Someone show me how religions aren't being ethnocentric?

Question

I mean how can you say your right and other people are wrong, just because you beleive it? And don't say the Bible to justify your answer. I'm not trying to start a debate or argument. I just want religions people to show me how Christians, Catholics, Baptists, Muslims, etc., aren't being ethnocentric?

Answer 1

I wouldn't call the different denominations of all religions ethnocentric. I don't think it has anything to with ethnic origin, culture, or ritual. Although, I will admit that culture has had a huge influence on the way in which many people worship or go about honoring their religion but the core foundation of a religion shouldn't be affected by ethnicity. As for Christians the different denominations come from people not totally agreeing upon the interpretation of scripture and/or worship/ritual protocol. For instance, Pentecostals believe that speaking in tongues is the evidence of the Holy Spirit living on the inside of a persons heart whereby Baptists believe that the evidence of the Holy Spirit is a changed life for Christ. That to me stand out in my mind right now but there are so many others. Another example would be that there are many differing opinions and interpretations of doctrine in the Islam religion the origin of which is found in the middle east. There are those who follow the true Muslim faith in peace and there are those who have become extremist to the point of mass murder to somehow further their cause. There are also Muslim's who worship and follow directly under Louis Farrakhan here in the U.S. So there are many different divisions but the core and essential foundation of a faith, such as Christianities belief that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior, is the same through out.

Answer 2

Regarding all worldviews as equal is also a worldview, and perhaps even more flawed than any other.
Several years ago, a college professor in upstate New York freported that 10 percent to 20 percent of his students could not bring themselves to criticize the Nazi extermination of Europe's Jews. Some students expressed personal distaste for what the Nazis did. But they were not willing to say that the Nazis were wrong, since no culture can be judged from the outside and no individual can challenge the moral worldview of another.
Postmodernists see individuals as products of a specific culture who must guard against the temptation to inflate their own norms into universal standards and dress up their own interests as objectivity. To claim knowledge as universal truth is impossible. There is no truth, just narratives and stories that "work" for particular communities.
If all beliefs are equally valid, there is nothing to debate. Nothing separates a personal "truth" from self-delusion. Cultures can't be criticized for what most of us consider horrendous acts, like the recent sanctioned gang rape in Pakistan of an 18-year-old girl as punishment for her brother's flirting with a woman of high status.
In fact, postmodernists are not consistent about their dogma that other cultures are not to be criticized. Particularly on issues of race and gender, postmodernists can be as judgmental as everyone else -- especially when discussions turn to genital mutilation, the jailing or execution of homosexuals, or the Taliban practice of beating women on the street. Similarly, the deeply held belief that all cultures are valid on their own terms is rarely applied to the United States. Perhaps inevitably, however, we have heard a lot of postmodern defenses of the validity of terrorist attacks on the West.

Answer 3

Not all religions insist that they're the only way. Many Jews see our relationship with what is holy as being just that, our particular covenant and practice.

Buddhists don't attach to any version of an ultimate Truth. It's all interpretation.

Unitarian Universalists are into respecting other religions. A lot of pagans do as well.

So it's not all self-referential.

Answer 4

Well naturally if you view your religion as the True religion then you should be ethnocentric.

Now, just because believes that their religion is ethnocentric does not mean they have to have a closed mind nor a hard heart.

They need to remain open minded, compassionate, and patient. just to name a few.

Answer 5

The Catholic Church us truly a world wide church that operates in every country of the world, and it is also the source of every other Christian group, anywhere.

And while all Catholics accept the same creed and truths, all of the variuos churches are allowed substantial freedom in their own local area, as to the way they choose to express their faith.

How can that be termed ethnocentric?

More correctly, it is Christocentric.

Answer 6

Well, not all religious followers take that stand point. Religion is a debate that will never end simply because it's such a personal subject. Some people think to admit that it's possible that their God isn't THE one is to commit heresy. That is denotes weakness of faith. It's a matter of close and open-mindednss.

Please no one use the word proof or any variant of it, you can't PROVE the Bible, you can't PROVE God's existance. To say, look around you and that is proof enough, is fine and dandy for the one saying it...but it's not logical reasoning.

Answer 7

I can say with confidence that Christianity is right simply because everything stated in the Bible has proved itself, like doubt in a God by some, like the war issue, like many prayers having been answered when human assistance was impossible. If you give me a map and it takes me exactly where you said it would then I will tell anyone who asks that your map is right.

Answer 8

Well, if you think that you're right, whether you are or not, means that whatever someone else says opposing you, is wrong. Everyone can't be right. And no one has the right to say someone else is wrong, unless they're Christian, just kidding. Have a good life.

Answer 9

One can be tolerant of other religions, yet still believe their religion is the only true one. After all, there are so many religions with such different points of view, they can't all be right.

Answer 10

If your truth is right, and my truth is right, then neither are true.

Ethnocentric is folly.

Truth in One.