(January 2, 2016 at 10:32 pm)robvalue Wrote: Just some random musingsI find people's motivations fascinating.
I'm quite interested in the reasons people choose to be part of a religion, even if they consider it is "true". I find the whole concept of worship bizarre. I wouldn't worship a god, or anything else, and I can't understand what a god could possibly get out of it.
Even if the religion contains loads of amazing advice, the advice has been given already. There's nothing new. I can learn lots of wisdom from a book and then move on, without feeling the need to have some sort of relationship with the author.
As far as "thanking God" goes, I'd have thought the amount of thanks that is appropriate to give would be proportional to the effort expended. God seems to be described as requiring no effort whatsoever to create everything (although the bible does actually paint a different picture).
Worship is an odd word and for some, it means constantly hanging their head low in shame, and a feeling of not being worthy. That was my first Christian ''experience'' before I deconverted. lol There is a time and place for that type of ''worship,'' perhaps when thinking of what Jesus sacrificed (for me as a believer). But, now? Worship means to celebrate. Like you would celebrate someone very special in your life, their birthday, for example. Only this is a celebration of the giver of all birthdays. It is special to me now, and I no longer hang my head in shame, but just...celebrate God in a joyful way. That's how I interpret worship, anyway...but others may be different. I like that you ask questions in a respectful way, you write well.
