Let's say, for giggles, that there IS a superior being...where does the idea of worship even come from?

Answer 1

There "IS" and "worship" is the idea that someone would be grateful and want to speak that gratitude in words of praise and song and poetry and dance!
"For giggles", what if that "superior being" had a fail-proof plan to rescue from the foul, demonic devil who wants to KILL you, STEAL from you all the blessings God has planned for you, and DESTROY YOU with sickness and disease and disasters? And what if, let's say, that His plan was successful and all you ever had to do was to ACCEPT and RECEIVE the benefits of this plan? Then, gratitude and WORSHIP by bowing to Him and His plan would make more sense to you..., but let's say, for giggles, this idea caught on with many people and those who thought it was absurd, hurled taunts and redicule at those who RECEIVED THE PLAN AND ACTUALLY MET WITH OTHERS WHO RECEIVED IT AND SPENT ABOUT A COUPLE HOURS A WEEK WORSHIPING THIS "superior being"? Wouldn't that be really giggly?

Answer 2

Because people - after encountering something perceived as miraculous (the Sun during an eclipse in ancient times or a tumor disappearing now, etc.) or some other odd synchronicity where a need is met - WANT IT TO HAPPEN AGAIN!. Why else would they personify a deity and prostrate themselves when its merely the way reality operates.

Answer 3

If men were actually created in the image of your giggle-god, it's reasonable to assume that He has human-style emotions. Because humans are social primates, we desire to be led by the most powerful alpha-male available. This of course means that He must be constantly praised and worshiped to soothe and placate His violent alpha-male temper. (If He didn't have that violent temper, He really wouldn't really be an alpha-male, would He?) Mustn't allow our omnipotent giggle-god to get all riled up; he might cause an earthquake, or a flood, or even (horrors) a solar eclipse!

Answer 4

Obviously a morally superior being would have no desire for being worshipped. But a demented supernatural being, who suffers from a psychopathology of extreme insecurity, definitely would crave to be worshipped.

Answer 5

It comes from two base human desires.

that of need and that of gratitude.

Just as kings and leaders have been worshiped from time immoral so to people worship deities.

They desire their help in whatever problems they have, and they also praise them for whatever help and protection they believe they have thus far received.

Answer 6

You just made me giggle. I think psychologically, it stems from our desire for the great eternal Father figure. People feel the need to be dependent on something else. This is classic co-dependency issues. Someones happiness solely dependent on somebody else's existence. Not very healthy is it?

Answer 7

I think that it is our reasonable response to God, our Creator. He created us for His glory. To our finite minds that might sound selfish, but that's because we are so confident in our ignorance. The idea of worship comes from the Bible. In the Old Testament, the Jews would sacrifice animals as worship to God. After Christ's death and resurrection, the idea of worship changed. The original Hebrew word means service. So, worship is a service to God. The Christian mega-church has thwarted the original meaning of the word worship. It has turned mainly into singing.... and it seems more like entertainment. To worship God means to serve Him. That can be done through singing, but it is not the only thoroughfare.

Answer 8

If there WERE, I still don't believe that human beings are the center, or the "purpose" of the Universe's existence. I see no reason why to sing praises of my devourer only to be eaten.

Answer 9

People fear things they think can snuff them out in the blink of an eye, so they do what they can to appease it by means of proselytizing(sp?) others and bowing down in mindless servitude. It's quite sad, really.

Answer 10

I think it was so that the superior being would be benevolent. In other words, self interest.