Café Philos: an internet café

Praising God isn't about flattering some entity who obviously shouldn't be in need of flattery.

It represents a focus of attention on a unified state of mind, a dedication to enlightened consciousness. It's an allegorical concept, in other words.

From what I've heard, everything the Judeo-Christian does, is for glory. He created mankind to praise him and live their life glorifying Him alone.

And yet, ashwin, not necessarily deserving of that glory.

Whoops, sorry Ashwin, that was a clumsy sentence! I didn't mean to imply that was your viewpoint, only that I was answering your comment.

I would have assumed no ill will to begin with, but I'm glad you took the time to clear that up. Thank you.

Back to the topic, I'm not sure what Paul means by "praising God"? Is it the automatic response of "Thank God you're alright!" or a conscious one?

Paul the Apostle meant a conscious act of praising God - actually the reason for our existence, to stand around in a choir and tell God how great He is. Don't know about Paul the Cafe' guy. ;-)

Hi Mystic!

Would you say that "praising god" is a form of meditation?

Hi DOF!

I'm not sure I will ever understand Paul the Apostle's notion of the good afterlife. Sitting around all day praising and worshiping God? How could that be blissful?

Hi Ashwin,

I think the Judeo-Christian notion of giving glory to god alone is a bit political. That's to say, my hunch is the priests advocated it as a way of upping their own status. But I could be wrong about that.

Paul:

Yes, that's one way of putting it. Praising God is a form of meditation.

"God needs praise," is an ambiguous phrase, though.

If my Ultimate Burger from the cafeteria is truly magnificent in all possibly measures that I could apply to it, then it needs praise, too.