Have you studied any other religion other than the one you believe?

Question

I mean "really studied"...not just asked other people of the same religion why the other religions are so dumb. Are you the same relgion as your parents? If you haven't really studied anything else, how can you be sure you are correct? If you have, what made you decide to be what you are?

More than a few hours, weirdo...can you adequately study your religion in a few hours?

Answer 1

Yeah....it was a requirement when I was a religious studies major. I did Hinduism. And Buddhism. In seminary, I took a class in OT studies at a Jewish college. THAT was the best class I took....ever!!

I am not the same religion as my parents. Mom was Baptized Roman Catholic and never went to church....Dad was an agnostic to the core.

Answer 2

Yes I have, my youth group and someone I consider a Christian mentor actually taught and teaches me about a few of the other religions, specifically Islam, Jehovah's Witness and Hinduism. I am not sure about your second question(personal). I have studied other religions and I decided to be a Christian because I know that God is real and Jesus is his son and He died for me. Muslims worship the same God Christians do, did you know that? His name is just in another language. Allah is Yahwey, Yahwey(i think thats spelled right) is God. Just different languages. They just don't believe that Jesus is son of God. So, many religions are close, just important things are viewed differently. I know that unless you are saved you won't go to Heaven. Besides, why wouldn't you want to live for the man who lives a sinless life then died a most horrible death JUST FOR YOU? Also, the bible has the most proven evidence of it's contents dating back farther than any other religious book.
Good Question!

Answer 3

I was raised a Southern Baptist, became wiccan as a young adult, and ended up disallusioned and angry. I began to study different branches of Christianity, and then found a book called Mankinds Search for God. It broke down the majority of the worlds most known religions. I never got into the other world religions in a deep way, as I feel that the religion I practice now,chosen after much deliberation, study and care was the right one. I am associated with Jehovah's Witnesses, and I feel that they have the truth of the matter for ME. They used the Bible to answer every question I had in a logical and spiritual way. There are no racial boundaries at their meetings. There is no collection plate passed around. There is no paid clergy class. They are friendly, honest, hard-working and law abiding folks who are genuinely interested in the future of their neighbors, just as Jesus asked us to be. They practice true spirituality and faith, I believe, or as closely as anyone in this world these days CAN. They follow Biblical principles in the face of opposition every single day, and I think that is admirable. I feel like I came home, after being away for a long, long time! :)

Answer 4

Yes...Judaism, with a friendly Rabbi available for questions. Orthodox Christianity, with a friendly Bishop available for questions. Islam, with a friendly Imam available for questions.

Buddhism and Hinduism without the benefit of having an authority to ask questions of, unfortunately.

I am not the same religion as my parents. My father was a minister in the Evangelical United Brethren Church when I was a small child (which is now defunct, having merged with the Methodist Church in...1959? I think). I was raised first EUB (but remember VERY little of that), then Presbyterian, then Methodist.

I am now, and have for over 28 years been, a Pagan (small-w wiccan, specifically).

If by "correct" you mean have I found the "one true only right way", I don't think I have, because I don't there exists such a beast.

It is, however, right for me, and that's all that matters. It needn't be right for you, and I won't try to tell you that it is. If it is the right spiritual path for you, you will find your way to it on your own..

Answer 5

I am a Celtic Pagan,

i have not only studied but i try to experience many other religions.

i go to several different churches on a semi-regular basis.

i join in Wicca circles, and Native American dancing and sacred Inipi Ceremonies. i have read the bible and the quran.
i have studied the religions of the Greeks and the Romans and the Egyptians. i have found that all religions have the same basic message, and some have little bits of wisdom that are worth looking for.

my study of other religions and cultures Had done nothing but strengthen my beliefs in the Celtic gods.

Answer 6

As a philosophy major, I have studied all of the major (and many minor) religions throughout history - their leaders - and their leaders' philosophies.

I can tell you that the most popular myth among our culture today is the belief that all religions are ultimately true. This statement is erroneous and cannot possibly be true. It is like saying that any answer to a specific math problem is true.

For instance, many of the major EASTERN religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism) believe in reincarnation, while most of the major WESTERN religions (Islam, Christianity, Judaism) reject the idea of reincarnation. Now, regardless of which view is true (eastern or western) one thing can be said with absolute certainty - They both (eastern & western) cannot possibly be true!

Another example - Christianity believes that Jesus Christ is God manifested in the flesh, while Islam believes that Jesus was a good teacher and a prophet, but Islam does not believe Jesus is God. Again, regardless of which view is true, one thing can be said with absolute certainty - it is impossible for both of them to be true because their beliefs are not only dissenting, they are in fact contradictory. It does not take a degree in philosophy (or anything else for that matter) for one to know that premises that contradict each other cannot both be true.

Therefore it is not true, neither is it possible that ultimate truth can be found in all religions. Christianity (belief in salvation through Jesus Christ) is the one that makes the most sense. There are far too many fallacies in Islam, and countless contradictions in the eastern religions.

Size them up for yourself.

Answer 7

I was raised a Christian, so knew this religion. I studied Judaism for years before converting to it. I have studied Islam for years now, because I an intrigued by the children of Abraham-the Jews and the Arabs, and I want to learn more about them and their histories and beliefs.

Answer 8

Yes. Ive studied Baptist, Jewish, Christian Wicca, Gnosticism, Mormonism, some Islam, some Cathilocism, agnostic is easy to understand, and others.

Same as my parents, no. One of the is Mormon, the other a Baptist, and neither one of them taught me religion in my youth.

Sure Im correct? Faith.

How did I decide? Personal research, and personal proof led me to what I believe.

Answer 9

I'm working on a master's in folklore and mythology, with an emphasis on mythology in the modern day, so studying other religions and seeing how they relate is a major part of my work.

So not only have I done so, I've more or less devoted my life to it.

Answer 10

Was raised Roman Catholic. Looked into and read about several others. Researched history of various religions, especially Christian. Reached conclusion that there is no god or gods and am now an atheist. I respect every ones individual spiritual beliefs, but do believe organized religions are inherently evil no matter what they proclaim.