need to worship?

franklin J

As a former Jehovahs Witness, one who was raised in the faith, and eventually became a pioneer and MS; I left 20 years ago and at this juncture in my do not feel the need to join any other religion. It is not that I still believe any of the JW teachings, I just DO NOT BELIEVE any organized religion, not Christianity, Judaism or Muslim. I feel that I am a deeply spiritual person; agnostic, but because of my "JW Adventure" , I not longer feel the need to worship.

I am curious to know how the rest of you feel after leaving that faith...Is there still a need to worship, or has that feeling also passed with you?

Frank

Gopher

In my profile -- it says I'm neither an atheist nor am I a worshipper.

I am doing my best to do right for my family and do good for my neighbors, and to be a hard worker. If there is a God who cares to take notice, I think he'd be pleased with these efforts. And I don't think he needs me incessantly telling him how good HE is to feel good about himself. He didn't put us on earth to bear witness. He put us here to live a productive life and to contribute to the well-being of others. Those things should come naturally, but witnessing doesn't.

rocketman

The feeling has largly passed, mainly becuase I never had a relationship w God anyway, even while a very active jw and an elder. That bothered me for a long time. I felt hypocritical each and every day. I finally made the decision that, since I had no relationship with the Big Guy, there was no call to worship, for me.

jst2laws

Hello Franklin, I think most of us have had it with institutional religion. Some still need something and find a church or JW spin-off that satisfies their need to "worship". Personally, I hate the word "worship". Even as a witness it made me think of mindless sun worshipers prostrated before an idol or icon. I believe there is a caring creator or first cause out there who for some good reason has little or nothing to do with mankind right now. If the creator is so petty and insecure that he needs me to 'worship' or praise him I hope he gets therapy some day. Religion in the past was man's invention to satisfy our own needs. As we mature mentally and spiritually I suspect we are going to grow out of the need to worship anything and eventually reach the level that the 'maker' can deal with us directly on a spiritual level. If we take all the crap out of Christianity that man and institutions added, the message of Jesus is not far off from the nonsense I have written above. Hope my OPINION does not offend anyone. Steve

AlanF

I feel absolutely no need to worship anything. Even as a JW I didn't have much of a need, which I tried to 'overcome' by telling myself that I needed to have such a need. After all, wasn't I taught that from infancy?

Now that I've been away from fundamentalist peer pressure for a couple of decades, I realize that a "need to worship" is largely the product of generations of religious inbreeding. Children are trained by their Christian, Muslim, etc. parents to worship, and of course to 'see' a need to worship. I'm convinced that without this culturally propagated 'need', it would not arise on its own in our modern world.

AlanF

ESTEE

Yes, I feel a sense of community with people and I'm searching for a church home:

Here is my criteria:

positive message?

What I mean by that is ...

Does their message imply that I"m helpless...? Because I choose to think I'm self-empowering and strong.

Does their message ask, "Teach me to Fear" ...? Because I have chosen to shed the jw fear -- and never pick up FearTM as a religiously-imposed heritage -- ever again!

Does their message tell me I'm in spiritual darkness ...? Because I choose light as my living space...

Does their message tell me I'm confused ...? Because a place of Clarity is how I choose to see myself.

These negative church messages would imply that I need this group because I am helpless without them, fearful without them, in spiritual darkness without them, and in confusion without them. And that is pure co-dependent B*ll Sh*t!!!!

No Armageddon talk! No Hellfire talk! No Rapture talk! Just live now ... and happily!

These are questions that I ask before investigating a church group. I only visit places with a positive message. I don't ever wish to belong to a church organization that encourages depression and co-dependence in its members -- ever again!!!

ESTEE

logansrun

I can't say I have the need to "worship" anything, although I feel there may be something more "out there" -- perhaps even a God(s). Funny thing is, I highly doubt any being worthy of being called "God" would need, want or desire our worship. Admired, yes. Worsipped, no.

B.

crownboy

Funny thing is, I highly doubt any being worthy of being called "God" would need, want or desire our worship.

So very true.

I was also one of those people who really didn't have a real "need" to worship, but did it because I felt it was the right thing to do (since I assumed that the bible was true). Now that I've realized that my assumptions about the bible (or any holy book for that matter) were wrong, I see no reason for worship, and I simply live my life to the best of my ability. I'm sure if a god exist, that's all he would ask of me.

Phantom Stranger

wor·ship
n.

The reverent love and devotion accorded a deity, an idol, or a sacred object.
The ceremonies, prayers, or other religious forms by which this love is expressed.

Nope: I revere many things, but worship none.

re·vere 1
To regard with awe, deference, and devotion.

reboot

I have no desire or need to worship anything anymore...it left me about a year after I left- and has never returned..initially I wondered why;and I worried about it, but it never returned.I thought about other churches- but the desire simply was'nt there so have now accepted it as part of my 'new personality' and I see it as a progression.

I think worshipping makes for a very stressful life. All those unanswered prayers lead to even more imploring,beceeching and worrying, appologising, praising and adoration.

Not worshipping anyone means i'm free to work on the real relationships in my life that really matter-the people I love that love me,the ones who never let me down and that I have a real relationship with...my family and friends.

need to worship?

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