For those who answer q's in "religion and spirituality" - how much have you studied?

Question

Have you read the Bible? What about books about religion? Have you read different perspectives? What about athiests - usually you've read Bart Erhman or Elaine Pagels... have you ever read any Christian scholars? John Frame? D.A. Carson? Cornelius Van Til? Do you consider youself balanced and educated? Christians, have you read non-Christian scholars? Are you aware of text criticism issues and apologetics? DO you know what the Jesus seminar is all about? Do you get any deeper than Max Lucado?

Answer 1

This is an interesting question. I get the feeling that people have a fairly wide variety of backgrounds.

I read the Bible cover to cover at a relatively young age. I've studied religion at a university. I've read quite a few books by Christian scholars. . . my favorites are Paul Tillich's "Systemmatic Theology," David Tracy's "Plurality and Ambiguity" (an excellent book on hermeneutics), and a couple by N.T. Wright. And of course I've read the basics, like Augustine. I read C.S. Lewis when I was younger, before I knew better.

I've read quite a few non-Christian scholars, although not many specifically interested in refuting Christianity. Nietzsche, Sarte, Malraux. . . continental philosophy types mostly, plus a few analytic philosphers. Bertrand Russel.

I'm familiar with the Jesus seminar. I'm very familiar with textual criticism. . . I like the work of Paul Ricoeur. And then I've read the standard "comparative lit" people on criticism, the structuralists and the Yale school deconstructionists (especially de Man), the marxists (especially Jameson), and so on. So textual criticism and hermeneutics is something I'm pretty familiar with.

I've never read Max Lucado.

Answer 2

I've read the Bible, the Quran, the Book of Mormon, the Pearl of Great Price, the Bhagavad Gita, the Tao te Ching, the Chuang-Tzu, the Zohar, the Egyptian and Tibetan Books of the Dead, the Apocrypha, the Upanishads, and a few others, but I'm late for work right now.

I have also read most of the great philosophers - Nietzsche, Kant, Kierkegaard, Wittgenstein, Plato, blah, blah, blah. Philosophy is my hobby and the study of logic is its necessary complement.

I've always had a very deep interest in other people's thoughts, even when I was a Christian (a long time ago). I am now an agnostic as a result of all these readings.

Answer 3

Good question and I will give my opinion of it as well as my answer to it.

I know I have not studies enough for all I am learning is that there is just too much out there for me to know. In fact the more I do study the deeper I get in the hole seeing that my little knowledge is nothing and getting smaller as I learn more and more.

Have I read, yes! The Bible over 100 times cover to cover. Many religious books on religions. Use to read at least two news papers every day. Studied to be and was licensed as a Butcher, Insurance agent, Commercial pilot and flight instructor, radio security intercept spy, undercover agent, smuggler, pig farmer,finance officer, Business executive owning 3 different but related business at the same time, Insurance law, etc., etc. At 35 I sold all, became self employed and studied people and how to get their money into my pocket from theirs and made it to 62 when I retired from most and now live on the set aside funds not working at all. I can not because I am having too much fun here on Yahoo Q&A answering a few questions besides doing what I want when I want.

No brag, just fact. You see I am 66 now and just trying to share with others what I have learned in the schools of life.

Can I ask you my friend a question? By study are you refering to formal education, learning from others, or just being very observant as to all that is available to learn from? I ask because you made the center of focus books. You listed only so few yet a tiny library contains thousands of books that you did not mention.

I have a funny outlook I guess as a "NO". I think it is not so important how much one does know in education. I see that what really matters is how one does use what he does have with no bearing as to how he got it or how much it is. You know a small baby can make me smile a lot faster than an educated idiot who has memorized all the books in all the libraries and does want to prove it to me. Yes my friend I will let that baby be the one to MAKE MY DAY complete anytime.

Do you always ask one who comes up to you in the time of a desperate need and just give you a hug as a friend and gives you peace and comfort that question? Do you say to him or her STOP - How much have you studied because that is important to me? I do doubt that.

My friend I hope I did give you something to think about. I did try my best as I did just state the view of a "NO" who just don't care how much education a real friend of mine does have. Just be a true honest friend OK.

Answer 4

Who are all these people u are talking about? I'm know Bart Simpson, not Bart Erhman, I have a friend called John Frame, but i'm sure he doesn't write books,

You're telling me that I'll be balanced and educated only if I read all these books by all these people you mentioned? How funny!!!

I've played Max Payne, all levels, not read Max Lucado.

What's the use of writing all these books and reading it, do u know that you are just making these authors richer with every copy you buy. And what do they do with that money? Do they practise what they preach? Do they donate to charity? Do they help the people who are homeless (like in Africa)? How much of do they give away as Charity? (Peanuts).

How much of work have you done by reading these books to help mankind?

Answer 5

I have done some in depth studying aboutr ten years agfo and now have tirnesd to my pastor to make sure I do not lead some one down the wrong path. We dont need to be scholars to give our opinion or an answer to the best of our ability. If the goal is to try and help someone or share knowledge then what is your point. We are everyday people with questions and giving answers, one of the things about this site that is so good we can be ourselves as long as we are not profane and insultive. So what is your problem? If you do not like what you see then voice your opinion to one subject not everything in general. And what is wrong with Max Lucado he is a good christian writer.

Answer 6

I have read some of the Bible, and some of the Qur'an. I can't say I've read any entire books by Christian scholars - After spending so much time on discussion groups I think I would probably burst from the frustration of not being able to argue back! :-)

It's good when people recommend substantial sections of scripture (from whatever holy book) and I can go away and read it and then tell them what I think of it.

Answer 7

I haven't read any of the things you list, except for the Bible, a few books about religion, and some course materials from a Religious Studies course in college. I know how to spell atheist...and I do consider myself balanced, and educated.

I also know my own mind, and how I feel about certain issues, and if I don't like cabbage, I only have to try it once or twice to know I don't like it. No book is going to change that.

Now how about asking the same question of those who ASK questions in Religion & Spirituality?

Answer 8

i am a spiritualist but i sit here with my bible at hand which i must have read several times now and keep it for reference
i have in the past read about Buddhism , Jehovah's witness , Islam , and some others ... not to any great extent but enough to give me a little knowledge and satisfy my own curiosity
i am god parent to my niece who is catholic so i also have some knowledge on that , because i wouldn't feel comfortable being god parent in a religion i know nothing of
i have the utmost respect for all religions and understand why it is that people find comfort in them ... in the same respect i can understand the agnostic and the atheist

Answer 9

I like studying many religions. I have much more to learn. I do not try to act like I "know all." However, I sometimes feel as though I know more about the bible than SOME Christians. I also try to be (overall) nicer than MANY Atheists. I'm a spiritual mutt - I'm open to a lot of information. It sounds like you've read A LOT.

Answer 10

I had some religion classes in college. I have been studying the Bible now for about 15 years. I try to average an hour a day in studying Gods word.