Philosophy Now Forum

Is there anything worthy of worship? I mean, anything we can all agree is existent. Maybe an ideal, or benevolence, or our children. I don't wanna put any ideas in your head. For the record, I consider myself agnostic. But worship is a pretty big thing. To be honest, the only way I can get myself to say that I do believe there exists something worthy of worship, is to change the definition from: over-adoration, excessive homage, supreme devotion or super-reverence (add in your own standard dictionary definition if needed) to something entirely different.

Hell no!

The very concept of worship is abhorrent.

Get up off your knees and do something productive.

Based on my definition of worship (which is to hold above oneself), my answer is NO. And I think anything/anyone that wants or demands worship, is messed up!

What I think everything/everyone is worthy of is being "treasured". It's easier to do with some than others. But, ultimately, since I think we and the universe (as we can fathom it) are ALL of the same stuff... and connected as such... it all seems to be part of the same grand treasure to me. If some of it is tarnished or rusted or moldy and rotten on the surface, I'm guessing there's a golden core within it somewhere. That's why I don't hold grudges against people who have been complete maniacs in my life. When I see them again after some time has passed, my very first internal response is love/appreciation for the core of them that I knew/saw at one time. THEN I remind myself to remain cautious of what they've layered on the surface of that.

I think we're not actually who/what we appear to be on the surface -- that's just the part we all have to deal with.

Trees, because I'm sick of tree-hating arseholes cutting them down or vandalizing them.

What is "worship"?

Worship is the "naked" technique of looking to the One for the inspiration of service to the many; it is the yardstick which measures the extent of the soul’s detachment from the material universe and its simultaneous and secure attachment to the spiritual realities of all creation. Worship is the act of a part identifying itself with the Whole; the finite with the Infinite; the son with the Father; time in the act of striking step with eternity. It is a transforming experience whereby the finite gradually approaches and ultimately attains the presence of the Infinite.

Does that sound worthwhile to you? If not, why not?

The Inglorious One wrote:What is "worship"?

Worship is the "naked" technique of looking to the One for the inspiration of service to the many; it is the yardstick which measures the extent of the soul’s detachment from the material universe and its simultaneous and secure attachment to the spiritual realities of all creation. Worship is the act of a part identifying itself with the Whole; the finite with the Infinite; the son with the Father; time in the act of striking step with eternity. It is a transforming experience whereby the finite gradually approaches and ultimately attains the presence of the Infinite.

Does that sound worthwhile to you? If not, why not?

You're describing salvation, not worship.

The Inglorious One wrote:What is "worship"?

Worship is the "naked" technique of looking to the One for the inspiration of service to the many; it is the yardstick which measures the extent of the soul’s detachment from the material universe and its simultaneous and secure attachment to the spiritual realities of all creation. Worship is the act of a part identifying itself with the Whole; the finite with the Infinite; the son with the Father; time in the act of striking step with eternity. It is a transforming experience whereby the finite gradually approaches and ultimately attains the presence of the Infinite.

Does that sound worthwhile to you? If not, why not?

It does not sound worthwhile to me. Because to do so is a waste of life.

The Inglorious One wrote:..... Worship is the act of a part identifying itself with the Whole;....
Does that sound worthwhile to you? If not, why not?

No, it doesn't. Because, if you're just going to merge with the infinite, what was the point of being an individual material entity? All that evolutions seems like a lot of uphill struggle, just to end up melting back into undifferentiated Star Stuff.
And, of course, once you're subsumed, there is no line between the worshipper and the sacred object.
Like the "communist" state: its purpose is to make itself obsolete. In the meantime, it provides jobs for a lot of collectors and enforcers.

Skip wrote:

The Inglorious One wrote:..... Worship is the act of a part identifying itself with the Whole;....
Does that sound worthwhile to you? If not, why not?

No, it doesn't. Because, if you're just going to merge with the infinite, what was the point of being an individual material entity? All that evolutions seems like a lot of uphill struggle, just to end up melting back into undifferentiated Star Stuff.
And, of course, once you're subsumed, there is no line between the worshipper and the sacred object.
Like the "communist" state: its purpose is to make itself obsolete. In the meantime, it provides jobs for a lot of collectors and enforcers.

Truly an infantile (and unsurprising) fear-response. We do not achieve union with God as a drop of water might find unity with the ocean. Rather, the ocean enters into us by progressive reciprocal spiritual communion, by personality intercourse with the One and by increasingly attaining the divine nature.

The Inglorious One wrote:... We do not achieve union with God as a drop of water might find unity with the ocean. Rather, the ocean enters into us by progressive reciprocal spiritual communion, by personality intercourse with the One and by increasingly attaining the divine nature.

Now that's creepy! (o)

Skip wrote:

The Inglorious One wrote:... We do not achieve union with God as a drop of water might find unity with the ocean. Rather, the ocean enters into us by progressive reciprocal spiritual communion, by personality intercourse with the One and by increasingly attaining the divine nature.

Now that's creepy! (o)

Indeed it is! If it wasn't creepy, more people would know the joy of worship's naked intent.

Nope. Any other questions?

Again, worship is defined: over-adoration, excessive homage, supreme devotion or super-reverence.

To confess, 'over' and 'excessive' already suggest and kind of dictate an answer. So the idea then is to focus on either supreme devotion or super-reverence. These seem like they might have worthy objects. Therefore, it seems there might be something worthy of worship.

What dictionary are you using?
My big outdated Webster says : reverence, homage or honor paid to God // ceremonies or services expressing such homage // religious devotion; to idolize // adore
A more recent edition of Oxford Concise has: 1. the feeling or expression of deep respect or adoration for a god or goddess; 2. religious rites and ceremonies; 3. great admiration or devotion
Neither describes these feelings as excessive or inappropriate. In a religious society, these are commonplace practices; in a culture with a religious tradition, the language would naturally include aspects of subjugation to a deity. It's normal....

...but wrong.