If a creator exists, why worship it?

[amorphous_constellation]

Perhaps God knows that the benefits of worship are experienced by the worshiper, not the God. It is for our benefit not His.

Absent a creator God, ask yourself why so many diverse societies in every part of the world and at all times have created Gods to worship. Is it realistic to believe that there are no benefits from such an enduring activity?

To me it just seems like a general practice of being grateful for what people have. I think it indicates what have been a mass feeling in the human psyche that there is something invisible to be appeased, after all, forces like tornadoes and raiders and crop fluctuations may have all come as sudden unseen surprises to the common observer for much of history. The thought was that there was an unseen hand in it all, something out there that could bring fortune or destruction. Paranoia has been quite the trait that was selected for in much of our history.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

The focus of worship is reverence and high appreciation whether one knows 100 percent of what they worship or one percent. Its not based on knowledge.

Yes that is how you look at it now, that is in hindsight, but many did worship the sun as a god, they weren't stupid back then, for they never knew the whole story or truth of the matter. But we now know that the sun is just a big ball of whatever burning in the sky, now with the god that so many are worshipping now is in a way the same, and of course we can never know what this god is, there is no proof at all, so, worshipping will continue until the truth becomes known, just as the truth of the sun became known.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

So if humanity was created by a "god" would it want our worship? Is this "god" if it exists even worthy of worship since it doesn't interfere in our daily lives for good or ill?

When I think of Gods I think of Star Wars, Zues, Xena, etc. In these fictional stories, especially in thr Original Star Trek, the God of Roman olympians, God refers to our ego. The need to be recognized and worshiped to bring out the Gods inner importance or pride.

Outside of this, I have a panthiestic view. We worship (show high reverence) to God becaue WE want to. We feel a need to do something in gratitude for living. The shoe is on the other foot.

Also, if you mean the Abrahamic God, I would never worship Him. My relationship with anyone should be based on a flexible life long growth of learning about each other. If I break that relationship, I shouldnt have punishment inclusions. Thats not a relationship. To see this God do that on others, makes one of many reasons why I would not worship the Abrahamic God.

 

[psychoslice]

The focus of worship is reverence and high appreciation whether one knows 100 percent of what they worship or one percent. Its not based on knowledge.

That's for sure.

 

[Breathe]

If the human race created a new sentient species in the future (doesn't really matter how in this scenario) would it make sense for us to have this new species worship us? I personally think that would be a bit odd and blatantly narcissistic.

Humans =/= deities.

So if humanity was created by a "god" would it want our worship?

Dunno; how do you define worship?

Is this "god" if it exists even worthy of worship

Sure.

since it doesn't interfere in our daily lives for good or ill?

Says you.

A "god" that endorses worship because it benefits us would mean this "god" is concerned with our welfare. I don't think that type of "god" exists, there is zero evidence for this "god's" existence.

Snore.

 

[LuisDantas]

If the human race created a new sentient species in the future (doesn't really matter how in this scenario) would it make sense for us to have this new species worship us? I personally think that would be a bit odd and blatantly narcissistic.

So if humanity was created by a "god" would it want our worship? Is this "god" if it exists even worthy of worship since it doesn't interfere in our daily lives for good or ill?

Excellent point. There are those who believe in God and understand it, but others seem a bit nihilistic to me, in that they clearly believe in a God that is both all-powerful and helplessly unhealthy.

 

[Quintessence]

I understand, emotionally, the joy connected with worshipping god. I was a fervent Christian true believer once. After being in the military and being exposed to different cultures and beliefs the logical side of my brain couldn't ignore questions that were raised by this exposure to other beliefs. Over time I lost my faith and became agnostic. After realizing my prior beliefs were false I approach claims based on faith warily and analyze them as did my prior beliefs. IMO basing your beliefs and worldview on faith is dangerous.

I'm a little bit perplexed by the shift of this conversation to discussing faith. The decision to worship something does not need to be, and frequently isn't, grounded in faith. As I said, it's an expression of values. It is the point where something is deemed having worth-ship, or worth. Now, if one is only deeming something as having worth-ship because some other human told you it does, odds are you're not worshiping the gods that are an expression of your values, but are the expression of someone else's values. At that point, sure, it becomes something like a faith, and worship that is a mismatch with your own values is not a good thing. One needs to find what one does deem worthy of worth, otherwise one is honoring "false gods" of one's own heart.

It would be narcissistic to expect to be worshipped.

How so? It seems to me there's some other word we might be looking for here; narcissism doesn't seem like the right one to me. Plus, the reasons one might expect to be worshipped could vary. What if one is expecting it simply because one hypothesizes this will be the case? Like a scientific hypothesis?

When worship is misplaced great harm can result, so should the practice of worshipping things/people be encouraged? IMO, no.

Who decides when worship is "misplaced?" What is an example of this "great harm" that comes from honoring, respecting, and celebrating something? If worship more often than not is an expression of positive elements of a species, does the fact that a few may use it for "great harm" justify discouraging the practice of worship entirely? If a few people use knowledge to build bombs that blow up buildings, should we discourage study of chemistry?

To me, there's no such thing as "misplaced worship." It's arrogance for me to suggest there is, as it supposes that my values are the right ones and someone else's are the wrong ones. It's like me saying the only right favorite color is green, and anybody who has a different favorite color is wrong. Who am I to tell someone else what they deem of worth? It's not my place. Can some expressions of worship cause what others would label "harm?" Of course, all of which don't require the thing worshiped be labeled a god. I see great harm done in the worship of the Spirit of Money in my culture - where people value wads of cash over relationships, community, and the environment.

 

[A Vestigial Mote]

Absent a creator God, ask yourself why so many diverse societies in every part of the world and at all times have created Gods to worship. Is it realistic to believe that there are no benefits from such an enduring activity?

Obviously there is something innate within humans that drives them to look for the source of it all. The source of life, of Earth, of themselves.

It is the same drive, I feel, that sees an adopted child seeking out their birth-parents. And, in a sense, it is much the same "quest" in a lot of respects from what I have seen, and from the testimonies of adopted children/people that I have heard. They have hope beyond hope that their biological parents' having given them up was all just a mistake - some twist of fate, and that somehow they, instead, really do want a relationship with this person they parted from however long ago. That they do love them and miss them and think about them as much as they themselves think on those parents.

Many times though, the disposition of the birth-parents that the adopted person has drawn up in their mind is far-flung from the reality. The birth-parents are NOT who the person hoped they'd be. And this is because the "faith" they harbored for those people was built upon fantasy.

So yes - humans will always look for the start. Look for their "maker" in order to understand why they are here - hope for that "love". We should all just be a bit more prepared, I feel, for disappointment.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Gratitude has an intrinsic worth.

 

[Guy Threepwood]

If the human race created a new sentient species in the future (doesn't really matter how in this scenario) would it make sense for us to have this new species worship us? I personally think that would be a bit odd and blatantly narcissistic.

So if humanity was created by a "god" would it want our worship? Is this "god" if it exists even worthy of worship since it doesn't interfere in our daily lives for good or ill?

We already create our own sentient beings, our own children, What is our greatest motivation for doing so? narcissism or love? mutual love, to give love as well as receive it.

 

[Rick O'Shez]

We all worship something...

Do we?

 

[Rick O'Shez]

We already create our own sentient beings, our own children, What is our greatest motivation for doing so?

That's about biology.

 

[Thana]

Do we?

Yep.
Unless there is absolutely nothing in your life that you adore, respect, honour, esteem or just simply put on a pedestal.

 

[sojourner]

I don't have/want faith and I'm addressing this subject using logic and reasoned arguments.

This is tantamount to saying, "I'm going to paint a lovely watercolor picture of a flower using a Chilton's Manual for a 1976 AMC Pacer and a set of wrenches."

Your arguments aren't reasoned or logical if you're engaging a theological proposition on the assumption that no Deity exists. Theological constructs necessarily assume the existence of Deity.

Further, if you understood the nature of worship of a creator (I'm assuming the Judaic/Christian concept of God), then you'd understand how useless and unreasonable your question is. because you'd realize that creation isn't an event, it's an ongoing process. IOW, God didn't create us in some past event in time, God is creating us throughout our lives -- and not only creating us, but creating with us. And since God is creating with us, our worship is an inevitable component of that creative process. Assuming that our process of creating "a new, sentient species" is comparable to God's creative process with us (which, from the way you posed the question, I'm assuming is the case), then it would only make sense for our "new, sentient species" to engage us in worship, just as we engage God in worship.

Worship isn't some supernatural magic act, or superstitious ritual. Worship is a relationship in which one builds loving community. Since God is always engaging with us, it is felt that our intentional, communal engagement with God is beneficial to our continuing creation.

 

[Unification]

If the human race created a new sentient species in the future (doesn't really matter how in this scenario) would it make sense for us to have this new species worship us? I personally think that would be a bit odd and blatantly narcissistic.

So if humanity was created by a "god" would it want our worship? Is this "god" if it exists even worthy of worship since it doesn't interfere in our daily lives for good or ill?

We are our own Creators and decide what is "worth ship" to ourselves, because we simply can.

 

[leibowde84]

Perhaps God knows that the benefits of worship are experienced by the worshiper, not the God. It is for our benefit not His.

Absent a creator God, ask yourself why so many diverse societies in every part of the world and at all times have created Gods to worship. Is it realistic to believe that there are no benefits from such an enduring activity?

What are the benefits that the worshiper gets specifically?

 

[Quintessence]

Yep.
Unless there is absolutely nothing in your life that you adore, respect, honour, esteem or just simply put on a pedestal.

It is worth noting that our understanding and usage that word "worship" varies quite a lot. The connotations assumed by my culture, for example, seem to limit the understanding of worship to some very specific activities found in certain specific religions, rather than what worship might look like in other religions, outside of religion, or as a whole. It means it is a good idea to clarify what we mean when we use that term, and what it means in the context of our traditions.

 

[Etritonakin]

If the human race created a new sentient species in the future (doesn't really matter how in this scenario) would it make sense for us to have this new species worship us? I personally think that would be a bit odd and blatantly narcissistic.

So if humanity was created by a "god" would it want our worship? Is this "god" if it exists even worthy of worship since it doesn't interfere in our daily lives for good or ill?

Humanity is not God -so it would not make sense to worship humanity as God.
God is not asking for anything unreasonable -but an acknowledgment of what he actually is, which is necessary for an accurate view of reality and a foundation for proper action.
Obedience to him is simply the best thing for us -as he is completely knowledgeable and has our best interest at heart.
The commandments are not grievous -and are the foundation of peace and happiness.

Even humans understand the need for unity and government -and God is the perfect foundation of perfect government.

Praise is another matter. Praise is something which is good for any -and God praises others who do well.

"it doesn't interfere in our daily lives for good or ill?" -is not accurate.

Man consistently rejected God's involvement, so God allowed a period without much direct involvement until they understand the need for his involvement.

Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
...............................Rom 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

If we, in turn, created creators, we would then be responsible for them -should want the best for them and provide it -should guide them and manage risk while they learn, etc. -would like for them to acknowledge us and not make a mess of things. That is much different than narcissism.

God has an accurate view of himself -and we need to have an accurate view of him.

The extreme measures God has taken with man are commensurate with what he is making of man -and are akin to the great pressures and forces, subtleties and finesse, which go into creating any great thing.

Coddling us will not accomplish what is necessary.
Few had it worse than Job -and God essentially told him to put on his big boy undies....

Job 38:1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
Job 38:2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
Job 38:3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.

Job's situation was temporary -nothing taken will not be returned -and what Job will become will be more than worth it all.

Mal 3:17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels

Mal 3:3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver....

Rev_3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire,

As for benefit/ reward....

Luk 12:43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
Luk 12:44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.

Luk 19:17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Php 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

 

[jonathan180iq]

We already create our own sentient beings, our own children, What is our greatest motivation for doing so? narcissism or love? mutual love, to give love as well as receive it.

My first foray into fatherhood taught me quite a bit about the human condition and even more, I think, about the nature of spirituality and people's need for reliance on a higher power.
The first part of your intent here is rather sound. But if you expand on it even further, we don't force our children to be obedient to us by threatening them with punishment do we? And we do not chastize their every move for not being in line with our directives. There is no eternal punishment for thought crimes with our children, is there?

I think we teach our children to be responsible, capable, healthy, thinking adults so that they may pass on that similar narrative to their children in the future. We don't constrain them to one certain form of behavior simply because we like it better. We teach them to tie knots so they can wear shoes. We don't force them to ONLY tie knots the way that we think knots should be tied. We aren't overly preoccupied with their thought processes regarding the tying of knots and wearing of shoes... Since we aren't, why are the gods so overly concerned with these things?

 

[A Vestigial Mote]

Since we aren't, why are the gods so overly concerned with these things?

When I raise points like this to hard-line believers, I am told that "we can't expect to define God's relationships in the same way we define humans relations to one another." and that using God in analogies to "human fatherhood", is therefore not possible. I always like to use the analogy that if I were to bear a deaf child, I would do all I could within my power to make sure I learned a form of communicating with my child - sign language, for instance - because I would love them. But that, as I feel I was "born deaf to God", He does not seem to take the same interest in learning ways to communicate with me sufficiently that I can "hear" Him.

These same people telling me I can't properly make such analogies because God works differently, then go on in their sermons to say what a "great father" God is, and use Him in all manner of positive analogies to human fatherhood. That street apparently only runs one way.