What is the word for a person who worships but never helps others?

There is a person who is always worshipping God, and also never harms a soul. But he never helps others or explains what he knows. What could I call such a person?

Solution 1:

I think sanctimonious may convey the idea:

• affecting piety or making a display of holiness [C17: from Latin sanctimonia sanctity, from sanctus holy]

• showing or marked by false piety or righteousness; hypocritically virtuous.

Also pharisaical :

• excessively or hypocritically pious; "a sickening sanctimonious smile"

P.S. Regarding "pharisaical" people should consider not using this term because of its anti-semitic connotations.

Solution 2:

Based off your description the person:

1. Worships a god (context may open or close certain answers, since different "gods" / religions will place emphasis on certain practices and not others).
2. Does not negatively impact others.
3. But also does not positively contribute to others learning or others well being.

I would lean toward describing them as either

1) Pious

1. having or showing a dutiful spirit of reverence for God or an earnest wish to fulfill religious obligations.
2. characterized by a hypocritical concern with virtue or religious devotion; sanctimonious.

Reasoning: This word captures the duty to deity, does not demand one be "good" (as in helpful), and yet leaves open the idea/connotation of hypocrisy if helping others is part of that religion.

2) Reverent

feeling, exhibiting, or characterized by reverence; deeply respectful

Reasoning: The idea of respect is inherent in both the worship of the deity as well as in not hurting others. Yet respect does not imply that one helps.

Solution 3:

hermit or eremite would fit.

hermit, also called Eremite, one who retires from society, primarily for religious reasons, and lives in solitude. In Christianity the word (from Greek erēmitēs, “living in the desert”) is used interchangeably with anchorite, although the two were originally distinguished on the basis of location: an anchorite selected a cell attached to a church or near a populous centre, while a hermit retired to the wilderness.

Solution 4:

I think that self-righteous also conveys the correct meaning.

• having or showing a strong belief that your own actions, opinions, etc., are right and other people's are wrong

• convinced of one's own righteousness especially in contrast with the actions and beliefs of others : narrow-mindedly moralistic

Solution 5:

You never know who will be offended by what, but I've never¹ encountered the suggestion that any modern Jew might take offence at this dictionary.com definition...

pharisee 2. (lowercase) a sanctimonious, self-righteous, or hypocritical person.

The adjectival form is much less common, so you're more likely to hear "He's such a pharisee!" rather than "He's so pharisaical!".

Note that the original Collins definition (also cited by dictionary.com) differs slightly, in that it just says (often not capital). Which accords with my own experience; the "figurative" use isn't always marked by being in lowercase.

¹ Until now (see comments below)