what is the importance of being knowledgeable about other people's beliefs and attitudes towards religion?

Answer 1

After 9/11, I figured that I needed to understand the Koran, since the Muslim religion was being used to justify killing us. I was very relieved to see that my Muslim neighbors weren't being whipped into jihad, that that was just an extreme interpretation.

I figure it's good to know about Christianity because God is invoked so often to justify laws, school curricula, etc.

It's simply good to know what fellow citizens believe, so you don't get your head filled up with stereotypes or inadvertently insult your neighbors. It's better to understand than fear them.

Answer 2

The importance lies within the rehlm of the old addage.

Knowledge is power.

It is why we strive to attain higher education and instill in our children a love of reading and learning.

I enjoy reading and studying other religions and ways of worship.
When I read a question on this board, sometimes I am still stumpted as to exactly what they are talking about, but most of the time I do have a base knowledge of what they are asking and why they are asking it based on the background that they give.

I do find that often someone with a stated religion or way of worship has no real idea what their own religion or way of worship is really about and I do ask them to study their own before asking questions relating to others worship styles.

Know what you believe first and then study others, for if you cannot defend and explain your own how could you state that anothers is wrong or incomplete.

Answer 3

Simple -- when you figure out why you reject their beliefs in favor of your own, you are halfway toward understanding why your own are just as silly.

FOR INSTANCE: The Qu'ran was just a book written by men (Mohammed's scribes -- he was illiterate) --> The Bible was just a book written by men.

OR: It's silly to believe in 2 million gods like the Hindus do. --> It is silly to believe in only one god like the Christians do.

OR: If Shiva wanted to be worshipped by all, why didn't I hear about her until I was 32? --> If God wanted to be worshipped so badly that he made 3 of the 10 commandments about that, why have so many people not learned about that until late in life in other parts of the world? Why did not a single Mayan learn about it until the arrival of the "benevolent" Spaniards?

Just pick a beef you have with other religions and see if you can't draw a parallel to Christianity, Judaism or whatever your own religion is.

Then accept the truth and reject all religions in so far as being the innerrant word of some supreme being(s) -- take from them the powerful positive messages they teach, like the golden rule, and forget all the guilt based on dogma. As long as you realize that you are happiest when you are spreading happiness to others, you will have a rewarding life.

Answer 4

So you can be sensitive and not hurt others feelings. I ran into this once when I was laughing at people who didn't accept Darwinism and actually believed in Creation (exactly as it was written). I had no idea that regular, educated people believed in Creationism. I was wrong and really hurt peoples feelings (as I may be doing here). I felt terrible.

Answer 5

Knowledge leads to understanding and tolerance.
Ignorance brings fear and prejudice.
Good question!

Answer 6

Because if you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything. You need to be knowledgeable about what you believe because if you don't, someone can come along tell you anything and you'll believe it.

Answer 7

If you try to gain knowledge about other people, you can learn more about yourself.

Answer 8

Because the world is bigger than just your own beliefs.

Answer 9

I guess to try and figure out where they are coming from. That is what makes them do or say things.

Answer 10

So you don't look like a ninny when you try to defend you own...I'm a Christian, by the way.