The Encyclopedia of World Religions

480 S Wotan

The word “worship” excludes many important religious activities. But for religious people who interact with superhuman beings, worship may well be the most important activity in human life. Further reading: Thomas F. Best and Dagmar Heller, ed., Worship Today: Understanding, Practice, Ecumenical Implications (Geneva, Switzerland: WCC Publications, 2004); Stephen P. Huyler, Meeting God: Elements of Hindu Devotion (New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 1999); Susan J. White, A History of Women in Christian Worship (Cleveland, Ohio: Pilgrim Press, 2003); Terry W. York, America’s Worship Wars (Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson Publishers, 2003). Wotan The father and chief of the gods in Ger manic and Scandinavian mythology. Also called Odin, Wotan represented fate. He presided over Valhalla, the home of the gods, and rode through the sky gathering the souls of the dead. In many ways he was like a great shaman ( see SHAMANISM ), magician, and poet. He was worshipped with SAC RIFICES . The name of the day Wednesday is derived from Wotan.

preach and teach ( see PREACHING ). Ordinary life may also be seen as worship. In Judaism study of the T ORAH is a profound act of worship. Many Christians see a life lived in service to others as a life of worship. SIGNIFICANCE A worshipper may give different reasons for wor ship than someone observing it from the outside. Worshippers may say that they worship because they will get some reward in return or because it refreshes them. They may worship to give visible expression to their inner feelings. They may also say that they worship to give God, for example, the honor and praise that God deserves. Others may worship simply because they feel it is the right thing to do. Outside observers may note how worship helps create and maintain the identity and soli darity of a group. They may talk about how wor ship contributes to psychological integration and well-being. They may suggest that worship rein forces basic beliefs and values. They may also see worship doing less admirable things, for example, reinforcing the superior status of a specific class, gender, or race.