Why would an all-powerful, omnipresent, omniscient god want lesser beings to worship and give offerings to him? [Spirituality & Religion]

@Abstraction It is not a straw man. It is a legitimate critique of the relationship dynamic. Think about it for a second. In literally any other context it would be considered toxic.

@PicturesOfABetterTomorrow Ok, then it's a misstated critique that stems from your lack of comprehension. Any serious exploration shows it to be incorrect, but you're obviously not into it. Cool. If you ever get curious you'll find your interpretation isn't even close. I get how it could sound that way.

@Abstraction You just demonstrated another rather toxic characteristic of some religions. Implying that your interpretation and yours alone is correct which is actually rather arrogant as is the tone of your comment.

@Abstraction Do you have a assertion for him to rebut or debate?

@PicturesOfABetterTomorrow No, actually I didn't. I just said he pointed out he didn't clearly understand what he was arguing against. I didn't say my world view was correct and his was wrong. There's a clear difference. I'm actually not toxic. @SimplyTracie No, if he was really interested he could find the answer himself. If he is not, it's probably pointless.

@Abstraction Come on. Claiming that someone else is wrong based exclusively on your own opinion and them pretending you are not claiming your interpretation is exclusively correct and right is just being dishonest.

@PicturesOfABetterTomorrow [i]"I just said he pointed out he didn't clearly understand what he was arguing against. [b]I didn't say my world view was correct and his was wrong. [/b]There's a clear difference."[/i]
I think that's a very clear statement. When you read what I said above correctly you cannot come to the conclusion that 'my interpretation is exclusively correct and right.' What I pointed out was that he didn't really understand the concepts because I'd had a very in-depth discussion with him just prior to this.

His point and the questions behind it aren't new, debated for years, with conclusions both ways that are logically consistent and valid. He didn't demonstrate that he actually grasped the logic - that was my point. I readily defend the logic of good pro-atheist arguments.

I appear to have irritated you. :D It was intended in good fun. If you keep trawling, I'm sure you'll find some errors I've made and I'll be happy to acknowledge. I don't find it difficult to admit errors. However, this isn't one.

@PicturesOfABetterTomorrow[b] Isaiah 45:9 9"Woe to those who quarrel with their Maker, those who are nothing but potsherds among the potsherds on the ground. Does the clay say to the potter, 'What are you making?' Does your work say, 'The potter has no hands'?

[/b]

@Carazaa You seem like a nice person but frankly this is just offensive. Commenting on my "failings" because I don't conform to the expectations of a god I do not honor or have any interest in makes about as much sense as me berrating you for not complying with the teachings of Odin, or Krishna. I am sorry but I don't owe your god anything.

@PicturesOfABetterTomorrow Ok, I think you've argued your case well. I was wrong, it is a fair question. I apologise.
So although it will mean not a lot to you or the person who asked it, but let me address the question.

It does sound like something a narcissistic sociopath would do. That may not be the only logical explanation, though, of the meaning of worship.

God is perfect and complete and has no need of anything. Nothing we can do can add to him. So it's simple... To imagine God, a perfect being with infinite knowledge couldn't see through themselves for being shallow like the kind of immature person who needs their ego massaged would be a bit silly really, because even many humans are well beyond that. So why should anyone worship?

The main purposes of worship are two things:
[u]1. Relationship[/u]. I think that's straightforward.
[u]2. Becoming[/u]. Worship is just a particular focus of some very human attributes - our sense of need, longing and beauty. If there is no faith, the human need remains and it keeps groping with a thousand tendrils towards some new object of desire. Whatever in our life then dominates our heart, our thinking, our desires... ultimately shapes us. For some people here it could even be their anger over politics, or their sexual desires, or their inadequacy. For others it's a set of ideals of values or material goals, or success at work... And we tend to give ourselves over to those things. They take our time, our attention, they shape who we become. The affect our values.

My heart is shaped by the beauty of who God is (and my picture obviously isn't built around an ego-centric psychologically damaged picture of a human). But, for instance, that in a world of spin where the powerful tell the story => that truth ultimately matters. In a world where money buys legal victories => that hunger for justice has its basis in something deep within existence. In a world of power where the golden rule is that he who has the gold rules => yet the dignity of the most vulnerable really does matter and love really does matter. So I want to care for the poor, the downtrodden, the vulnerable. I want to be honest to others even if it costs me. I want to be generous, care for people etc. That's how I live. And so worship for me is a reconnection with the Source of life and finding that wholeness that helps me maybe contribute something within a damaged world. And I do, imperfectly, but in reality.

@PicturesOfABetterTomorrow Don't be offended by Gods word. It is truth that will set you free!

@Carazaa [quote]Don't be offended by Gods word.[/quote]
There no proof that anything is "god's word", there is no proof it even exists.

[quote]It is truth that will set you free![/quote]
That's why I'm free and you're still trapped by christianity.

@Sharon Christianity is based on lies. It's just a tool used by the rich to control the masses and exploit the poor.

@Sharon If you are not Christian you are a slave to sin.

@NortiusMaximus What? Jesus is The Way, The Truth, and The Life!📯✝️🌟

@Carazaa No Offense, but does a non Christian believe in sin?

@NortiusMaximus Not at my church.

@Abstraction That was beautiful!🙏

@WSEIII What I believe is inconsequential. God says that ALL have sinned. Whether you know you have sinned or not, you will be judged on every single word you have said!

@Carazaa [quote]Jesus is The Way, The Truth, and The Life![/quote]
That proves what I said is correct, you're still trapped by the lies of christianity!

@Carazaa [quote]If you are not Christian you are a slave to sin.[/quote]
If you are a christian you are a slave to lies!

@Carazaa The bible is just a bunch of books written by men. Books that contradict each other and defy the laws of physics btw. I am offended you use them to impose your beliefs on others.

I have found my truth and I am mature enough to realize it is different from yours and I don't feel the need to force it on you.

@Carazaa [quote]If you are not Christian you are a slave to sin.[/quote]


This is complete nonsense. If anything the opposite is true. Sin only holds power over those who believe it even exists.