Why do we worship other humans?

[Rockchick26]

This whole Michael Jackson thing has really got me thinking. I know the man was talented and changed pop music and everything, but, doesn't it seem a bit strange that he is considered a God, almost? The entire world is crying over his death (and those that arent are still in shock and talking about it like crazy)...and I mean no disrespect towards him at all when I say this, but, is it normal for us to worship other humans so much? So much that when other "less important" people die in the same day, they don't get as much attention? Do you think God is looking down at us shaking his head saying, "they just don't get it". People who are worshipped (including the Pope) are JUST HUMANS! Yes they do extraordinary things/have amazing talents, but what does that say about the rest of us? That we aren't worthy of being worshipped so we are on the bottom level of the human ladder?

It kind of sickens me when I think about it too much. It cannot be right that we treat famous people so differently than we do average every day people. And proof that it can't be right is how these famous people end up...most of them can't deal with fame and end up on drugs or killing themselves. Yet so many people want to be famous. But it can't be healthy and it can't be right.

It's the same way with rockstars. I am a huge music fan and I'm right there in the crowd "worshipping" these guys on stage, and it makes me wonder, "Do I really think they are better than me?" The answer is no, they are just talented at playing an instrument and write songs that speak to my soul. But anyone can do that. I do that for myself. I actually feel a little uncomfortable when i'm in the presence of a crowd that is worshipping the artist onstage, because I don't feel like I'm on a level below them. I wish it wouldn't be the way it is, I wish rockstars could just walk around and hang out with their fans like people and not have it be so seperate like they're up here and we're down below. When i'm in the crowd, i'm trying to connect with them through the music, not make them feel like they're Gods just because they wrote a song that millions of people like.

Anyone have any thoughts on this? I just had to get it out cuz it's been bugging me the last few days.

[brendannz]

Originally Posted by Rockchick26

This whole Michael Jackson thing has really got me thinking. I know the man was talented and changed pop music and everything, but, doesn't it seem a bit strange that he is considered a God, almost? The entire world is crying over his death (and those that arent are still in shock and talking about it like crazy)...and I mean no disrespect towards him at all when I say this, but, is it normal for us to worship other humans so much? So much that when other "less important" people die in the same day, they don't get as much attention? Do you think God is looking down at us shaking his head saying, "they just don't get it". People who are worshipped (including the Pope) are JUST HUMANS! Yes they do extraordinary things/have amazing talents, but what does that say about the rest of us? That we aren't worthy of being worshipped so we are on the bottom level of the human ladder?

It kind of sickens me when I think about it too much. It cannot be right that we treat famous people so differently than we do average every day people. And proof that it can't be right is how these famous people end up...most of them can't deal with fame and end up on drugs or killing themselves. Yet so many people want to be famous. But it can't be healthy and it can't be right.

It's the same way with rockstars. I am a huge music fan and I'm right there in the crowd "worshipping" these guys on stage, and it makes me wonder, "Do I really think they are better than me?" The answer is no, they are just talented at playing an instrument and write songs that speak to my soul. But anyone can do that. I do that for myself. I actually feel a little uncomfortable when i'm in the presence of a crowd that is worshipping the artist onstage, because I don't feel like I'm on a level below them. I wish it wouldn't be the way it is, I wish rockstars could just walk around and hang out with their fans like people and not have it be so seperate like they're up here and we're down below. When i'm in the crowd, i'm trying to connect with them through the music, not make them feel like they're Gods just because they wrote a song that millions of people like.

Anyone have any thoughts on this? I just had to get it out cuz it's been bugging me the last few days.

I think the interaction / communion with rock stars is that they bring out a part of yourself, and you kind of find a part of yourself in their music and so feel understood moreso than you do in superficial conversations with your colleagues or about your occupation etc.

[Plato]

Rockchic, I know! It's bizarre.

My only rationalization is this is just how the world works. Whoever said human behaviour would be rational, you know?

There is obviously no rational justification for this seemingly biased and unfair treatment, nor should there be. It is what it is. We could explain it psychologically in terms of influence, social hypnosis and the rest, but it takes away some of the magic.

What's more...WE are just as influenced by the same factors as other people. Nobody is immune to it. Everybody thinks they are, but we are not.

I guarantee TV advertsizing works on you (even clear minded you) hundreds of times more powerfully than you believe it does. I used to think it didn't touch me. I was wrong. I get these irrational impulses towards certain brands... it actually feels better to buy exactly the same product with a favorite brand, rather than the less advertized brand.

Part of living consciously has to be exposing ourselves to positive influence on a regular basis lest we slide back into the fear soup of the population.

[aggie]

i agree with this whole worship thing...people that possess some talent or character trait or ability that we don't can be admired and respected...we could even be in awe of it...worship is a different thing...and we are guilty of it...i guess to some extent for some people it is a vicarious thing...maybe some little wish that even a little bit of that will magically rub off on us or we can have a little taste of that life style and adulation ourselves. i suppose that is a human trait...that some people can take to an unhealthy level. i guess what bothers me more is the role model position some people take on to the point where people (especially young people) emulate for lack of a better word bad behavior. there is a whole different set of rules in life for the celebs in this world...some are plain arrogant and expect it and they know their money can buy it...and they really cannot relate to the little people...someone did a study on this...how much can these people really empathize or care what is going on with their fans...not to say that some cannot and are caring and giving people sometimes privately...sometimes lending their name and fame to a good cause. but there is a lot of public irresponsible, immoral, law evading, disrespectful behavior as well and i for one do not believe it should not be enabled or justified. look at how we have made the birth of a celebrity child as something other than a natural occurance and huge amounts of money paid by the highest bidder for a glimpse and the parents do it willingly and lucratively. i purposely will not buy a magazine that contributes to this for example just to get a first look...i can live without...but so many people cannot...it is an individual choice not to patronize bad behavior...if you do not believe in this worship...then you do not watch, you do not buy, you boycott...in your own private way...may not make a hill of beans difference in the long run...but may a little private victory...as long as we as a society place these people up there and pay to keep them there...it will always be like this...it all has to be put in perspective by each individual for the effect it has on them...and how they live their lives...accepting and appreciating this difference between us and them and not becoming consumed or obsessed about it.

[Antarananda]

I think the need to follow is almost hardwired in our DNA. We all have an innate drive to worship. Some worship rock stars and movie stars, others worship religious icons, and still others worship Gurus like Steve Pavlina

[Still Growing]

Here are the reasons:

1. Humans have a heard mentality and follow those who yield power
2. Fame has become a power symbol and it is like currency
3. Humans feel that they can get power (instinctually) by being close to power
4. Humans feel more comfortable around others who follow the same power source. IE: I am a member of the Justin Timberlake tribe

You and I are still like animals. We have complex reasoning now on why we do what we do however our actual movements reflect animalistic instincts.

[Rockchick26]

Originally Posted by Still Growing

Here are the reasons:

1. Humans have a heard mentality and follow those who yield power
2. Fame has become a power symbol and it is like currency
3. Humans feel that they can get power (instinctually) by being close to power
4. Humans feel more comfortable around others who follow the same power source. IE: I am a member of the Justin Timberlake tribe

You and I are still like animals. We have complex reasoning now on why we do what we do however our actual movements reflect animalistic instincts.

So I wonder why some people blindly follow others and don't even see how they are being, and others like me are totally aware of it and seem to feel like it is wrong somehow. Not that there is anything wrong with being animalistic, but I don't even know of any animals that idolize other animals. So in some ways we're almost more animalistic than THEY are!

[Still Growing]

Rockchic,

If you look at Apes or Bears they do follow the Alpha Males which has the most strength. In their own way they are idolizing the Alphas.

For humans, power= strength and fame= power.

So humans appear to be more complex in their behavior but the end result is really the same.

I agree that humans are very animalistic. We think we're rational and spiritual beings however our actions often show that we're animalistic too.

[MidasGirl]

When an artist is "in the zone" their giving is an expression of godliness. It's hard to watch those early childhood MJ videos and not see God-manifest. It just doesn't seem humanly. I think on a very ifundamental spiritual level people sense and recognize that god-expression and tend to want to worship it, more as a dysfunctional way to connect with it. IOW, I guess we see these people as representations of the (unexpressed) highest expression of ourselves. Of course this worship is also a double edged sword as it is the main cause of these celebrities destroying themselves. The ego steps in and they forget what their worshipers love is the god-expression of them, not the ego that grows as a result of the worship.

[Still Growing]

Midasgirl,

Very unique insight. Well done.

[Rockchick26]

Originally Posted by MidasGirl

When an artist is "in the zone" their giving is an expression of godliness. It's hard to watch those early childhood MJ videos and not see God-manifest. It just doesn't seem humanly. I think on a very ifundamental spiritual level people sense and recognize that god-expression and tend to want to worship it, more as a dysfunctional way to connect with it. IOW, I guess we see these people as representations of the (unexpressed) highest expression of ourselves. Of course this worship is also a double edged sword as it is the main cause of these celebrities destroying themselves. The ego steps in and they forget what their worshipers love is the god-expression of them, not the ego that grows as a result of the worship.

This is a very good answer!! Very well said. I understand it totally now. So I guess my next question is, how can any people have more Godliness in them than others? What is it that seperates those people from everyone else? You would think we'd all be equal. It kind of depresses me and makes me feel like we're not really all equal after all!

[wachusettgirl]

Originally Posted by MidasGirl

When an artist is "in the zone" their giving is an expression of godliness. It's hard to watch those early childhood MJ videos and not see God-manifest. It just doesn't seem humanly. I think on a very ifundamental spiritual level people sense and recognize that god-expression and tend to want to worship it, more as a dysfunctional way to connect with it. IOW, I guess we see these people as representations of the (unexpressed) highest expression of ourselves. Of course this worship is also a double edged sword as it is the main cause of these celebrities destroying themselves. The ego steps in and they forget what their worshipers love is the god-expression of them, not the ego that grows as a result of the worship.

Agree that that was an excellent post. I would only add that most of the time the worship is only temporary. They don't necessarily have to destroy themselves, or their image with their ego, but almost always they will be brought back down by the public mindset in one way or another.

With regards to Michael Jackson, yes people are calling him a god today because passed unexpectedly and prematurely... but a year ago if you had brought up his name most people would've laughed, as if he was a joke or a pathetic has-been. We love to build stars up, so that we can destroy them. It's usually a cycle.

[MidasGirl]

Originally Posted by Rockchick26

This is a very good answer!! Very well said. I understand it totally now. So I guess my next question is, how can any people have more Godliness in them than others? What is it that seperates those people from everyone else? You would think we'd all be equal. It kind of depresses me and makes me feel like we're not really all equal after all!

I don't think it's that some have more godliness than others. But more that we are all tuned into our higher creative-ness at different intensinsities. I'm not saying I have all the answers, but we as humans are the ones that tend to put value on one thing and not another. For example, MJ's genius talent in music versus a woman I know who can cook out of this world meals. I don't think one is better than the other in "God's eyes", they are just different ways of God's creative expression.

It's like the body organs analogy. You probably don't regard your liver as more important than your eyes, or your brain as more important than your bladder. They are all just organs performing different functions as a collective of the One body. Sure, some functions are more life-intensive than others in terms of keeping you alive, but still, they are all a part of the overall wellness of the One body.

[MidasGirl]

Originally Posted by wachusettgirl

With regards to Michael Jackson, yes people are calling him a god today because passed unexpectedly and prematurely... but a year ago if you had brought up his name most people would've laughed, as if he was a joke or a pathetic has-been. We love to build stars up, so that we can destroy them. It's usually a cycle.

See, I kind of disagree with the sentiment I hear often that we love to build stars so that we can destroy them. Stars destroy themselves. Some stars who were deeply centered in who they are still manage to avoid this destruction. Think Oprah. The woman lays it out there and is vulnerable about everything negative in her life, so there's nothing to attack her for, even made up stuff doesn't stick.

I think in general the majority of people who idolize a star will always idolize them regardless. It's more that the media recognizes that people love, love to feed on negative drama. And it's that much more saucy if the object of the negative drama is a famous person. I think it makes people feel a strange satisfaction that this person was "just miserable like them" and is not some kind of a god after all. Some people believe everything they read, more so if it's negative. It's easier to believe a person is miserable than it is to believe they are happy. How sad!!

The problem with MJ is that I think in an effort to protect himself, he built such a weird mysteriousness around himself he made himself an even easier target. How ironic, kind of like LOA in action. He was so focused on "hiding himself" that he made himself stand out even more as a result.

[funchy]

Why do we worship non-humans? (religion) Is there something about human nature that makes us want to worship something?

Is it worse to worship something we know exists (a person) vs something we imagine exists (a deity)?

[Excellent Lodestar]

Originally Posted by Rockchick26

So I guess my next question is, how can any people have more Godliness in them than others?

I don't believe they do.

Originally Posted by Rockchick26

What is it that seperates those people from everyone else?

your own mind?

Originally Posted by Rockchick26

You would think we'd all be equal.

That's what I think;actually I'm not even sure that there is a "we" there is just this one life...all you, manifest

[ginkgo]

It is amazing that someone that you do not know can make you feel happier than you ever have been, almost. That is why we recognize names like Mozart, Bach and Beethoven. Many still play their music.

Michael Jackson was a musical genius. I do not worship him but people have different ways of looking at other people. You cannot question how someone else feels. The old saying is "you would have had to been where I have been to know where I'm at. Get where I'm coming from?" The Indian saying is about walking a hundred steps in my moccasins. It is waste of time to figure out others.

Many worship Hitler. You are not alive to figure out others. Socrates says "know thyself!" Each person has their own issues. Do you know anyone perfect? The biggest mistake that people make is to imagine that people see things the way that they do. In a sense each person lives in their own world of their making.

Actually music is an experience. If you do not have the same experience of it that someone else has then you cannot imagine what it is. Some people love playing piano and some love playing tennis. So your question is like asking why you do not love playing piano or tennis. You are asking why everyone is not like you. That is how it is.

This song is about self development.
"I’m starting with the man in the mirror
I’m asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself, and then make a change." See for yourself: Man in the Mirror - Michael Jackson - Best Songs - Hits - Lyrics - Youtube Video This video has on it Mother Theresa, Gandhi, Rev Martin Luther King and JFK!

[ginkgo]

Originally Posted by Rockchick26

This is a very good answer!! Very well said. I understand it totally now. So I guess my next question is, how can any people have more Godliness in them than others? What is it that seperates those people from everyone else? You would think we'd all be equal. It kind of depresses me and makes me feel like we're not really all equal after all!

As far as equality each person has inside of them the perfect peace that is in everyone. But they have free choice. What they do determines how in touch they with that perfect peace and unlimited happiness or how miserable they feel. A good song to show this is Man in the Mirror. It is about self development.
"I’m starting with the man in the mirror
I’m asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself, and then make a change." See for yourself: Man in the Mirror - Michael Jackson - Best Songs - Hits - Lyrics - Youtube Video This video has on it Mother Theresa, Gandhi, Rev Martin Luther King and JFK!

[Rockchick26]

yeah Man in the Mirror is a GREAT song, beautiful message. I wish I could write something so amazing!

I don't believe everyone loves to destroy celebrities, I don't, that's for sure. I stick up for them and tell people "hey, you're not them, you don't now what it's like".

I think it's true that celebrities destroy themselves because they are under such pressure to be perfect and of course no one is, so it inevitably bites them in the ass and they either shape up or ship out. And if they're lucky they can come back (in the case of Mickey Rourke, one of my favorite actors-he self destructed and is now back on top as good as ever (minus the looks ). And it bothers me how people make fun of these celebrities who have had plastic surgery, I feel very sorry for them that they feel they must look a certain way. I think Michael Jackson is the best example of this.

[Grindin]

I didn't cry at all about Micheals death. Infact I just shrugged it off. Not a big deal. The big deal was his contribution to the world. That part has long been over.

Maybe I'm just weird but I don't find death to be a bad thing. Infact, I usually don't cry over someones death at all. I actually smile and have an internal nod of aknowledgement to a life lived...

Feel me?

[Rockchick26]

Originally Posted by Grindin

I didn't cry at all about Micheals death. Infact I just shrugged it off. Not a big deal. The big deal was his contribution to the world. That part has long been over.

Maybe I'm just weird but I don't find death to be a bad thing. Infact, I usually don't cry over someones death at all. I actually smile and have an internal nod of aknowledgement to a life lived...

Feel me?

I wish I could be that unaffected by death. Have you ever had a close family member or spouse or child die? I think that's the kind of thing that is easy to say but if it ever happens, you might be surprised at how upset you would get.

[Grindin]

Short answer, no. Closest person to me that has died was my dog for 17 years. When that happened I knew it was coming and shed like 3-4 tears and then used the rest of the emotion as an energy source to help myself and my family.

The tears felt like a natural response to the situation. Like a hardwired reaction to a physical death. Strange thing is though...I was able to "watch" myself through the emotions. I observed it, aknowledged it (cried), and then let it go cause I know thats just part of the cards in life.

Am I the only one like this?

[Gazzali]

Celebrities are known by many and we connect our own timelines with them. For example, where were you and what accomplishment you have done when MJJ made his 'Beat It' or "Thriller". So when celebrity passed on, the public 'cry' emotionally as though their past is stamped as past. You may wish to read my tribute to MJJ here