thread: 2007-01-10 : Some questions about worship
On 2007-01-11, Librisia wrote:
Brennan forwarded this to me, because he thought I'd be interested.
I am going to echo what Brand, Grahm and Shreyas said. I do make a caveat in this regard:
Religious practice is a communal thing. That means that if individuals define "worship," "idolatry," "blasphemy," and "prayer," in thier own way, the words become meaningless. I can use my cake mixer to mix drywall compound (which I do), but that doesn't mean it's still not a cake mixer, or that the meaning of the term "cake mixer" is different for everyone. It just means that I am using it for a purpose unintended by its inventors and by most of the population.
Does it mean you have to do what everyone else is doing in order for your practice to have meaning? No.
To that end, I would say,
Prayer: yes
Worship: hrm. This *is* difficult. Whether you intend it or not, you are participating in honoring something greater than yourself. I might have to agree with those who said "revering" rather than worship. But what is the difference there, really? Obseqious grovelling aimed at a Freudian uber-daddy? I don't think worship has to be that way. Cake mixer to (drywall) mud mixer, I will be a contrarian and say Worship: Yes. It's still "mixing."
The pluralization of the word sustainer equaling idolatry.... That's only if you take the Western, classical monotheistic definition of deity to heart - which is difficult not to do if you grow up in the United States. However, if you are willing to give yourself some wiggle room, then I would say take a look at a monistic definition of deity. Nothing is unconnected, nothing is independent, not even (G)god. We are all part of the divine in some way, and, therefore, are not at all separate from the Divine; we have only tricked ourselves into believing that we are. Therefore, I would say,
Idolatry: Yes if you can't purge Western classical monotheism's definition from your psyche
Idolatry: No if you can be an imperialist honky who doesn't mind appropriating another culture's definition of Deity to suit your own purposes.
This idolatry thing also brings up the question of whether or not God is loving and kind, or is a stingy, reluctant bean counter who wants to always and forever hold all mistakes against you for eternity. An issue Meg addressed nicely, I think.
