I call what Friends do together in our meetings worship because that is the traditional word for our practice, but I don’t use the word in a traditional way, as an intransitive verb (one not requiring an object). I’m not worshipping something, I’m simply engaging in worship. It has parallels to meditation, but is distinct in that it matters very much that we do it together. It is not a solitary but a communal practice, and some of its most striking qualities emerge out of that communal nature.

From the outside it looks like people sitting down together in silence. Occasionally someone is moved to stand and speak. At the end of the hour we shake hands. The incredible spareness of that structure leaves room for a lot to happen, within us and between us. It takes a while to get a feel for it, and some never get a feel for it.

Some theist Friends–not all by any means–might disagree with me, would say that one is truly worshipping only if one is worshipping something, ideally God. I can live with that disagreement.

So, in my mind what you describe can certainly “qualify as worship,” though if you want to drop by and attend a Friends meeting to see if you like it, I wouldn’t worry about “qualifying.” There are no requirements–show up, take part, see what you think. It’s proven to be very meaningful for me, without having anything to do with God.

As an atheist, the closest I could think of to worship would be marveling at the complexity of the nature world and the emergence of consciousness, as well as a sort of…pride in and awe at the successes and scientific advances of the human race.

I suppose this could be considered worship, though I make no steps towards expressing these things except in discussing them with others. Would this qualify, do you think, as a form of worship?

I’m not sure what you mean. Nontheist Friends don’t claim to worship a creator, so the contradiction you mention doesn’t come up. There are approaches to worship that aren’t directed toward any specific object, much less a supernatural being, imagined or real.