Why Worship God? by Gene Johns Thomas Paine, in his book "Age of Reason," declared he did not mean to condemn those who believe in Christianity (or other religions) for they have the same right to their belief as atheists, agnostics and deists do. Mr. Paine said it is necessary to the happiness of man that he is mentally faithful to himself and to declare or admit openly or freely what he does or does not believe. It is in that same declaration of purpose that, in this essay, I express my thoughts about worship and that I have no resentment or malice towards those who practice worship. It is not my intent to insult anyone. I am only expressing my opinion publicly about what I believe is an exercise in futility—worship. In 1888, author and journalist Rudyard Kipling declared prostitution "the world's oldest profession." Perhaps, but certainly the "world's oldest nonsense" (that is senseless, foolish, or absurd behavior), worship is as old as pro...