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RE: Musing Posts

in #musing-threads6 years ago

It depends on your views about religion. Let's take some examples.

If you are a Muslim, it definitely is. Other people have explained it in a very detailed manner, and here is the summary: If you don't have mercy on the ones who are not so fortunate, then you won't have the mercy of Allah.

If you are a Christian, it again is. In 1 John 3:17 it is written as follows: But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? 

Source: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+3%3A17&version=ESV

But what if you don't believe in any religion? Can helping the poor be any form of worship? I doubt it.  And the real question here is do you need to have religious views to help the poor? I don't think so. An atheist can also help the poor, and in that case, it wouldn't be a form of worship. If you want to check an example, there is an article about atheists helping the poor in South California.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/atheists-help-homeless-people-south-carolina-dont-need-religion-kind-alliance-spartanburg-a8065486.html 

These atheists are not worshipping since they do not believe in any religion. 

However, if there is a god, would the god perceive these good deeds as a form of worship.  There can be different views about this issue. I would say yes. Isn't being a nice person the goal of each religion? Isn't helping the poor a way of being nice? If so, and if you are a believer, it is a form of worshipping. If not, then it is just a good act., which in any case would be approved by god.