Worship

Worship is an act of religious devotion usually directed towards a deity. An act of worship may be performed individually, in an informal or formal group, or by a designated leader. Such acts may involve honoring.

Etymology

The word is derived from the Old English weorþscipe, meaning to venerate "worship, honour shown to an object, which has been etymologised as "worthiness or worth-ship"—to give, at its simplest, worth to something.

Forms

Worship in various religions may take place in various settings such as a church, synagogue, mosque, or temple, and can be a formal or informal ritual. Different religions have different understandings of worship, but it generally involves a feeling of reverence or adoration for a deity, gods, or goddesses.

Religious views

Buddhism

In Buddhism, worship takes the form of meditation and devotion to the Buddha or Bodhisattvas.

Christianity

In Christianity, worship is reverent honor and homage paid to God. In the New Testament various words are used for worship. The word proskuneo "to worship" means to bow down to gods or kings.

Hinduism

In Hinduism, worship is called puja. It may range from songs, prayers, mantra yoga, yantra, meditation, and making offerings to doing deeds for the deity.

Islam

In Islam, the Arabic term used is ibadah (worship), which means service and encompasses everything one does in accordance with the will of Allah (God).

See also

• Prayer
• Ritual
• Sacrament
• Spirituality

References

Worship Resources
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