Yuyutsu,

So you appear to be saying that our minds employ the concept of God to assist us in forming a target notion for explanation (of things we can have no understanding of) - and to facilitate "worship" practices.

Why would you worship something you think doesn't exist?

It it's viable to worship, then it does exist to you surely?

I'm more inclined to the Tao - which of course suggests "The Way" - no deity - just the way things are.

Simple wisdom drawn from the material world as a translator for the things our mind cannot grasp.

Dear Banjo,

Thanks for your comments.

Of course, I also see “a distinctive evolutionary “time line” drawn from (Einstein’s) early elementary studies as a youth to his brilliant scientific achievements later in life” and that “the latter would certainly not have been possible without the former”. The same when you apply “timeline” to religion.

However, this was not my point, which spoke of the irrelevance of the NAIVE way in which a, say, five years old Einstein saw physical reality to how acceptable to the scientific community were his adult IDEAS about relativity. Physicists - theoretical and experimental - did not have to scrutinise Einstein’s views in his childhood in order to decide to what extent his adult ideas were acceptable, “correct” if you like; his childhood and periods of life you refer to were, naturally, of interest to his biographers.

As to “conceptual errors”, I erroneously thought you were referring to ‘concept’ [an idea or mental image which corresponds to some distinct entity or class of entities, or to its essential features, or determines the application of a term (especially a predicate), and thus plays a part in the use of reason or language] where "conceptual errors" did not make much sense to me, and not to ‘conception’ [the forming or devising of a plan or idea; the way in which something is perceived or regarded] which makes more sense.

I was talking about concepts not conceptions.

Dear Poirot,

<<So you appear to be saying that our minds employ the concept of God to assist us in forming a target notion for explanation (of things we can have no understanding of) - and to facilitate "worship" practices.>>

But only the second use is good and worthwhile - to facilitate worship.

I suppose that some minds employ the concept of God to satisfy their curiosity, while other minds even employ the concept of God to assist them in chopping other people's heads off, then raping their wives and daughters. These are very poor reasons to invoke the name of God.

<<Why would you worship something you think doesn't exist?>>

Something? God isn't a thing!

Strictly speaking, one cannot worship God because acts of worship, like tango, require two separate entities, subject and object - whereas in this case the worshipper and the worshipped are the same.

So until God-realisation is achieved, one worships images (or representations) of God: these could be physical images or mental images, or they could be sounds, smells, feelings, etc.

Why? because it purifies one's soul and prepares it to experience its true nature - God.

<<It it's viable to worship, then it does exist to you surely?>>

At times I may, for practical considerations, behave AS IF God existed. It's a very useful technique.

Unfortunately, atheists who are not involved in worship, often see this and confuse this religious technique for a statement about reality. Some religious establishments also forgot that it's only a technique.

<<I'm more inclined to the Tao - which of course suggests "The Way" - no deity - just the way things are.>>

Certainly! Some find the Tao more useful then the belief in deities. Just make sure that you actually follow The Way rather than drift along undisciplined by using the CONCEPT of Tao to distract you from it.

<<Simple wisdom drawn from the material world as a translator for the things our mind cannot grasp.>>

Wisdom must lead to action. It is unwise to try to satisfy the mind's curiosity: the mind will never be satisfied!

Yuyutsu,

"something"....okay if you're going to be pedantic.

It appears you can use a device "Him" - but pull me up on that.

How about " Why would you worship God when (according to you) God doesn't exist?

Why is worship required at all?

What's the thing with worship that goes beyond man's awareness of his fragility and that he's at the mercy of the natural world?

Why must wisdom lead to action?

Why can't it merely lead to comfort/peace?

Dear Poirot,

The following link may be of interest:

http://www.wisdomcommons.org/virtues/43-action

Dear Poirot,

<<How about " Why would you worship God when (according to you) God doesn't exist?>>

What is so important about existence?
People nowadays seem to be addicted to it.
Does the fact that something exists make it any better?
No, that's a fashionable superstition!

<<Why is worship required at all?>>

It is only required if you want to come closer to God.
- Otherwise, eat, drink and be merry.

For those who are into coming closer to God, worship brings humility.
Humility helps to break the bonds of the ego, which makes us feel separate from God.

But the religious do not worship just because it brings humility - perhaps beginners do, but then one worships simply because it is good to worship, even if it is not required.

<<What's the thing with worship that goes beyond man's awareness of his fragility and that he's at the mercy of the natural world?>>

We are NOT fragile and NOT at the mercy of the natural world.
Yes, our bodies and minds are fragile, but that's a different story.

Fragility is not required for worship - the most famous embodiment of worship and devotion was Hanuman, yet he was also known as the opposite of fragile, the strongest and most capable in body.

In the long term, yes, worship brings humility and the abolition of ego, so the fragility of one's body matters not any more, but that takes time.

For those who are too bodily fragile to worship, their best form of worship is to become strong first.

<<Why must wisdom lead to action? Why can't it merely lead to comfort/peace?>>

So long as we are alive we cannot avoid action. Wisdom leads us to perform the right actions (which lead to peace, not necessarily to comfort) and only those, in place of our ordinary mix of actions.