Have you ever read any teachings that were outside of your own beliefs?

Question

If you have a certain belief, have you ever read other works?

For example, if you are Christian, have you read the teachings of Buddha? If you are Muslim, have you read any Hindu scriptures? Atheists, have you ever read the Bible or Koran? Anything outside your own belief structure.

Cassor, I am not quite sure what you mean by your question. I know what my beliefs are. I am just curious as to what people will say.

Answer 1

I'm Muslim and I love reading other religious texts. I don't always agree with what is being said, but to me be my ways and to them be theirs, it's a learning experience. I particularly like some teachings from Buddhism, Taoism and Jainism. I also like certain aspects of Hinduism and native religions. Christian and Jewish teachings are a given since they are the fore-religions of my own.

There's no harm whatsoever in learning about other religions (the true religion, not some biased bull dookie), and will help in bridging gaps in culture and understandings. We can benefit more from learning about others than be harmed by it. One of my favorite Muslim scholars (Ahmad Deedat) memorized the Bible along with the Quran and could bring up any verse most priests and pastors would have to look up.

Answer 2

Yes. I try to read all "faith" publications with an open mind, and from the perspective that even if they don't ring true to me 100%, that there must be at least a little bit of truth, otherwise other people wouldn't follow the teachings. It doesn't mean that I have to change my beliefs, but it does give me a better understanding of the other faiths around me.

Answer 3

Yup. Read the Bible, a lot of philosophy, I tried reading Liber AL but just couldn't deal with Crowley's style. I've read the Nine Statements and the Eleven Rules from LaVey, and discussed them with a practicing Satanist.

There is nothing to fear from knowledge. Just because you learn something doesn't mean that you agree with it - it means that you have enough information to make an informed decision on your own.

Answer 4

Yes. I'm a nondenominational Christian, and I've studied satanism, Wicca, paganism, druidism, Buddhism, and Islam. There are some others, I think, but I can't remember them now. I've also done some study into Tarot, and palmistry, and divinination, and Runic spells. And I've read books on evolution.
I suggest that all people do that to figure out where they stand on the religion issue. All that studying brought me back to Christianity.

Answer 5

i was sent to the Christian church when i was a boy looking back being told Jesus loves the little children always made me feel secure i never could fully digest the torture of the crucifixion it gave me a kind of resentment towards the father through my life i have floundered quite often as a moral being and in my darkest hours have found comfort in seeking i have had the desire to emulate the practices of most of the religions Ive studied my latest community are the friends and actually this is my second time around as a Quaker i do believe that god loves a seeker

Answer 6

Yes, but it's unreasonable to expect most people to think outside the box.

I'm not putting anyone down, but it's just not possible for most people to allow themselves to get caught with a book on Buddha by their Mom or Pastor or something. Most like feeling like they are on the best team, and are afraid another team might win them over, and they'd have "joined the dark side". LOL~!~

As nice as it would be, it's just unrealistic to think most people will scavenge spiritual texts from all over.

Answer 7

Yes, recently.

Actually I've learned more about the Muslim and Jewish faith on here (also wiccan, for that matter) than I've ever known in my life. It hasn't affected or changed my belief in Christianity, but I never realized how few details separate all of us.

But, oh those details.............

Answer 8

If you are going to decide which chocolate cake is the one you like best, don't you HAVE to taste all of them? Of COURSE I have read other teachings, no one can make an informed decision about any subject if they don't look at all the points possible in the issue.

Answer 9

Yes

Answer 10

I've read lots of books from other religions and denominations. I'm a voracious reader and any time someone hands me one of those pamphlets or I find a flier under my windshield wiper at the mall, I'll always read it. You have to study what others believe to find your own path.