Thanks Steve, I find it interesting that as an anti-theist as you describe yourself, you find the idea of worshiping God to be objectionable. If God demands worship then he could not possibly be worthy of worship, right?

I see the logic and appeal of that, but to me it is missing something quite significant. We should probably start with definitions. The dictionary says the feeling or expression of reverence for a deity. Let's leave the deity out of it for a minute. Do you ever have a feeling of reverence? A sense that you are facing or in the presence of or aware of something much greater than yourself? I suspect as a chemist you may have had that feeling in contemplating some of the powerful consequences of the laws of nature in creating marvelous things through the process of chemistry.

I can imagine being brought before a great king or leader in a hall filled with thousands of armored warriors who will follow such a leader into desperate battle and feeling the overwhelming need to fall on my knees or on my face and humble myself before such greatness. But, perhaps that is my personal inclination, or my fondness of medieval history.

I can suggest a whole number of scenarios where the completely natural inclination of a human, even one with a very strong self-image, would find it almost impossible to not show honor, humility and reverence.

You contemplate the universe and cannot possibly see that there is a Being behind it that is somehow the cause and/or guide of what we observe. I see the universe, its great goodness (yes, damaged) and it is almost impossible for me not to see an incredibly great, powerful and good Being. I don't really care if he/she/it demands my worship. I fall on my face because it is the wholly right and natural thing to do.