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2006-11-28 00:12:42 · 8 answers · asked by Yvanfm 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Actually I think alot can be learned from comparative religion,especially if you go back far enough to see the similarities between different religions so that you can see the possibility of things taught in one religion actually having origins long before. One such example is the "ressurection" which of course was only witnessed by Jesus's followers,therefore there is no reason to believe it really happened,but if you go back in time you find other religions with very similar stories,stories that perhaps the Christians borrowed from in creation of their theology. And it makes perfect sense since some of the religions I speak of were worshipped by their ancestors,like the Canaanites who worshipped Baal and who at one time had a yearly celebration marking his death and ressurection. Although these things changed over time and eventually Baal and his father Dagon were eventually put in the trash heap of theology to be ignored and mocked the fact remains that many of the practices from that religion were eventually merged into the belief systems that followed. If nothing else it provides a launching board for the very factual belief that God is a creation of man,not the other way around.
AD
2006-11-28 00:31:03 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't know that I would call such a study essential, but it does help us understand societies better.
If we better understand the Eastern religions we have good insights into the hows and whys of Asian civilizations, cultures, and societies. Even under essentially atheistic systems the religious influences remain strong.
Since Judaism and Christianity have influenced much of European and American development it is helpful to understand these religions as well. And European history has been influenced by Islam as well.
It largely depends on your definition of essential. If essential means we need it to live it is not essential. If essential means we need to understand this world we live in it is essential.
2006-11-28 08:23:13 · answer #2 · answered by Warren D 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is important because it gives the people that were brought up in homes with a very limited view of the rest of the world a chance to study other cultures and beliefs and learn about them as a people, not an image they see in the media, or as bad because they don't share the same faith.
2006-11-28 08:19:05 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes we can learn from it.
It should be mandatory and extensive. Religion is responsible for the state of the world today.
If our 'leaders' understood more about the religious doctrine and practices of some nations they will hesitate to make life-threatening decisions or may even alter deadly premises.
2006-11-28 08:20:32 · answer #4 · answered by Succubus 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is very essential because then you find out that if you strip away all the dogma then you see that all religions are basically the same. Higher being, a moral code, and an afterlife.
2006-11-28 08:23:26 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Very important. Before adopting a lifestyle one should know the pros and cons of it compared to other lifestyles.
2006-11-28 08:15:54 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
why do you want to study fairy tales about gods and monsters
2006-11-28 08:33:57 · answer #7 · answered by andrew w 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
some. sometime it is dangerous. why? anything you put in your mind sometimes it can be dangerous. wrong thoughts.
2006-11-28 08:26:24 · answer #8 · answered by whirlwind 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋