Comments on: Worship http://druidjournal.net/word-of-the-day/2007/06/20/worship/ At the Crossroads of Sound and Meaning Sun, 01 Aug 2010 08:56:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Druid Journal Word of the Day » Blog Archive » Muhammad http://druidjournal.net/word-of-the-day/2007/06/20/worship/#comment-129 Druid Journal Word of the Day » Blog Archive » Muhammad Mon, 23 Jul 2007 16:09:10 +0000 http://druidjournal.net/word-of-the-day/2007/06/20/worship/#comment-129 [...] means “the Praiseworthy” — similar to the original meaning of the English word worship [...] [...] means “the Praiseworthy” — similar to the original meaning of the English word worship [...]

]]> By: Jeff Lilly http://druidjournal.net/word-of-the-day/2007/06/20/worship/#comment-80 Jeff Lilly Tue, 26 Jun 2007 14:50:26 +0000 http://druidjournal.net/word-of-the-day/2007/06/20/worship/#comment-80 Hey, no worries, Ali. I hope you had a great birthday! It's very curious how the meaning of the word has changed. I think many many people today would agree with your friend -- I certainly would have, a couple of years ago, when I was Zen and the idea of worship was completely foreign to me. And yet the standard dictionary definitions say nothing about grovelling or submission -- only reverence, honor, and love. I wonder if the word can still be salvaged?... Hey, no worries, Ali. I hope you had a great birthday!

It’s very curious how the meaning of the word has changed. I think many many people today would agree with your friend — I certainly would have, a couple of years ago, when I was Zen and the idea of worship was completely foreign to me. And yet the standard dictionary definitions say nothing about grovelling or submission — only reverence, honor, and love. I wonder if the word can still be salvaged?…

]]> By: Ali http://druidjournal.net/word-of-the-day/2007/06/20/worship/#comment-79 Ali Tue, 26 Jun 2007 14:40:32 +0000 http://druidjournal.net/word-of-the-day/2007/06/20/worship/#comment-79 Thanks for taking a look at this word, Jeff (and sorry I'm so late in commenting!). I was curious about its etymology and phonosemantics because of a conversation with my best friend recently. He's dead-set against the idea of "worship," associating it with formal ritual within a structured religion and thinking of it as a kind of groveling or submission. On the other hand, I would be hard pressed to find a better word to describe a lot of what my spiritual practice is about, because I see worship as a kind of celebration and praise of one's relationship with Spirit. It's interesting that worship has (what now seems so obvious) a connection to the idea of "worth" and honor. I like the idea that the willed choice to acknowledge the "worth" of Spirit, rather than emphasizing the separation of self from that Spirit, actually becomes a process of breaking down the barriers between the two. Thanks for taking a look at this word, Jeff (and sorry I’m so late in commenting!). I was curious about its etymology and phonosemantics because of a conversation with my best friend recently. He’s dead-set against the idea of “worship,” associating it with formal ritual within a structured religion and thinking of it as a kind of groveling or submission. On the other hand, I would be hard pressed to find a better word to describe a lot of what my spiritual practice is about, because I see worship as a kind of celebration and praise of one’s relationship with Spirit. It’s interesting that worship has (what now seems so obvious) a connection to the idea of “worth” and honor. I like the idea that the willed choice to acknowledge the “worth” of Spirit, rather than emphasizing the separation of self from that Spirit, actually becomes a process of breaking down the barriers between the two.

]]> By: Jeff Lilly http://druidjournal.net/word-of-the-day/2007/06/20/worship/#comment-64 Jeff Lilly Wed, 20 Jun 2007 16:18:10 +0000 http://druidjournal.net/word-of-the-day/2007/06/20/worship/#comment-64 A further note here: my wife notes that she pronounces "worship" and "warship" almost identically -- with the same vowel in the first syllable, but with slightly more stress on the second syllable, since "warship" is a compound. The phonosemantics of "war" are approprate to the meaning -- a strong, grounded will generating huge energy, with no specified directed result (compare "work", where the will-induced energy is directed into a container "k"). As for "ship", the history and phonosemantics are complex enough to deserve its own entry... A further note here: my wife notes that she pronounces “worship” and “warship” almost identically — with the same vowel in the first syllable, but with slightly more stress on the second syllable, since “warship” is a compound. The phonosemantics of “war” are approprate to the meaning — a strong, grounded will generating huge energy, with no specified directed result (compare “work”, where the will-induced energy is directed into a container “k”).

As for “ship”, the history and phonosemantics are complex enough to deserve its own entry…

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