship" is a word that can be applied to any religion, because it is inclusive. Everyone who believes in the supernatural "worships" although they may worship in different ways and even may worship different beings. We all supposedly "worship", therefore the term "worship" is very inclusive. The same goes for "house of worship". It's shorthand for church, synagogue, etc., Any place people go to worship, i.e., pay homage to an invisible supernatural being or beings. |
Anonymous
Pema Chödrön (པདྨ་ཆོས་སྒྲོན། padma chos sgron “lotus dharma lamp”; born Deirdre Blomfield-Brown, July 14, 1936) is an American-born Tibetan Buddhist. She is an ordained nun, former acharya of Shambhala Buddhism and disciple of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. https://learn.shambhala.com/courses/author/727784 Her “courses” cost between $49-$199. Your support is appreciated Any donations, large or small, are greately appreciated. On behalf of Pema and the Pema Chödrön Foundation, we want to thank you for your interest in Pema's work and the support of contemplative life in this busy world. You can donate by Credit Card, Check or Pledge. (of course there is a link to donate to Pema, by credit card, check, or pledge.) In 2009, members of NXIVM spent $2 million to get the Dalai Lama's endorsement and distance themselves from negative allegations. The Dalai Lama appeared at a NXIVM event in Albany, New York, and gave a talk. He also wrote the foreword to a book co-authored by Keith Raniere. Keith Allen Raniere is an American cult leader who was convicted of a pattern of racketeering activity, including human trafficking, sex offenses and fraud. Raniere co-founded NXIVM, a purported self-help multi-level marketing company offering personal development seminars and headquartered in Albany, New York. Operating from 1998 to 2018, NXIVM had 700 members at its height, including celebrities and the wealthy. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Raniere 
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Anonymous
Good question. In biblical times, the terms “worship” and “prayer” had broader meanings than they do today. The primary Hebrew word for worship is shachah, and the primary Greek word is proskuneo. But there are many more that capture different dimensions of worship. I agree with Catholic PP that worship is not intended as ego pampering but help us to align our spiritual selves with the Divine mystery. There are deeper reasons why sacred music is so edifying. Different aspects of worship can be very peaceful. I believe that worship is intended to foster deeper relationships and connections to the Holy Spirit and to one another . I also believe that there are faith communities and churches to suit many different spiritual needs. There are as many different ways to worship (or to reject the need for worship) as there are ways to be human. Hebrew words for worship • Shachah: The primary Hebrew word for worship, and to prostate in homage or worship. This word can be found in Psalms 95:6, Psalms 99:5, 1 Chronicles 16:29, and Psalms 22:27. • Yadah: A word that means praise and thanksgiving, derived from the Hebrew word for "hand" it means “the extended hand, to throw out the hand, therefore to worship with hands extended”. It is found in Genesis 49:8, 2 Chronicles 8:14, Ezra 3:10, Psalms 22:22, Psalms 69:30, 2 Chronicles 7:6, Isaiah 12:4, Jeremiah 33:11, and 2 Chronicles 20:21. • Tôwdâh: A word that implies the use of hands to praise, derived from the Hebrew word for "hand". It means “ to extended the hand in adoration, avowal, or acceptance.” It is derived from the word “yadah”. It is found in 2Chronicles 29:31, Jeremiah 33:11, Psalms 42:4, Psalms 50:14, 23 and used for thanking God for things not yet received, as well as things you are ready have. •Tehillah: A word that means "the singing of halals", or a song of praise. It is derived from the word “halal”. This word can be found in Psalms 22:3, Psalms 33:1, Psalms 34:1, Psalms 147:1-2, 1Chronicles 16:35, 2Chronicles 20:22, Deuteronomy 10:21, Exodus 15:11, and Isaiah 61:3 • Bârak means “to kneel down, to bless God as an act of adoration.” This word can be found in ob 1:21, Psalms 96:2, Psalms 103:1-2, Psalms 18:46, Psalms 95:6, Psalms 34:1, and 1 Chronicles 29:20. • Zâmar: A word that means "to make music" Zamar means “to pluck the strings of an instrument, to sing, to praise; a musical word which is largely involved with joyful expressions of music with music instruments. This word can be found in Psalms 66:2-4, 1 Chronicles 16:9, Isaiah 12:5, Psalms 27:6, Psalms 149:3, Psalms 30:4, Psalms 21:13, and Psalms 57:8-9 • Hâlal: A word that means "to boast", "to rave", "to shine", "to celebrate", or "to be clamorously foolish" Halal means “to be clear, to shine, to boast, show, to rave, celebrate, to be clamorously foolish”. The word “Hallelujah” comes from this base word, and is a primary root word for praise in the Hebrew language. This word can be found in Psalms 113:1-3, Psalms 150:1, and Psalms 149:3. • Halijkah means “a procession or march, a caravan:-company”. This word is found in Psalms 68:24. • Ruwa means “to shout; to split the ears with sound; to blow an alarm (associated with trumpets)”. This word can be found in the following scriptures: Psalms 47:1, Zephaniah 3:14, and Joshua 6:5. • Chagag means “to celebrate, to observe festival, to march in sacred procession, to be giddy, to move in a circle, to dance, to reel to and fro”. The word can be found in Leviticus 23:41, and Psalms 42:4. • Machowl means “ a round dance (Chowl; whirling particles, as sand)”. This word can be found in Psalms 149:3, Psalms 150:4, Jeremiah 31:13, Exodus 15:20, 1 Samuel 18:6, and Psalms 30:11. Greek words for worship • Proskuneo: The primary Greek word for worship, which means to prostrate oneself to pay homage or obeisance Proskuneo means “to prostate oneself in worship; to reverence, to adore; to kiss, like a dog licking his master’s hand”. This word can be found in Luke 4:8, Revelations 15:4, and John 4:24. Agalliao means “(usually translated: “rejoice”) to jump for joy, to leap to exult”. This word can be found in Luke 10:21, 1 Peter 1:6, Revelations 19:7, and Luke 1:44. Thriambeuo means “to make an acclamatory procession, to conquer, to celebrate a victory, to Triumph. This word is found in Colossians 2:15. |