How many of you have looked into other religions with an open mind?

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   LaThingposted 12 years ago

   How many of you have looked into other religions with an open mind?
   
   Do you only study/read about your own religion, or have you ventured out yet?

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   lifeoflataposted 12 years ago

   I do all the time, i think that you kind of have to. At the end of day, what you take from religion is morals and principles, the things that make us better people. Religion should be bringing people together not seperating them.

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      LaThingposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      So true! It sould bring us together.....

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   MickSposted 12 years ago

   In my youth I looked into many religions with an open mind, and found that they all offered me anything but did nothing for me.  I then looked at the Buddhist 'way of life' and found that it offered me nothing but hard work to find a meaning to this mess that we call life, and it was for me, an attempt at explanation without having to find a reason for everything in an omnipotent, 'parent like', figure on which to pile the blame, or give the merit.

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   Hubert Williamsposted 12 years ago

   I have looked into The Mormons, I have read considerably about Islam, with a great more to do. I have attended services with Jehovah's witnesses at their kingdom hall and at my home. I came away from all three with a better understanding of each.

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      ptosisposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Notice that only the affirmative commented? Nobody here said 'no' because the ones who don't wouldn't answer this question!

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      LaThingposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Agree with potsis.......

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      Hubert Williamsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      LaThing,ptosis I noticed

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5. 63

   mintinfoposted 12 years ago

   I've looked into several and will forever remain spiritual and not religious. Religion traps the psyche in a virtual reality where happiness is achieved by having Faith, Hope, and Belief simply because the Truth hurts. Truth is reality but reality is skewed into being a consensus of cultural, racial, and religious ideology.

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      LaThingposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Interesting concept about Truth and Reality! I wonder if anyone has ever written a hub about the difference between spirituality and religion?

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      Catherine Kaneposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      actually, I find that having faith is the biggest truth of all
      
      Faith isn't denying reality. Faith is affirming it...

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   MilesArmbrusterposted 12 years ago

   I taught classes on World Religions for years. To have the slightest credibility, I studied, I dunno, the top 12 well enough that I could teach to classes that included Muslims, Hindus, Jews, Christians (of many flavors) and plenty of atheists and agnostics, and undecideds. I still read in endless different disciplines and I often use references to all kinds of religions in my hubs, because people like to talk about "religion" generically.

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      LaThingposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Must have been interesting teaching religion to people from different background! Have to check out your hubs

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   backporchstoriesposted 12 years ago

   Growing up I was always instructed to believe the way my parents did and that all other ways were the work of the devil.  But yet, in my small mind, I could not understand why miracles happen in all walks of faith.  So as I a grew older, I sought out these other walks for knowledge.  It has certainly broaden my views of the world and respect for people of other faiths.  Because I have looked into other religions, my own faith has become more defined.  And it is so true that other faiths share mostly the same moral and human values.  In my journey of discovering other faiths, my relationship with the Creator as become closer!

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   Dubuquedogtrainerposted 12 years ago

   Before I became a born again Christian I was a Methodist (membership since childhood). I explored Buddhism and other eastern religions and Nature worship/American Indian theology (which I found very attractive, by the way since I am a nature and animal lover) as a young adult. I was an agnostic for a long time after rescinding my membership in the Methodist church. I also attended a Catholic nursing school as a young adult where I was indoctrinated with Catholic theology in the form of ethics classes, though the Catholic religion never interested me. I have attended Jewish celebrations and Catholic mass, and I used to do yoga (sun worship, unbeknownst to me at the time) many years ago. I have attended many different churches and read books and articles about different religions.I have also been friends with Muslims in undergraduate and graduate school and so through our close friendships became familiar with their belief system.

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      LaThingposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Wow, that's lot of knowledge there.... Thanks for sharing. So, did you find something in the born again Christian that appealed to you? Just curious....

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      Dubuquedogtrainerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I realized Who God is and made a commitment to Christ - that's what being "born again" means. And yes, I guess you could say eternity in heaven vs. the alternative is pretty appealing. But having a relationship with Christ here and now is good too.

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   SidKempposted 12 years ago

   I have studied several religions deeply, to the point where, without seeking it, I've received ordination in both a Buddhist tradition and a Christian one. I was raised Jewish, and that tradition nourishes my life as well. As a practitioner of yoga and a Gandhian pacifist, I'm deeply influenced by Hinduism. I am also a practicing scientist and engineer, as well as a creative artist and a writer.
   
   All organized human activity has its share of greed, anger and delusion. Yet all natural human activity, in every tradition and way of being, has so much to offer that is so beautiful!
   
   May we look everywhere with respect, and also allow ourselves to be deeply transformed by the Divine wherever we meet it!

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    ii3rittlesposted 12 years ago

    I enjoy learning about other belief systems but I have to do so without crushing my own. I never do it to change my beliefs, but make them stronger. I love God and believe Jesus died for my sins. This works for me. I never felt the way I do about any other belief system or holy book than the Holy Bible (KJV).

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    Catherine Kaneposted 12 years ago

    It depends on what you mean by "with an open mind"
    
    I'm a Christian (Congregationalist) married to a Wiccan Neopagan Shaman, and many of my friends follow different spiritual paths than I do, such as paganism, catholicism, judaism, heathenism, atheism and so forth; so I do know a bit about many different spiritual practices
    
    One might say my mind is open
    
    On the other hand, I seem to have been born in what's the perfect path for me, and despite exposure to many options, I have no desire to revise my own path, other than what happens as my spirituality grows.
    
    Some might say that means my mind is closed
    
    I just think that I'm blessed to have found my path, and wish the same blessing for others...

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    Eric Pradoposted 12 years ago

    I have studied about five religions since I turned 21 and I find myself happiest when I am only spiritual and not a part of organized religion in any way.

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    Sparkleaposted 12 years ago

    LaThing: Although I am a Christian I have explored 7th Day Adventist, Mormons, Jehovahs Witness, Budda, attended a Unity service several times...Every one has positive things to offer...even though I do not agree with everything.  The one thing the Unity members said at the end of each service was, "Wherever I am, God is, and wherever God is, all is well."  I have kept that in my heart.
    
    All I know is that I do not ever want to be judgmental or critical of others' beliefs. 
    
    I stand on I Corinthians 13:  "Faith, Hope and Love, but the greatest of these is LOVE." 
    
    I personally believe if everyone made Love their purpose, even though we are human and fail so often, the world would be a better place.
    
    Blessings, Sparklea

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    Darrell Robertsposted 12 years ago

    When I was much younger I decided to study the different religions because I loved mythology from when I was a young boy. I grew up as a Christian Scientist and I was not really clear about who or what God really is.  I wanted to know what is the greatest Idea of God and which group has the best application. 
    
    I learned from different people about different religions.  I have read the Bible, Most of the Koran, and the Bhagavad-Gita.  I figured that more than half of the religious people will follow either one of these three books, so I needed to know which one I connected to best.  I did also read may of the ancient philosophers. 
    
    I think to connect well with others a person should know at least a little about the other persons faith, or at least be willing to learn to build friendships.
    
    Best wishes.

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    TheKatsMeowposted 12 years ago

    As an anthropologist I have always been interested in the world's religions, I think religion is a very important part of all cultures, and the most interesting thing is that many themes and images are similar when you compare them.

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    Kennedi Brownposted 12 years ago

    I have, but you know what they say. Study one religion and you're hooked. Study two, and you're done for life.

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