Christians and Jesus

[Fool]

Are people stroking the ego of a personality; if they worship that personality? is there a quid pro quo for idolatry?

 

[Guitar's Cry]

Possibly, if that personality has an ego to stroke.

What they worship is an archetype, which has more power anyway.

Though, I would concede that one of the reasons I left mainstream Christianity is my experience of members of my small town church stroking their own egos with religious dogma (and blatant racism).

 

[Jeremiah Ames]

Are people stroking the ego of a personality; if they worship that personality? is there a quid pro quo for idolatry?

Very good question.
To me, the problem arises with the word ‘worship’.
What exactly does worship look like (in peoples minds)?
My idea of worship is far different than what is referred to as worship in many churches. The Lord said ‘they worship me in vain’. That, to me, is a clue, that we must be careful how we think of worship.

 

[pearl]

Are people stroking the ego of a personality; if they worship that personality? is there a quid pro quo for idolatry?

It is God who is worshiped and adored, through Jesus in the Spirit. "All glory and honor are yours, almighty Father."

 

[Fool]

Very good question.
To me, the problem arises with the word ‘worship’.
What exactly does worship look like (in peoples minds)?
My idea of worship is far different than what is referred to as worship in many churches. The Lord said ‘they worship me in vain’. That, to me, is a clue, that we must be careful how we think of worship.

so they worship me for reasons of vanity?

 

[Fool]

Possibly, if that personality has an ego to stroke.

What they worship is an archetype, which has more power anyway.

Though, I would concede that one of the reasons I left mainstream Christianity is my experience of members of my small town church stroking their own egos with religious dogma (and blatant racism).

but aren't they attempting to do this to acquire something that they believe to be something they don't already have?

 

[Guitar's Cry]

but aren't they attempting to do this to acquire something that they believe to be something they don't already have?

Yes, which is why "Christ" had to die on the cross. At the crossroads of life and death, the ego must give way to infinity.

By following Christ instead of simple worship, the mystical Christian can identify with God (the Father, Brahma, the Universe as a Whole), and this relationship is already there. It is already lived.