Shouldn't spiritually concerned folks expose themselves to all religions???

Question

I am not spiritual at all. My wife is tho'. and I admire her cuz she is open to every and all religions and I think her view of god and good/evil is very balanced and broad-minded.

Shouldn't all people who choose the path of spiritual enlightenment study lots of religions? I dont get how someone can be exposed to 1 religion and be so sure it is the one and only way.

Ya I know the bible says Jesus is the one and only way...but lots of books say lots of things.....why allow yourself to be pigeonholed???

Answer 1

As a teen I realized that Christianity could no longer be my religion. I appealed to God to reveal the truth to me directly, not through something that some other person wrote down. What I found is that we may all find divine wisdom within, because we are not ever truly separated from God.

And, yes, it is very good to expose yourself to all sources of wisdom. People with different world views than our own can reveal things that otherwise we would overlook. I'm never afraid of being led astray by something I read or some ideas I explore, because I have absolute trust in God, knowing God always loves me and only wants me to become wiser and more loving. I can never lose God.... and I pity those who are afraid to know more than they already do.

Answer 2

At IU, there is a discussion series that is put on each year by the Community Educators and a few of the local campus churches. It's an event called "Conversations on Faith" (They also have one called "Conversations on Race" - both are excellent)

In this discussion series, members of different religions and cultures meet at a new church each week to have dinner and discuss the differences between their religions. Each person adds something to the discussion as to their background with the religion and what their religion believes. This is not an opportunity for anyone to convert others to their religion, as no proselytising is permitted. But it's an extraordinary opportunity for people of *all* faiths to learn more about the other religions and make some friends in the process.

If you go to IU, I highly recommend you look this series up. If you don't, I encourage anyone so inspired to start their own in their community. It's a wonderful thing. It's something Jesus might have done himself.

Answer 3

The only way to find true spirituality is to reject and doubt everything we've been taught. And then come at everything with a fresh slate and open to anything and everything. We'll eventually settle into a specific set of practices but we need to do that for ourselves. Note: Jesus being the 'only way' is true from a non-dualistic perspective; Buddha is the 'only way' and so are all those who have a deep enlightenment experience and become non-dualistic symbols of this experience and our ultimate nature. Each IS the single Way.

Answer 4

i don't need to try pickle-flavored ice cream to know it's nasty...your reasoning sounds like the "logic' the burnouts used back in the day when they were trying to get people to try angel dust at keg parties...
OKAY, now that the sarcasm is out of the way...don't assume that followers of Christ have not looked into different religions...most people i've known are seekers...i have nothing against people checking out other beliefs...but here's what i found in my own life-after reading about other faiths (buddhism, islam, judaism, taoism...) i discovered that when i opened the bible, read what Christ did and said and taught, i came to an 'ah-ha' moment, when things started making sense...and when i saw the great things Christ was doing in the lives of Christians i met, i found that i wanted what they experienced for myself, and i have to tell you that i am SO far from the Christian i should be, but He's getting me there, bit by bit...i have found after all the running away from Christ i did, all i was doing was running around in a tight little circle, chasing my own tail...and when i stopped and looked around, there He was, loving me and waiting for me to get it thru my thick head...i'm not pigeonholing myself...i'm flying...

Answer 5

expopsing and practicing..now those are fairly far apart. If a person chooses to practice a spiritual practice, which could be religious in content, then they will not really have too much time to develop a deep searchinto other reigions.. there is however al ot offered to the studnt and seeker these days.....and one can certainly be knowledgeable without having to committ themselves to long studies. as the sufi poet Rumi wrote many hundreds of years ago: There are a thousand ways to kneel and kiss the ground....there are infinite names for god////////." we are humans, and limited...this could be a cause for us to pause and consider our equality with everyone....religious or otherwise.

Answer 6

I think it is important for people to learn as much as they can about all spirituality's because...

people tend to fear what they don't understand, and fear leads to hate, and hate leads to war.

Misunderstanding/fear/hate also lead to lies, confusion, blame, etc. so the more we know about each other, the less violence and negativity there will be (in theory--granted theories don't always go the way you plan, but this one is a pretty darn good theory if you ask me!).

Answer 7

Sure, most religions began as plagiarisms of other religions anyway, so why not pick and choose what you like and don't like. It's the Build-Your-Own-Religion Kit (by Matel).

Answer 8

Many men claimed to be god but only one GOD claimed to be Man ....Call upoun the name of the LORD and you will Live !



Theres no such thing as a atheist

Answer 9

Christianity and the teachings of the bible only.

Answer 10

What's the point of looking for different answers when you already know the truth?