not worshipping the sun?

[Quintessence]

If we look at the origin of the word "worship" we will see that it comes from Old English for "an acknowledgement of worth"

To me, worship is not grovelling, I do not believe God wants us to grovel before him - or to fear him, for that matter

To me"worship" is about freely acknowledging the worth/importance an entity has in one's life (and one's world) and then living one's life accordingly

So, to address your point, such characteristics don't necessarily demand worship, but they certainly are reasons for worship

To put this another way for @TagliatelliMonster - do you ever get gifts for important people in your life? Worship is basically that same sort of thing - acknowledging something is important to you and valued in your life. It's a way of honoring relationships. If you want healthy, meaningful relationships why wouldn't you worship things you value? I mean, to be perfectly frank, you do worship things you deeply value whether or not you use the word "worship" to describe what you're doing. I don't know anybody who doesn't engage in practices that acknowledge their sacred things. The objects of worship certainly vary, and those objects are your gods (whether or not the word "god" is put to it). That's my perspective on it, at any rate.

 

[GoodbyeDave]

So it's helios to you? He comes in his chariot across the sky?

The Sun is an icon of Helios, if you understand that idea — just as a statue in a church or temple can be a holy focus without being physically identical with the divinity or saint.

I must say that it's difficult to explain myself to some-one who doesn't state their religion — is it something too weird to mention?

 

[Woberts]

Why worship the sun, when you can worship the age of dark instead? The lord of sunlight is but a shadow of his former self, a hollowed out being unfit for fire. Worship the gentle dark, the age of humanity.

 

[PearlSeeker]

Canticle of Brother Sun and Sister Moon
(by St. Francis of Assisi)

Most High, all-powerful, all-good Lord, All praise is Yours, all glory, all honour and all blessings.

To you alone, Most High, do they belong, and no mortal lips are worthy to pronounce Your Name.

Praised be You my Lord with all Your creatures,
especially Sir Brother Sun,
Who is the day through whom You give us light.
And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendour,
Of You Most High, he bears the likeness.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars,
In the heavens you have made them bright, precious and fair.

/... /

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

If we look at the origin of the word "worship" we will see that it comes from Old English for "an acknowledgement of worth"

To me, worship is not grovelling, I do not believe God wants us to grovel before him - or to fear him, for that matter

To me"worship" is about freely acknowledging the worth/importance an entity has in one's life (and one's world) and then living one's life accordingly

So, to address your point, such characteristics don't necessarily demand worship, but they certainly are reasons for worship

There's an inumerable amount of things that I would give an "acknowledgement of worth". My relation with my partner, my relation with my kids, my means of transportation, my health, my communication device, my drumset, plants, oxygen, my cat, water, vegetables, insects and the role they play in the global eco-system, the rain forrest, the river that makes our land fertile and suitable for agriculture,....

Not all of those are an absolute must to be able to live / survive, but many are.
Insects are one of them. Without insects, likely humanity won't survive very long.

But I'm not going to worship bees. You likely won't either.
Yet, it seems to comply to the criteria you set out, doesn't it?

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

To put this another way for @TagliatelliMonster - do you ever get gifts for important people in your life? Worship is basically that same sort of thing - acknowledging something is important to you and valued in your life. It's a way of honoring relationships. If you want healthy, meaningful relationships why wouldn't you worship things you value? I mean, to be perfectly frank, you do worship things you deeply value whether or not you use the word "worship" to describe what you're doing. I don't know anybody who doesn't engage in practices that acknowledge their sacred things. The objects of worship certainly vary, and those objects are your gods (whether or not the word "god" is put to it). That's my perspective on it, at any rate.

I just call that "valueing" instead of "worshipping".

I think words like "worship" and "sacred" come with far too much baggage.

 

[Quintessence]

I just call that "valueing" instead of "worshipping".

I think words like "worship" and "sacred" come with far too much baggage.

For you, perhaps. To me, that is like saying the word "doctor" comes with too much baggage and therefore I will call all doctors "nurses" instead. Just as a doctor is a more deeply-trained medical professional, that which is worshipped or sacred is a more deeply-valued thing. They don't have the exact same meaning, even if they share a common profession or nature.

Don't get me wrong, I used to avoid words like "worship" and "god" myself to an almost comical degree. However, when I asked myself why I was having such a problem with those words, I recognized my hangups were irrational. They stemmed from religious/cultural assumptions that were not my own and should not be holding that much power over my thinking. In short, I dropped the irrational baggage I was handling. I encourage anyone else who has those issues to do the same, in no small part because it allows you to move on and refocus on your practices on your terms.

 

[Eddi]

But I'm not going to worship bees. You likely won't either.
Yet, it seems to comply to the criteria you set out, doesn't it?

I'd say there are significant differences between a Supreme Being and bees, when it comes to deciding whether or not to worship them...

And I'd say the difference between the relationships between humans and God and humans and bees are significantly different

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

I'd say there are significant differences between a Supreme Being and bees, when it comes to deciding whether or not to worship them...

How so?

And I'd say the difference between the relationships between humans and God and humans and bees are significantly different

Yes. Between humans, they are actually real. haha. Sorry, couldn't help myself and this one was too easy

 

[Eddi]

How so?

Well, for starters, God is sentient so the relationship between God and humans is a relationship between sentient beings, which I'd call a "meaningful relationship" - as opposed to the relationship one has with say a pen, a lamp, or even a bee

Also, God designed and created us and knows about us (whereas bees didn't) so that's a factor too - and means that it makes sense to "worship" God but doesn't make sense to "worship" bees (amazing as they are)

Yes. Between humans, they are actually real. haha. Sorry, couldn't help myself and this one was too easy

Very good

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

Well, for starters, God is sentient so the relationship between God and humans is a relationship between sentient beings, which I'd call a "meaningful relationship" - as opposed to the relationship one has with say a pen, a lamp, or even a bee

Also, God designed and created us and knows about us (whereas bees didn't) so that's a factor too - and means that it makes sense to "worship" God but doesn't make sense to "worship" bees (amazing as they are)


Very good

It seems to me that you are using the word "worship" in quite a different way then @Quintessence was clarifying to me.

So, do you agree with what he said?

Also, the OP was about sun worship. IF I would worship something, I'ld worship the sun sooner then your god. For starters, because I don't believe your god to be actually real. I believe the sun is real.

If I'm going to worship something, it's going to be something that is demonstrably real. But really, not even then...

 

[Eddi]

So, do you agree with what he said?

I think what he said here not worshipping the sun? (if that's what you mean) makes sense although I'd approach the problem differently...

IF I would worship something, I'ld worship the sun sooner then your god. For starters, because I don't believe your god to be actually real. I believe the sun is real.

I'm glad to hear it

 

[74x12]

The Sun is an icon of Helios, if you understand that idea — just as a statue in a church or temple can be a holy focus without being physically identical with the divinity or saint.

Interesting. So how literally do you take Greek mythology? Are these real beings or just archetypes?

How is the sun evidence for Helios any more than a church building is evidence for God? Or better yet; then how is it evidence for Helios more than a Creator of the sun which seems to me a better explanation?

I must say that it's difficult to explain myself to some-one who doesn't state their religion — is it something too weird to mention?

No. I believe Acts 2:38.