2006-09-17 06:34:40 · 15 answers · asked by thetalentedgreygoose 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It is possible to be any religion and study others. I have studied many religions, I find them interesting. I know quite a few Christians that do the same.
Blessings )O(
2006-09-17 07:00:50 · answer #1 · answered by Epona Willow 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
"My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge"
This Bible verse should say it all, but there's more.
The Bible commands us to 'study to show thyself approved' and also to 'seek out your own salvation with fear and trembling'.
The more you study ideas such as Islam or Buddhism, the more you see the errors of their teachings. It is those who are ignorant of universal truths who succumb to the seductive draw of these religions and philosophies.
The fact that anyone would ask such a question demonstrates what a bad job so-called Christian churches do of educating their members.
For example, when some early settlers came to the new world, many of the non-Christians refused to work, having been accustomed to having servants in their homeland. Believing that they were above performing menial labor, they demanded that the Christians serve them and feed them. The Christians did so because they were taught to serve others, but the burden was too much and the community was slowly starving due to the low productivity.
This very problem is what killed off the Jamestown settlers, and the pastor of this settlement was determined not to let that happen to his group. After praying and seeking God's guidance, the pastor suddenly realized the meaning of a simple verse in the Bible that he had read many times before but didn't notice. He showed it to his followers, and they stopped providing for the lazy members of the group, which eventually were forced by hunger to pull their weight. This saved their settlement.
The verse simply stated, " ... we gave you this rule: If a man will not work, he shall not eat."
2006-09-17 14:07:56 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course!
Look.. there is no overarcing set of "criteria" for what makes one a Christian, really, save that you believe in the whole "Resurrection of Jesus" bit. If you're down with that, then yes, you can study buddhism or wicca or whatever else your heart desires. The only people who tell you that "Christians have to only do x, y, or z, or have to dress certain ways, and can't do this or that or the other" are nothing more than a bunch of fearbound bigots who seek to enforce *their* particular view of right and wrong on the rest of the world.
The only thing that determines whether or not you are a Christian is your own beliefs and views of what a Christian is. But some of these bigots just can't seem to get that little fact through their heads, so afraid are they that someone might think or act in a way they don't like. They don't speak for God. What you do in your faith is between you and your Deity, period.
The vast majority of Buddhism is just a philosophy. In India, it aquired some trappings from the Vedic Hinduism. In China, it aquired a lot of trappings from the native Chinese pagan faiths. In Tibet, it aquired a lot of the trappings of the native Tibetan "Bon" faith... but it is essentially a philosophy of inner peace and non-attachment, and there's nothing whatsoever "non-christian" about that.
2006-09-17 13:59:38 · answer #3 · answered by druegan2001 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No more is it different being a Christian and studying English, Arithmetics, literature.
These subjects have been taken for granted since clemency and relenting of the church of rome hence may not seen controversial today. Budhism, a way of life not a religion, Confuscianism, a way of governance and warfare not a religion.
But even you should study Islam text, to understand it.
As they say, unless you walk the talk of someone else's religion, you have not betrayed yours. The trick is in how to apply your belief system in every daily life without offending those around you and staying true to your beliefs.
2006-09-17 13:52:43 · answer #4 · answered by pax veritas 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes you can. I read a great book called Buddhism Without Beliefs, and even though it was written for atheist, I could see how you could apply it to any religion you are. Also an interesting note, originally Buddha was not worshiped, he was just a man who had an insight and was helping others reach that goal. He did not want to create a religion where he was worshiped. He taught nonattachment to the world and worship is another attachment.
2006-09-17 13:43:52 · answer #5 · answered by haiku_katie 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When I went to bible College it was encouraged to study the other major religions. It is important to understand what you believe and what others believe. A lot of my profs liked to talk about buddism because, I guess, some people believe that he was a prophet of God. Budda never claimed to be a god, men made him one, he had good ideals that are very consistant with Christianity.
2006-09-17 13:43:26 · answer #6 · answered by Constant_Traveler 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sure. You can believe in God and study the Buddhist principles. Nothing wrong with that. Buddhists are a very peaceful people on the whole, so why not try to live like them.
2006-09-17 15:17:41 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can "study" whatever you choose to.....If you are a devout Christian, inquiring about other ways of thinking is fine,as long as you are not abandoning your faith, unless of course you are converting.....Then looking into whatever and learning about it is a smart step to take, so you wont be surprised....Being Christian means not judging, so if you are studying other people's beliefs to gain insight on them so as not to judge, then more power to you.....
2006-09-17 14:00:54 · answer #8 · answered by Kelly V 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
if someone took half a glass of water from a creek and mixed it with half a glass from a fresh spring would it be safe to drink?
its hard enough for us christians to get the sciptures right as it is without studying another doctrine chances are the two will mix together and your knowledge will become confused. but also depends on circumstances sometimes what is right and wrong is judged on the particular circumstance. and dont know all the fine details to make a clear judgement.
hey guys iam only trying to state my own belief of what the word tells me in the bible if iam wrong when the next life comes i will personally bendover to allow you to kick my butt.
2006-09-17 13:50:47 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
NO not at all... You will eventually choose between one or the other and God is exclusive in how he wants us to live and why. If you study the Bible you will see this..
Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
2006-09-17 13:43:06 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋