
Taken during a
Hindu prayer ceremony on the eve of
Diwali.
'Worship' usually refers to specific acts of
religious praise, honour, or
devotion, typically directed to a
supernatural being such as God, a
god or
goddess. It is the informal term in English for what
sociologists of religion call ''
cultus'', the body of practices and traditions that correspond to
theology.
Religious worship may be performed individually, in informally organized groups, or as part of an organized service with a designated leader (as in a
church,
synagogue,
temple, or
mosque). In its older sense in the
English language of ''worthiness'' or ''respect'' (Anglo-Saxon ''worthscripe''), ''worship'' may sometimes refer to actions directed at members of higher social classes (such as
lords or
monarchs) or to particularly esteemed persons (such as a
lover).
Worship as a Christian is also defined as how you live your life, since worship is honor to a supernatural being and the Bible talks about always honoring God. If you live your life honoring God then you are worshiping.
Typical acts of worship
Typical acts of worship include:
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prayer;
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sacrifice (''
korban'' in Hebrew);
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rituals;
★ some forms of
meditation;
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holidays,
festivals;
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pilgrimages;
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hymns,
psalms or
worship music;
★
dance
★ the construction of
temples or
shrines;
★ the creation of
idols of the deity.
★ living out
Worship in Daily Life.
Adoration versus veneration
Catholicism and
Eastern Orthodoxy distinguish between ''
adoration'' or ''
latria'' (Latin ''adoratio'', Greek ''latreia'', ''[λατρεια]'') which is due to God alone, and ''
veneration'' or ''
dulia'' (Latin ''veneratio'', Greek ''douleia'' ''[δουλεια]''), which may be lawfully offered to the
saints. The external acts of veneration resemble those of worship, but differ in their object and intent. Protestant Christians question whether such a distinction is always maintained in actual devotional practice, especially at the level of
folk religion.
Orthodox
Judaism and orthodox
Sunni Islam hold that for all practical purposes veneration should be considered the same as prayer; Orthodox Judaism (arguably with the exception of some
Chasidic practices), orthodox Sunni Islam, and most kinds of
Protestantism forbid veneration of saints or
angels, classifying these actions as akin to
idolatry.
Similarly,
Jehovah's Witnesses assert that many actions classified as
patriotic by other Protestant groups, such as saluting a flag, are equivalent to worship and are therefore considered idolatrous as well.
Worship in various religions
Worship in Christianity
Worship in Hinduism
Worship in Islam
According to the Qur'an, mankind was created only for the purpose to worship God (Qur'an 51:56). Prayer or pilgrimage are just special forms of worship; obedience to God and the attempt to assume the attributes of God as far as possible (2:138) are forms of worship which should ideally encompass every human action. See e.g..
[1]
Worship in Judaism
Worship in Sikhism
In Sikhism, Worship takes after the
Guru Granth Sahib. In the Guru Granth Sahib is the work of the 10 Sikh Gurus all in one. Sikhs worship God and only one God, known as "One Creator" or (Waheguru) "Destroyer of Darkness". The Guru Granth Sahib is known as the final Sikh Guru by Guru Gohbind Singh, the 10th Sikh Guru.
Objects of worship
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Ancestor worship
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Animal worship
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Demon worship
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Goddess worship
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Idol worship
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Imperial cult
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Self worship
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Major world religions
Philosophical Treatment of the Concept of Worship
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Ninian Smart, ''
The Concept of Worship''
References and External Links
References
1. Worship in Islam
External links
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Planning Center Online (Online Worship Planning)
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Online Worship Planning (WorshipWebSite.net)
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www.ChurchPond.com Online worship services, thoughts and events from around the world via the latest technology
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MultisensoryWorship.com
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French Worship songs
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WorshipHouse Media
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the Taizè Community
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Hindu Worships
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Lift Up Your Hearts (Canadian Lutheran)
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WorshipMusic.com
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WorshipInfo.com
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the Anglican Liturgy Library at Oremus
★ A Christian
Worship Resource Center
★ The "
Worship Curve", an outline for Christian worship
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Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
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Worship is not just music but a lifestyle
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Concept of Worship in the Quran
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Experiencing Worship
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Act Of Worship Germany - Feel free to Worship