Why would someone acknowledge the existence of God but refuse to worship Him?

[Trailblazer]

He has sent many messengers and created a world filled with signs for people to reflect. Why would someone acknowledge His existence, but refuse to worship Him and to obey the commands He has told people to obey (or, the commands people think he has made known)?

What do you mean by "worship Him?"

 

[Trailblazer]

Because I'm not the devotional, blindly obedient type. I see great potential for harm in worship.

I am not the devotional, blindly obedient type either, so I struggle to worship God....
But what great potential for harm do you see in worshiping God?

 

[lewisnotmiller]

He has sent many messengers and created a world filled with signs for people to reflect. Why would someone acknowledge His existence, but refuse to worship Him and to obey the commands He has told people to obey (or, the commands people think he has made known)?

I don't believe in God. But let's say I believed in some version of God loosely matching to your views on him.
Why am I worshipping him?
Why am I obeying him?

 

[crossfire]

I am not the devotional, blindly obedient type either, so I struggle to worship God....
But what great potential for harm do you see in worshiping God?

Well, picture yourself as an omnipotent, eternal being.

Now picture yourself as an omnipotent, eternal being with millions of voices in your head singing your praises and asking for a boon. Are these voices real, or they just products of your all-powerful mind? (delusions)

How long could you maintain your sanity in such a state?

 

[lewisnotmiller]

To add, I'm not interested in any relationship with your god. I don't care about your god beyond academic curiosity. You probably don't care about my gods either. It's not a big deal.

It's not a big deal to you. It's not a big deal to your gods. It's not a big deal to me.

But some people find it a big deal, and their conception of God also finds it a big deal, according to them. Never quite made sense to me, though.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

How long could you maintain your sanity in such a state?

I am saying this with my tongue somewhat in my cheek, but your statement seems to assume sanity is the starting point.

 

[crossfire]

Well, picture yourself as an omnipotent, eternal being.

Now picture yourself as an omnipotent, eternal being with millions of voices in your head singing your praises and asking for a boon. Are these voices real, or they just products of your all-powerful mind? (delusions)

How long could you maintain your sanity in such a state?

Therapist to patient:
"Do the voices tell you to harm others?"
"Yes."
"Would you act on the voices?"
"Maybe to get them to shut up!"

 

[Trailblazer]

Why does God want your worship? Is he lacking something?

God does not need our worship since God has no needs.
God wants us to worship Him for our own benefit, NOT for His benefit.

According to my religion, God does not demand worship, God enjoins us to worship Him, and that is only for our own benefit, not for God’s benefit. If we do not worship God we do not get the benefits.

“Consider the mercy of God and His gifts. He enjoineth upon you that which shall profit you, though He Himself can well dispense with all creatures.” Gleanings, p. 140

“The one true God, exalted be His glory, hath wished nothing for Himself. The allegiance of mankind profiteth Him not, neither doth its perversity harm Him. The Bird of the Realm of Utterance voiceth continually this call: “All things have I willed for thee, and thee, too, for thine own sake.” Gleanings, p. 260

 

[Trailblazer]

I worship no one.
I respect people ... but worship them ... you must be joking.

I worship no people either but God is not a person.
I TRY to worship God because I know I should, but it is like pulling teeth.

 

[Trailblazer]

God told me that God didn't need any worship.

That's cuz He doesn't.

 

[Trailblazer]

Because your God is one of Many. Some of us listen to the Many, not just the one.

But do you worship one of the Many?

 

[Koldo]

He has sent many messengers and created a world filled with signs for people to reflect. Why would someone acknowledge His existence, but refuse to worship Him and to obey the commands He has told people to obey (or, the commands people think he has made known)?

I acknowlege the existence of Hitler, so....

 

[Trailblazer]

One can believe in God without believing the presumptions others have made about god (what "he" wants, needs, etc.)

You just gave your position away.
But I know what you mean -- God is this God is that..... No, God is just God.

 

[Trailblazer]

What about a god simply existing makes a god automatically worthy of worship?

I guess you and I think alike because I asked that on a thread I started not long ago...

Why should we love and trust God? Is God loving and trustworthy?

And I never really got an answer that was acceptable to me.

 

[The Hammer]

But do you worship one of the Many?

I worship a subset of about a dozen+ or so. While also acknowledging the importance and place that other Deities have for other people. I also consider deities I don't actively worship as having things of value I can learn from them.

 

[Windwalker]

He has sent many messengers and created a world filled with signs for people to reflect. Why would someone acknowledge His existence, but refuse to worship Him and to obey the commands He has told people to obey (or, the commands people think he has made known)?

Those who believe in God, don't necessarily believe in "messengers", nor necessarily believe what other religions tell them they God wants them to be or do. Worshipping God for some, does not entail obeying some religious doctrines. Faith is much greater than religions. Faith and the heart is what matters, and what flows out from them. That can express itself in many ways of love. And that is worth far more than "obeying" some rules, or subscribing to certain beliefs.

 

[Trailblazer]

There can be several reasons. It could be because the deity is considered unworthy or someone could consider, like I do, the principle of worshiping to be immoral.

I do not consider it immoral yet I do not understand it fully....
For a believer it is supposed to be good for you to worship God but as yet I cannot figure out why.
It is like telling a child that broccoli is good for them so eat your broccoli, and not telling them why it is so good.

The only reason I can think of as to why worshiping God is good for us is because it keeps us from worshiping other things that matter much less, like ourselves.

 

[Willamena]

He has sent many messengers and created a world filled with signs for people to reflect. Why would someone acknowledge His existence, but refuse to worship Him and to obey the commands He has told people to obey (or, the commands people think he has made known)?

Perhaps the person has no idea what it means to "worship."

 

[Trailblazer]

Faith and the heart is what matters, and what flows out from them. That can express itself in many ways of love. And that is worth far more than "obeying" some rules, or subscribing to certain beliefs.

That does not contravene any Baha'i beliefs but rather it is directly supportive of them.
As you might recall from way back, I have a difficult time loving God, but that is not a Baha'i problem, it is a personal problem. How do you force yourself to live God when you don't even like Him?

As you can see it's going to be a long road home for me, but I will never stop traveling.

Sure, Baha'is have Laws, but we Baha'u'llah wrote that the Spirit if the Law is more important than the Letter of the Law. It is what is in your heart, basically.

 

[Trailblazer]

Perhaps the person has no idea what it means to "worship."

Tell me and then we will both know.