Re: Is worship necessary?
This came up while I was too busy with my studies to take time to reply, but I have dipped in and out. It has been very interesting. I don't have much to offer that others haven't already said, and probably more eloquently than I could put it. I do think the OP, at least FROM their OP , appeared to have a definition of 'worship' that is a little different to some of the definitions I have heard from pagans (including my own understanding of the word).
For me, I don't worship because I think my gods will get angry with me if I don't. In fact, on several occasions, my gods have shown a loyalty and devotion to ME that I probably didn't deserve. I think, for example, to the way Brigantia appeared to come after me and bring me home when I moved to Germany, home not just to England, but literally home to my Self. Or how I'll pray to them at my dusty, altar with its decorations from 7 sabbats ago (I was exaggerating but actually not THAT far out.. I've just checked and it is dressed for Imbolc.. I did my ritual for Mabon in the living at the hearth!), and yet they'll instantly come to my aid. So at least the deities I worship, don't appear to have a 'tit-for-tat attitude when it comes to demanding observation from me.
Why do I worship? It's kinda selfish actually. I worship because it feels good to. I enjoy the pleasure it brings into my life to believe I have a relationship with divine beings. I enjoy feeling connected to something bigger than myself. I worship my deities for the exact same reason I tell JP I love him whenever I can, and hug him on the sofa, why I kiss him as we pass each other in the morning and why I slip between the sheets with him when we both have a night, or day off work. I do it because it feels good to love and be loved in return and I feel stronger, more enriched by the experience. I never even consider that my actions may or may not get me into some kind of after life. I'm not really one to plan for the future anyway and besides, after some of the things I've done between those sheets.. tee hee hee..
This came up while I was too busy with my studies to take time to reply, but I have dipped in and out. It has been very interesting. I don't have much to offer that others haven't already said, and probably more eloquently than I could put it. I do think the OP, at least FROM their OP , appeared to have a definition of 'worship' that is a little different to some of the definitions I have heard from pagans (including my own understanding of the word).
For me, I don't worship because I think my gods will get angry with me if I don't. In fact, on several occasions, my gods have shown a loyalty and devotion to ME that I probably didn't deserve. I think, for example, to the way Brigantia appeared to come after me and bring me home when I moved to Germany, home not just to England, but literally home to my Self. Or how I'll pray to them at my dusty, altar with its decorations from 7 sabbats ago (I was exaggerating but actually not THAT far out.. I've just checked and it is dressed for Imbolc.. I did my ritual for Mabon in the living at the hearth!), and yet they'll instantly come to my aid. So at least the deities I worship, don't appear to have a 'tit-for-tat attitude when it comes to demanding observation from me.
Why do I worship? It's kinda selfish actually. I worship because it feels good to. I enjoy the pleasure it brings into my life to believe I have a relationship with divine beings. I enjoy feeling connected to something bigger than myself. I worship my deities for the exact same reason I tell JP I love him whenever I can, and hug him on the sofa, why I kiss him as we pass each other in the morning and why I slip between the sheets with him when we both have a night, or day off work. I do it because it feels good to love and be loved in return and I feel stronger, more enriched by the experience. I never even consider that my actions may or may not get me into some kind of after life. I'm not really one to plan for the future anyway and besides, after some of the things I've done between those sheets.. tee hee hee..
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