is selfishness the essence of all sin

[bigandbrolic]

the reason alot of people are afraid to or chose not to worship God is beacuse it forces them to place a being above them that continually keep a record of what they think, say or do.  our society today teaches us to place self first then everything else after. 

just rambling here, what are your thoughts?

[Butterbean]

yes, that could be said to stem from pride also

  our society today teaches us to place self first then everything else after. 

Things work better IMO if we place God first, Spouse (if you have one) and others second and yourself last.

[OzmO]

the reason alot of people are afraid to or chose not to worship God is beacuse it forces them to place a being above them that continually keep a record of what they think, say or do.  our society today teaches us to place self first then everything else after. 

just rambling here, what are your thoughts?

Our society does seem to teach that but i don;t think it is the root or roots.  People have always seen worshiping GOD as having to follow a set of rules and are told from the start they are sinful and can never be anything wihtout GOD and therefore without GOD cannot go to heaven if they don't follow what the church or the pastor interprets from the BIBle.  Not a very attractive proposition IMO.

If most people were to hypothetically take GOD out of the equation.....  how would they live their lives?  If they wouldn't live it as they do now, and god is the only thing holding thewm from stealing cheating and murdering.....then they are truely sinful with or without GOD.   Living with GOD in your life IMO means that with or without GOD you are just, kind and peaceful.   The rest of what the church and pastors etc...  tell you is just a method of control and manipulation so you stay faithful to their religiion and give money.