To All Religious People II - What Is It Like To Worship?

CurtSibling

CurtSibling

ENEMY ACE™
Joined
Aug 31, 2001
Messages
29,455
Hallo! :)

After 1000 posts, I felt it was time for a new religious question thread.
And this one is not a demand for proof, but a fact-seeking exercise!
One thing I often wonder about is the sensation and act of worship.

I wish to know what kind of mindset someone who is strongly attached to god has.

I have always pondered if accepting the status of a lesser being in comparison to a god has an effect on the way you act and see yourself?

Does being a follower of god effect your self-esteem?
Do you feel like a mere speck in the cosmos?

In my mind, I reject being the follower to anyone or any concept.
I could not abide the idea of going onto my knees and offering my fealty to anything.
That is just me, though…But what about you all?

I know some of our religious posters are confident and strong-willed people.
So how does that self-image correspond with the concept of being a subject to god?

I would appreciate your personal take on this - I am genuinely interested!

Thanks in advance!

:D
 
I have always pondered if accepting the status of a lesser being in comparison to a god has an effect on the way you act and see yourself?

When I compare myself to God, I do feel insignificant. But that is worthless, because God doesn't want you to be him, and you can't. Instead, you should realize that God wants you to be as great as you can be. I may feel insignificant compared to Him, but there is a reassuring message, saying, "You can be great if you try."

Does being a follower of god effect your self-esteem?
Do you feel like a mere speck in the cosmos?

I feel like I have potential, as a Catholic at age 14. I feel like I can go places and do great things. And it seems very easy as well - just try to improve your lives and others. Is it really that hard to do your schoolwork, give to the poor, be kind to others, and improve your character? Not really, if you think about it, it just takes will.

In my mind, I reject being the follower to anyone or any concept.
I could not abide the idea of going onto my knees and offering my fealty to anything.

I find it reassuring to be a follower. I don't feel like I am mindlessly obeying a supreme powers orders, because they aren't orders. He is asking me nicely to love my neighbor. He is asking me nicely to be kind to others, to improve my and others standing in life. I have free will, and I know that, so I don't feel like I am trudging along against my will. I feel like a free-thinker, a person in control of their destiny, someone fighting the good fight when it seems all the easier to just go along and ruin your life and be cruel to others.

I know some of our religious posters are confident and strong-willed people.
So how does that self-image correspond with the concept of being a subject to god?

See above. There is alot of freedom when you are religious, you know, because you are offered the choice. God is saying - join me and you can be a happy, successful person on earth who helps others. Turn away from me and you may seem happy, but deep down inside you will probably just be chasing foolish pleasures that have no long lasting reward. (And I don't just mean afterlife here, I mean that most reasons someone wouldn't follow God - sex, money, unrightful power - are all shallow and fruitless pursuits.)

There is a feeling of pride when you do something good. It isn't like, "I'm a good person, look at me, I'm better than everyone who didn't do this." Its more like a happiness that feels very natural. You feel like its the right thing to do before you do it and more so after you do it.

The only times being a follower of a religion is not fun is when its unpopular is when doing the right thing is looked down upon. I find this most in social situations - helping the kid picked on, etc - but even if these may not be visibly rewarding (no one saying, "That was nice of you.") there is always the knowledge of the payoff in the end. And even if that payoff isn't real, even if Heaven doesn't exist, you can always go on with your life saying, "Well, I did the right thing, if they think I'm wrong then that's too bad for them."

Hope that post is clear. I'm in a rush, wanted to finish it off before I go. I'll frequent this thread. :)
 
Wise* words, especially for an 14 year old person. :) I couldn't say it better myself now, let alone 8 years ago.

But then again, I myself am somewhere between CurtSibling and cgannon64. I don't really worship God either as in that I remind myself how almightly he is, but I do comfort myself with the presence of him. That he is some kind of good-willing shepard, and that he is a good-willing omnipresent contact person.

But to be honest, I almost never think about his presence. Only in life-death situations.

"Wise" not as in: truthfully (that is personal), but as in accurately described. This is how I was 'brought up', so I can tell. :)
 
Curt, I have no idea how old you are, but have you ever had a really really big problem? Something very serious that you struggled and struggled with, did your utmost very best to resolve but where unable to find a way out? That moment of realisation when you become fully aware that you are completely powerless before some impending personal calamity despite your best efforts, THATS when you know god is real. Ive been there, and its hard to describe without slipping into annoying cloying cliches, but I'll try. When I reached that point one time, I threw myself on the mercy of the universe. I said Pssst...Hey god, I reached the end of my rope. Theres nothing further I can do about this problem, so Im giving it to you to resolve however you see fit. If it turns out badly for me, well, I'll accept your judgement. Who am I thats so special that something bad like this cant happen to me? So its all yours god, take care of it and I'll abide by whatever you decide. I immediately felt this enormous weight being lifted from my shoulders and I was suddenly completely and utterly at peace for the first time since the start of this particular problem. It was a wonderfull experience and it was one of many that gradually brought me back to belief in god. BTW, that problem was resolved and disaster was averted, no thanks to my efforts, because I had failed utterly to prevent it. So I got 'lucky'? Or was it god cutting me a break? It was god ;) You'll reach that dead end too one day Curt, everybody on this dirt ball does eventually. You'll understand what faith in god is all about then.
 
Originally posted by CurtSibling
I wish to know what kind of mindset someone who is strongly attached to god has.

I have always pondered if accepting the status of a lesser being in comparison to a god has an effect on the way you act and see yourself?
Click to expand...

I do believe in God - actually, two Gods - but I don't think that They :) need or want my obeisance, going onto my knees, my submission. Being omnipotent, they can do more things than me, but this fact doesn't make me a "lesser being" neither in Their nor in my eyes. If you are stronger than me, that means that you can beat me, but this too doesn't make me lesser. Even among the people, there are ones who are stronger, nicer and cleverer than either you or me, but I think you are (or I am) not lesser that these people.


Originally posted by CurtSibling

Does being a follower of god effect your self-esteem?
Do you feel like a mere speck in the cosmos?

[...]

I know some of our religious posters are confident and strong-willed people.
So how does that self-image correspond with the concept of being a subject to god?

I would appreciate your personal take on this - I am genuinely interested!

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

Yes, it does. Actually, it strengthen my confidence. In the life of the Gods I worship, the most important things are the followers :D. They are immortal, they can have anything They want, so the interpersonal connections are very important for them. Being one of Their worshippers does not make one a speck in the cosmos. By nature, we are speck, but thus we can become a very important speck.
 
Caranamrta, by any chance are you a follower of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada?

Thanks to Google, now Im omnscient:goodjob:
 
In the Hindu religion, worship is an intensely personal activity, with emphasis on the person wishing to "hear" the voice of God. Most importantly, Hinduism says that God can be anything you want Him/Her to be since God is in everything and worshipping the thing that represents God to you is the same as worshipping him.
For Hindus, worship is more a way of casting our burden on Him or seeking repentance for sins committed. Personally, I put my troubles to God in a prayer and I DO feel better instantly.
 
Originally posted by CurtSibling
Hallo! :)

After 1000 posts, I felt it was time for a new religious question thread.
And this one is not a demand for proof, but a fact-seeking exercise!
One thing I often wonder about is the sensation and act of worship.

I wish to know what kind of mindset someone who is strongly attached to god has.

I have always pondered if accepting the status of a lesser being in comparison to a god has an effect on the way you act and see yourself?

Does being a follower of god effect your self-esteem?
Do you feel like a mere speck in the cosmos?

In my mind, I reject being the follower to anyone or any concept.
I could not abide the idea of going onto my knees and offering my fealty to anything.
That is just me, though…But what about you all?

I know some of our religious posters are confident and strong-willed people.
So how does that self-image correspond with the concept of being a subject to god?

I would appreciate your personal take on this - I am genuinely interested!

Thanks in advance!

:D
Click to expand...

knowing that i'm not God and that there is one and i therfore become a lesser being makes me happy. Do you really want the cashier working at mcdonalds to be a supreme being, it's nice to know that there is someone smarter nicer more powerful thats willing to help you.

being a follower of God doesn't make me feel like a speck, really the fact that i'm supposed to have a nice afterlife that will last forever makes me feel less like a speck than only being around for my short while on earth

I don't really understand where your getting at. Are you saying when ever things get tough you abandon your beliefs(doesn't have to be God, mabey freedom) I dont' have many problems submiting to my beliefes and principles

being a loved subject to the greatest thing ever isn't that bad
 
@ Dumb pothead

I was, but recently I became heretic :D and I'm not involved in ISKCON anymore. Radha and Krishna stayed in my mindset, but the institutionalism didn't.
 
Originally posted by Dumb pothead
Curt, I have no idea how old you are, but have you ever had a really really big problem? Something very serious that you struggled and struggled with, did your utmost very best to resolve but where unable to find a way out? That moment of realisation when you become fully aware that you are completely powerless before some impending personal calamity despite your best efforts, THATS when you know god is real. Ive been there, and its hard to describe without slipping into annoying cloying cliches, but I'll try. When I reached that point one time, I threw myself on the mercy of the universe. I said Pssst...Hey god, I reached the end of my rope. Theres nothing further I can do about this problem, so Im giving it to you to resolve however you see fit. If it turns out badly for me, well, I'll accept your judgement. Who am I thats so special that something bad like this cant happen to me? So its all yours god, take care of it and I'll abide by whatever you decide. I immediately felt this enormous weight being lifted from my shoulders and I was suddenly completely and utterly at peace for the first time since the start of this particular problem. It was a wonderfull experience and it was one of many that gradually brought me back to belief in god. BTW, that problem was resolved and disaster was averted, no thanks to my efforts, because I had failed utterly to prevent it. So I got 'lucky'? Or was it god cutting me a break? It was god ;) You'll reach that dead end too one day Curt, everybody on this dirt ball does eventually. You'll understand what faith in god is all about then.
Click to expand...

Interesting view, Potato!

I am actually twice the age of cgannon64.

And yes, I have had my own range of calamities over the years.
Like a parent dying, or a junkie in the family, I know everyone has personal mountains to climb.

I wouldn't be too sure that I will reach the dead end, I have defeated that opponent (known as my own doubts) years ago.

That is when I truly became a man, from being a lad.

I have been to the edge, and did not require god to fight through.
I relied on me.

That is what makes me what I am today. Lying down will not win the fight.

But we all have our own tokens to use to get by the barricades in our way.

I find your individual tales very enlightening, please keep them coming!

PS
One thing I would like to ask you all: Wouldn't YOU rather be the boss and in charge...?
 
:goodjob: Nice post cgannon64.

Wouldn't YOU rather be the boss and in charge...?
Click to expand...


Yeah some times. It's nice to know that God is taking care of me though. God knows best, I need to lisen to Him.
 
Well I don't really know Curt Sibling. Though I have been baptized under the name of Jesus, I don't go to church.
 
Originally posted by Dumb pothead
(...)
So its all yours god, take care of it and I'll abide by whatever you decide. I immediately felt this enormous weight being lifted from my shoulders and I was suddenly completely and utterly at peace for the first time since the start of this particular problem.
(...)
Click to expand...
It's a better solution than crack. ;)
 
I remember when I used to go to church. it felt rather confusing because they contradicted what I learned in the rest of my life. Finally in 7th grade I said forget this bull****. Faith didn't do a thing for me. Perhaps I never truly "believed" in the first place. Maybe my parents undermined the Bible literalists who ran the church by saying that some parts of the Bible were figurative. Maybe the school undermined them by teaching evolution. Maybe my friends undermined them by becoming sinners and nonchristians, yet folks I didn't want to bring myself to believe were headed for hell. Or more likely they undermined themselves with their doctrine of hate and by defending the actions of people such as the Europeans who took slaves and eradicated tribes of Native Americans. Maybe those endless sermons about how all of these evils were justified because they saved people's souls and those videos they showed us in sunday school about what hell was like finally got to me. Admittedly, I did leave this Baptist church and attend a Methodist one instead for a few years (I think I left the Baptist church in 5th grade. I don't remember for sure). At this second place, they just tried to talk around all the evils done in the name of religion instead of justify them. But the damage had been done. When I sat down and read the entire Bible for the first time, I realized that it did in fact seem to support what the Baptists had said. And then I decided Christianity was one of the more evil religions out there. And I quit.

edit: sorry for the novel. to sum it up, worship felt confusing and depressing to me
 
Originally posted by Phydeaux
Yeah some times. It's nice to know that God is taking care of me though. God knows best, I need to lisen to Him.
Click to expand...

There's no problem with God telling you to do this and that. The problem is when someone in charge would avoid making the more logical decisions because some God told them different. In other words, God is good, as long as his advices make sence.

Still, this god-will-take-care-of-me attitude is bound to fail if you don't do anything yourself. There's this Romanian saying: "God gives but He doesn't put it in your bag."
 
@omichyron:

A real-life account, I thank you for your honesty.

When it comes down to it, I think (and perhaps you do to) that the major dynamic that
really counts when it comes to controlling your own life...Is yourself.
 
Originally posted by Dumb pothead
Curt, I have no idea how old you are, but have you ever had a really really big problem? Something very serious that you struggled and struggled with, did your utmost very best to resolve but where unable to find a way out? That moment of realisation when you become fully aware that you are completely powerless before some impending personal calamity despite your best efforts, THATS when you know god is real. Ive been there, and its hard to describe without slipping into annoying cloying cliches, but I'll try. When I reached that point one time, I threw myself on the mercy of the universe. I said Pssst...Hey god, I reached the end of my rope. Theres nothing further I can do about this problem, so Im giving it to you to resolve however you see fit. If it turns out badly for me, well, I'll accept your judgement. Who am I thats so special that something bad like this cant happen to me? So its all yours god, take care of it and I'll abide by whatever you decide. I immediately felt this enormous weight being lifted from my shoulders and I was suddenly completely and utterly at peace for the first time since the start of this particular problem. It was a wonderfull experience and it was one of many that gradually brought me back to belief in god. BTW, that problem was resolved and disaster was averted, no thanks to my efforts, because I had failed utterly to prevent it. So I got 'lucky'? Or was it god cutting me a break? It was god ;) You'll reach that dead end too one day Curt, everybody on this dirt ball does eventually. You'll understand what faith in god is all about then.
Click to expand...

You can go a step further. That's when you are hopeless, you prayed but it doesn't work. At this point you probably will loose the faith again. I knew an innocent faithful girl abused then killed. What's up with that.
 

I wish to know what kind of mindset someone who is strongly attached to god has.
I know that everything is going to be all right in the end, for God is there, and will always be there.

I have always pondered if accepting the status of a lesser being in comparison to a god has an effect on the way you act and see yourself?
Click to expand...

I may be a lesser being physically, but that's where it ends. I am a piece of God and at the same time God is a part of me. We are all one.

Does being a follower of god effect your self-esteem?
Do you feel like a mere speck in the cosmos?
Click to expand...

It greatly boosts my self-esteem. Since I know that there is a God that actively participates in my life, I know that I am being cared for. I don't feel like a "mere speck" in this universe either, because I am part of it.

In my mind, I reject being the follower to anyone or any concept.
I could not abide the idea of going onto my knees and offering my fealty to anything.
That is just me, though…But what about you all?
Click to expand...

I don't go on my knees and swear fealty, for I walk together with God as my Friend.

I know some of our religious posters are confident and strong-willed people.
So how does that self-image correspond with the concept of being a subject to god?
Click to expand...

We are all One with God. There is nothing else in reality but God , but we are a part of Him. He is also a part of us, experiencing everything through us. I'm not a subject, I'm an avatar. Jesus is the ultimate avatar of God. He came to remind us that we are all One, and that to be the highest possible definition of yourself...is to be God.

At some time in your infinite life, you might find yourself being the persona of God, having come so far in your journey to connect to Him. Am I contradicting myself when I say this? No. One can forget that they are One with God so that one can experience what it is like. Sooner or later, though, God is remembered. :)

You have a great philosophy going, Curt. There is no greater power than to be the active one in your life. You create your own destiny and reality.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
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