asbestosman wrote:Moniker wrote:I think if just thankfulness was an aspect that's different. Yet, being thankful that you can worship He, is something different then expecting something in return. Do people really thank God for misfortunes? Or do they pray to God to change their misfortunes? Blessings are returns for behaviors. Heaven is an expectation of a return for certain behaviors.
I know people who pray for strength to endure misfortunes and then thank God for being able to endure thost things. That's not quite the same as praying for God to change the misfortune.
I agree, it's not the same. I actually think, all in all, it's healthier to ask that sort of change of self in prayer than asking for others to change or the world to change. :)
I think that people start off wanting something from God. Perhaps most of us stay in that state. However, I believe there are those (not saying I'm there yet) who worship God because God is the sort of being they wish they were like--loving, knowledgable, patient, etc. Similarly, I probably started loving my parents because of what they did for me: fed me, read to me, played with me, etc. Now I respect my parents by what they are. I respect my mother for her math abilities and my father for his abilities to see things from many angles. I respect their experiences which provide me with perspective. I respect them for some of the their own weaknesses which I have seen them overcome through the years.
I think this is a good point. Beastie mentioned earlier how there are other religions where there isn't the expectation of any rewards. Perhaps some that are raised in a certain Church or religion can move past the Me! Me! Me! stage at some point.
I don't think selfishness is inherently evil. I think selfishness is wrong only when leads to concern for yourself to the exclusion of others. Concern for your own welfare, on the other hand, seems like a virtue if handled appropriately. In the case of worshiping God, I think it would be wrong if we only worshiped Him because of what He will do for us instead of also worshping Him for His attributes--attributes that we admire and perhaps wish to emulate ourselves.
I don't view selfishness as inherently evil, either. Yet, with curses and blessings that does seem to point to a God that would favor some over others, doesn't it? I appreciated your comments on worship of attributes -- I agree that this is not the same thing, at all, as always expecting something in return for this worship.