If somebody claims to be a faith other than yours (for example, you're a Christian and they say they're a Muslim, or you're Jewish and they say they're Atheist), do you immediately discredit anything they say about religion, spirituality, faith, etc.? Or do you listen with an open mind?
2006-09-03 06:14:56 · 20 answers · asked by trws1966 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I form a judgement on ones actions, not on their label. ; )
2006-09-03 06:21:03 · answer #1 · answered by Helzabet 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Me personally? I love learning about other faiths and discussing with an open mind. I do have my own personal beliefs, which are very strong, but not to the point where I believe that only my belief is right.
In fact, the belief you or I have on a certain topic, such as religion, is not going to be 100% the same.
Eeven if you and I held very similar beliefs through even the same religion, those beliefs would still differ.
To discredit someone elses beliefs is to dicredit your own. For what exactly is belief? it is nothing more than opinion, your personal opinion which you goevern your life by.
2006-09-03 06:22:48 · answer #2 · answered by Kelly S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Faith means that you believe in something or someone (so that rules out true Atheists). It helps people lead a life based on spiritual teachings that will lead them to (their way of viewing) salvation. The faithful believe there is another life after this one, be it in heaven (or hell) or as a re-incarnation and their faith will help them obtain this. Therefore it would be stupid to ridicule their faith.
With regards to listening with an open mind, it's the only way to learn new things. This does not mean you have to agree with what you hear. What usually happens is that a person has found inner peace in his faith and would like to share it with others to obtain it too. But this might not reflect your way of viewing spirituality.
2006-09-03 06:40:24 · answer #3 · answered by jove46 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I personally dismiss it. I have an I.R.F., which means "instant reaction force". An IRF is developed after studying many years worth of true bible doctrine from the original languages. If what they say does not line up with the doctrine in my soul, they are incorrect. I will not be rude to them, I just know the Truth of God's Word and they have yet to learn it. Just as you don't get on a 3-year-old because he doesn't know what 2+2 is. He just needs more time.
Most Christians don't even know who and what God is. They cannot name the 10 characteristics of God's essence which is a very basic doctrine. So why would I get into a deep conversation with them?
2006-09-03 06:19:34 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I only discredit them (actually I pay no attention at all) when they only quote passages from their holy book and offer none of their own insights or thoughts when it comes to their chosen faith. When Christians talk about or write about their belief that Jesus is Lord, I immediately lose interest in anything they have to say after that. I would listen to them if they never said the "J" word.
2006-09-03 06:23:38 · answer #5 · answered by tomleah_06 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have listened with an open mind but got now invermation from my muslim frind so I read the quran for myself and I find most muslims do not tell you 1/4 of the truth I wonder how many have actualy read the quran
2006-09-03 06:32:40 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you truly know something to be true then you must dismiss everything else.
That doesn't mean you must dismiss the other person. Yes, listen to other people with an open mind, you can't help people if you don't listen.
Make sure you truly believe what you say you believe.
2006-09-03 06:17:20 · answer #7 · answered by plane williams 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, because I don't have a faith. I do sometimes try to listen with an open mind, but I find it hard to keep from dozing off.
2006-09-03 06:16:52 · answer #8 · answered by yahoohoo 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I love to learn and hear about other people's religions and belief structures. So I listen with an open mind.
2006-09-03 06:18:36 · answer #9 · answered by SmileyGirl 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Faith, in the religious sense, has never been appealing to me. Faith, in the sense that I believed I would successfuly make it to retirement was appealing. And I made it there.
Now that I have a lot of free time on my hands, and I see, on this forum, the barrages of insults going back and forth from people of various faiths, I think I'm fortunate to have travelled the non-religious road that came naturally for me.
2006-09-03 06:26:33 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
open minded of course. In all reality all religions have one thing in common. We all believe their is a higher power at work. Whos to say what his true name is.
2006-09-03 06:17:30 · answer #11 · answered by redhead 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋