Can we learn anything from the Books (All Books) of Religion (All Religions)?

Question

Peace and Love

Answer 1

Right or wrong you are learning something.

Answer 2

My only real problem with any religion/religious text is the danger of its devotees falling into dogmatism or formalism.

Many centuries ago in the East, pork was infected with disease, and to eat pork was to die. Hence the tribal laws, still preserved in some of our holy texts, which prohibit pork as being "ritually unclean." That's just because the people had no concept of science. But the rule came to be interpreted dogmatically as a universal "law for all," to the effect that we still have people of certain religions refraining from eating pork on "religious" grounds, when little or no authentic health risk remains.

That's an obvious case, but religion is full of examples. The prohibitions on homosexuality in Leviticus were originally created for a tribe of wandering nomadic savages in the desert. Non-procreative sex was in fact a "social crime," but times have changed. We have over 6 billion people in the world now. Heterosexuality is more of a "crime" nowadays, relatively speaking.

In short, there are "important moral lessons" in the books of nigh every religion, just as there are in most fairy tales, just as there probably are in most pulp fiction novels. But there is NO single moral lesson that is truly applicable to all people in all circumstances. Nothing is easier than proving that even the Ten Commandments are NOT universal, even among the specific people who instituted them - there are stories in the bible in which every single one of the commandments is broken by some protagonist or other, often at God's express command.

"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good" - St. Paul. People want their religion and ethics ready-made, so that all they have to do is obey without thinking; but unfortunately, it doesn't really work that way. You have to do the really hard work yourself.

Answer 3

Opening one's mind enough to explore the world of possibilities and different belief systems is always a great learning experience. One does not negate the other; i.e. having beliefs as a Christian will not change just because you decided to get a little education about things outside of your own realm of "normal" thinking. I personally enjoy learning about my world around me, and getting to know people that are not of my same typical background.

Jesus said to believe in Him - not that by believing in Him this meant that we had to become such close-minded, blubbering idiots who think war is the answer to everything just so we can get our "point" across. By the way, this "Holy War" is just disguised as such so that we may attempt to gain control of things which we have no right to control...has little to nothing to do with the difference between Christians and Muslims. In fact, there is little difference since both sides are doing what they're doing in the name of God & Allah. Where is the difference there? I would have thought that most Atheists would have caught on to this wool shade instead of blaming religion in general for wars. In this instance, leaders are using religions as a facade...especially in the Israel vs. Palestine conflict. Anyone ever had the opportunity to talk to a few people from both sides at all to get the real perspective?

Everyone has lead a life, and everyone has learned a lesson or two during that time; therefore, everyone has something to offer in terms of teaching, religious or not. This does not preclude us from questioning it or having respectful debates about differences, it's just that humans in general are not capable of being so open-minded and just.

Answer 4

Absolutely.

Reading Egyptian texts gives the prototype for much of the Christian religion. Reading other religions, one begins to learn the migratory nature of different religions and how thoughts and ideas travelled with people, how people influenced each other in religious thought.

It's a marvelous sociological exercise at least.

Answer 5

Most people already know this. Any one who really respects his own religion will surely respect all the other religions as well. It is clearly mentioned in most of the religions that you should love all mankind because all of us have initially evolved from the same source. Religions don't preach or teach hate that is taught by those who want to exploit others for their own nefarious purposes.

Answer 6

Yes there is something to learn in everything.

Even outside of religion they are some of the oldest books in existence, it's our history.

Answer 7

Of course you can. If everyone would just open their minds and read the other books and gain a different perspective, we wouldn't have so many ignorant people in this world. You cannot say that your religion is the "correct" one unless you read the other religions. And I mean all of them. Read about Christianity, satanism, wicca, islam, buddhism, hinduism, etc.

Answer 8

Remarkable how much in so many books is similar and how everyone fights that theirs is "the one". Yes, we can learn from ALL religious and spiritual writings- education and tolerance will solve many problems in our ripped up world if we just press the importance of them and not of the individuality of writings and peoples (countries-races-religious groups). We are all here to GROW!

Answer 9

You can learn from anything. Like the Buddha said keep the meaning forget the words.

Answer 10

Can we learn anything from Greek and Roman mythology?

Besides the fact that people are gullible, no, not really. There may be morals found within, but those morals can be integrated into a philosophy without requiring a god to enforce them.

Answer 11

yes u can learn alot from religion books