Why does God need rituals?

Answer 1

I would say that God doesn't need rituals -- people need rituals. It helps them focus their concentration and dedicate themselves fully to approaching the Divine.

The various aspects of a ritual -- clothing, scents, candlelight, chanting, etc -- are designed to make the experience stand out somehow from everyday reality and put us in a different mindset.

As far as I'm concerned, God (or Goddess) doesn't need to be worshipped at all. But humans find worship fulfilling, and it's worthwhile for that reason alone.

Answer 2

If you look at the Old Testament - God's rituals were all designed to illustrate something about his character. For example, the shedding of animal blood was an illustration that payment for sin requires shed blood. This was a foreshadowing of the fact that Jesus's blood would have to be shed for our sins.

The israelites had to cleanse themselves with ceremonial washing to illustrate the fact that we are not clean before God (we are sinful) and we need to be cleansed.

There were many layers of seperation between the people and God - the outer courts, the priests, the Most Holy Place etc... the lesson being, we are broken and seperated from God. We are not worthy to be in his presence.

God instituted the meal of Passover and the sacrificing of a lamb without blemish as a foreshadowing of how Jesus (the spotless lamb of God) would be sacrificed so that God's wrath would pass over those who trust in Him.

So you see God does not need rituals, but he gave these rituals to teach us something about himself and about what he was going to do in the world.

Paul said that all the rituals of the old testament were types and shadows of the reality that is Jesus Christ. Now that Jesus has come in to the world, we don't need these rituals anymore.

Currently, Christianity has the "rituals" if you want to call them that, of baptism and communion. Now, these were given for specific reasons - 1) that we would make a public declaration of committment to Christ and 2) that we would remember Jesus's death.

You see the rituals are still for our (people's) benefit, not for God.

At least that's what I think - does that make sense?

Answer 3

God does not need rituals. Man does, some people find comfort from practiced rituals. But, this is man made traditions.

Answer 4

I don't think is as much as God needs the rituals as the followers that find a comfort in doing it.

Answer 5

God doesn't need rituals people invent them. Nothing in the Bible about rituals.

Answer 6

He/She/It doesn't "need" anything.

People create rituals because THEY need to believe that they have some control over what happens to them in the next life, on the off chance that one actually gets an afterlife at all.

Its a comforting thing, you know.

Its a pretty scary thing to realize that nothing you say or do will alter your eternal destiny, isn't it?

:o)

Don't worry, though. Whatever happens to you after this life ends...you won't be alone.

Answer 7

God doesn't need them. Some people feel closer to God using them, but even they don't really "need" them.

Answer 8

Because he thinks watching priets dress up in silly hats and throw water and smoke around is funny. Hey, he needs something to pass the time. All he does is hear people whine or request stuff from him, so they might as well do silly things for his amusement.

Answer 9

He doesn't. Humans just felt guilty so the catholics decided to poor some grandeur into things and came up with a bunch of crap that makes us feel like martyrs and ultimately makes us feel better about ourselves.

All he really wants is a relationship with you.

Answer 10

Well He knew we would want to do something for Him...that would please Him. So He gave us the feasts and Shabbat.

Also, He instructed these things so we would not do something that is displeasing. I am confident G-d is pleased when I do such things, as His word says that He commanded us to do so.

Bless u
David