Why do you insist on your own religion without studying all of them critically?

Question

If any of them can be correct, then why not study all of them and then form your opinion. It would be absurd to stick to your beliefs without verifying them. I don't know how come people are so satisfied with their religion without evaluating it. Every religion tells non-believers the bad news of Hell. If you follow a religion, then you are a non-believer of another. Why take risk? Maybe the other one is right. The best approach is to study all of them.

The single most unprejudiced statement that can uttered by any human being with sincerity is

"O God! IF you are out there then guide me"

Please note that the statement has to relative to something. I used the word God, you can use any other word, but what is important here is the intention to be sincere in your efforts to strive for the truth rather than blinding following things. Moreover this statement contains an IF, so an atheist should be fine with that as well.

I assume most of the people dont think critically when it comes to religion. Religion and logic are dealt with separately. That is the sole reason theology was developed!

luwinz, sorry to say but you have a disgusting analogy which says a lot about your logical thinking! There are not as many religions in the world as there are women, not even comparable by any means.

Anyways, what you did wrong was, you stopped searching. How can you say you are following the truth when you haven't went on and read about all of them sincerely without forming your opinions based on propoganda.

"huh?" (the person) You gave a totally wrong analogy. You said that if you lost your keys and found them again, would you need to look for them again? Answer is simple, every key is associated either with a particular lock or it is a master key. Maybe you found the master key? How do you know the key you found is the right one.

Another flaw in this analogy is that, considering a specific key, it will only work with a specific lock. So its already associated with something. So essentially what you are doing is looking for a "specific" key which is specific to a door (which is being prejudiced in your search for truth and not thinking crticially) rather than hoping that you can find an open door as well.

Fortunato, I am a muslim, and you are wrong in saying that if I am not agnostic then my point of view is inconsistent. This is the main problem. People don't understand that Islam encourages thinking about things, reflecting on them. Unfortunately most of the muslims don't do that anymore and that is why they have little or no knowledge of the religion. Qur'an challenges the reader to verify its propositions every now and then with stataments like "Will you not then ponder?", "Will you not use common sense?", "Will you not then understand?". Sometimes after mentioning a fact, it states, "In there are signs for those who ponder".

You have a good point regarding the approach to study other religions. Yes, there has to be a way to do that, I acknowledge that its very difficult to dig deep into each and every one of them, but as I said this is where your sincerity would chip in. You have started with a sincere intention and you expect to be guided by God (or any other supernatural force)

Answer 1

Just curious -- are you agnostic? (Based on your question, it would be consistent for you to be such, and inconsistent otherwise.)

I think you raise a good point. People often uncritically accept what they have been taught, or they only examine their beliefs superficially in order to bolster their confidence.

However, going to the other extreme, I don't think there's a way to study "all religions criticially" -- by which I mean in depth enough to understand each of them as much as an adherent would. There's not enough time in the world for that.

(Do you know how many stacks of books I've bought over the years, that still remain unread in my study? :) My ambition and curiosity is far stronger than my ability to keep up!)

Only the intellectual types (and who read well and quickly) generally are willing and able to devote enough time to critically examine a great number of faiths. And that's probably the way it will stay, despite how we might wish it otherwise.

For many people, they determine what religion to believe based on seeing the faith praticed and comparing the basic tenets to what they've observed in life.

While this can lead to making mistakes, if someone is GOOD at it, they can make a decent decision just by studying the basic assumptions and tenets of each religious category of faith. (I.e., Wicca, Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Hindi, etc.).

It's much like a diagnostic chart. With a diagnostic chart, you start with a general symptom, then branch your way down. If a particular symptom doesn't fit your case, you don't bother with the rest of the tree system; it would be a waste of time, since you've already found something foundational that does not match up.

Same thing with faith -- people start out possessing certain values that they either believe in by nature or came to believe in through the process of life, then compare that reality/value set to the "religious diagnostic" tree and work their way down until they see what religion seems to them to best model real life.

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What's funny is that I see on the forums people who claim to be open-minded and "have studied all the religions," but at least in regards to Christianity, the comments they make show a very superficial understanding of the faith they are criticizing -- probably on par with a first or second grade understanding.

This is usually coupled with a refusal to learn more.

I don't think people understand what it really means to "study another faith" -- and the amount of patience and work it would take to do so responsibly. When I try to really sink my teeth into another religion, I'm amazed at the details and context that I do not yet know, and it's often overwhelming.

Since we can't know everything, and often know very little, I think one of the most important things we can do is truly comprehend how much we don't know about a particular faith, and be open to understand what that means for us.

Answer 2

Good point, to be objective you should study all of them. No religion has it perfectly right, they can't because we are human which means we are ignorant. God is not gonna hold it against you if you studied Muslim over Christianity. Im sure it will hold it against you if you never even tried, or when you did you made a half a** effort because you realized to have faith it actually takes some effort.

To dismiss God altogether based on the limited mind structure you own is both absurd and arrogant. You know so little, atheists, what makes you assume there is no God. I can't tell you why you should believe but I'll tell you that the possibility of God is there so why do you simply dismiss it. Thats just a stupid idea and a chance I don't want to take, but suit yourselves.

Answer 3

I agree! God gave us free will lets not waste it!

The main world religions have been taught in UK schools for a number of years now. And many of the festivals are celebrated.

I think this is an excellent idea because any attempt to wipe out ignorance and fear has to be good! This is why my children go to a mixed school and not a Catholic one! I want them to mix and understand!

I really like to hear wise people from all religions speak about their beliefs and about peace. Its what makes Britain great. (That they can!)

Many are hugely ignorant of how closely Islam and Christianty are linked. Its always the fanatics that speak the loudest and that's so unfair for both religions!

Answer 4

Granted, that's a touch biased answer on my section, notwithstanding that's smart to me: maximum Christians refuse to examine some thing in any respect on different religions is because that's miles a lot less stressful to hate what you do not comprehend than that's to really attempt to study about it and why that's meant to be so undesirable. evidently, this isn't a unsleeping determination on their section, nor do they extremely imagine about their reasoning. that's basically the phobia and complacency they have maximum probable been indoctrinated into when you consider that early early existence manifesting- the hatred, revulsion, and worry of a few thing diverse from you, and finished contentment in being ignorant and uneducated. Like I stated, no longer unsleeping on their section. that's portion of the 'practise,' i wager they call it. you already know, taking contained in the Holy Ghost or regardless of, and expelling the evil, satanic needs. you already know, for happiness, fulfillment, understanding.. All those ineffective, repulsive issues. I propose, if that's no longer portion of Gawd's e book, why does it, or those that persist with it, have any meaning or cost in any respect? And certain, i'm a hateful, darkish, sardonic man or woman. So please be form sufficient to take me back to the actual actuality of it in deepest if absolutely everyone extremely feels the elect.. that's continuously outstanding to hearken to..

Answer 5

i agree with you, that all persons should have an open mind, to the concept of religions.
but..that said, one cannot say for sure, that any religion is based on "fact", all Holy -books, were written long after the supposed creation of the world, or life, and as such may only be classified as heresay, one must also be aware, that translations through the ages, from one language to another, throws up alternative or misinterpretations, to "the" original scribe.
it all boils down to individual belief, or the need by many to believe in something, and the basic animal instinct to follow the "hurd" or in modern vanacular the majority, of voices.

Answer 6

It is like getting married. Why not interview every woman in the world?? When you find the one that satisfies you you stick with her and marry her for life.. Christianity satisfies when you have really found Christ, and it answers all of your questions about life and death. You also have a great time living here with God at your side. Don't fix it if it isn't broken..
There isn't enough time in a lifetime to investigate all of the false religions that exist..

Answer 7

I dont see it as 'blindly' following 'things'. Its more than likely that I am a Christian because my parents were and they took me to church when I was young etc. So I'm use to it. Nonetheless I ENJOY being a Christian so why would I want to convert or change? If it aint broke dont fix it.

By the way I have studied other religions maybe not to a great effect and decided Im more comfortable with Christianity. Each one their own right?

Answer 8

Basically, you go with what you are comfortable with and don't go round knocking all the other religions. I know a few people that started off with one religion but changed to a different one after a while. So, not everyone sticks to the 1 religion.

Answer 9

I dont have any religion but you are right.
Can people really believe that even if you are a good person that God would turn you away at the gates of heaven just because you worshipped Allah instead of him yet a christian sinner who acknowledges the existence of Jesus will be welcomed with open arms?
They just dont think. Thats the problem.

Answer 10

I did just that I studied as much as I could ended up with Islam as my religion. I was a catholic. Studied Christianity very well and then found the truth for myself Elhamdulillah I am muslim now!!!!