Is it 'wrong' to be a christian and study other faiths?

Question

...if you're strong in your faith, why is it considered bad to understand the faiths of others in the world...or are we just supposed to stay ignorant of what others believe...in the end, wouldn't it just likely strengthen your own faith?

Answer 1

no ...it is not wrong.

Answer 2

It is not wrong. Some fear what other faiths teach, but they are very similar...and sometimes superior.

For example, Jesus taught turn the other cheek and forgive and love...the 10 Commands lists not killing, but hinduism teaches ahimsa. Ahimsa is something we should strive for as well - it is right in line with what Jesus taught and thought. Ahimsa is not desiring to harm - by deed, word, or thought.

It is one thing to not act out and kill...following the 10 Commandments...but it is another not to desire to kill or harm in any way. Mahatma Gandhi followed this and freed his country with non-violence. Non-violence seems to be a very Christian ideal...in my opinion.

Of course, we do harm - so the mistraslation of ahimsa as 'non-harming' is off. But you desire not to harm...so you take care and are very conscious of when you have to cause harm. Show respect and gratitude to what you eat...that sort of thing.

The study of other faiths deepens your own and also gives you more ways to practice what is already in your own faith.

Practicing ahimsa, for example, does not lead you away from your faith - or corrupt it - it just brings love, compassion, and not harming to the next level.

Take what is good...leave the rest.

~ Eric Putkonen

Answer 3

Nope. People who live in a demoracy (and are, presumably, democrats) study socialism, fascism, communism and constitutional monarchy, if they take a course on 20th century European Politics.

That's a "small 'd'" democrats, not the political party. Most people in the US believe in capitalistic democracy, or at least like it enough they don't want to move to, for instance, the UK and live under a constitutional monarchy.

When I was in college, majoring in English, we read books by French, Spanish and German authors.

Elementary students study the Roman Numeral system so they can see how our place value number system works.

Great French chefs sometimes take eating tours of China. They don't take eating tours of England, because the English mis-treat their vegetables. Stay clear of Satanism.

Answer 4

No,it's called research or comparative religion.The more I study other religions the more I've found that only Christianity is flawless.It has a 100% accuracy rate in all areas.You find false prophecies and claims in every other religion in history.If you meant:can a Christian accept other faiths the answer is definitely not!

Answer 5

Nope. I went to a Christian University. And one of the classes offered in the College of Bible and Religion was in fact world religions. WE went beyond studying the major world faiths, we even visted mutiple worship centers or centers of faith of various religions. I went on the smaller trip to Memphis, TN. We visited a Hindu Temple, observed a Jewish Sabbath Service, and went into a Mosque during prayer time. The Chicago trip visits more sites such as a Bah'ai temple and a Buddist meditation place and I think a couple of others.

If you are a new Chrisitan, it may be best to study these with a more seasoned Christian. But even then I wouldnt say it would be "wrong" to do it on your own.

Update:
Yes most likely it will not only strengthen your faith but your ability to talk with others about your faith and to relate to them.

Answer 6

There are two reasons _not_ to study other points of view (and this applies to any topic, not just religion):

1) You're insecure in your own views; your belief is a house of cards that could be blown down by the slightest breeze of evidence.

2) Your "teachers" fill you with fear that keeps you willingly ignorant of other views because #1 applies to them.


The strongest argument is willing to answer questions. The weakest argument seeks to prevent questions.


.

Answer 7

Not IF your christian faith is on a solid foundation (the Lord). If you are a baby christian, then I would stay away from this until you faith is firm. Satan wants to especially attack the baby christian who he hopes to twist the faith--be careful, he is very cunning. If faith is firm, I think it's good to know other faiths so that you can understand when witnessing to the lost.

Answer 8

If you are studying other religions to learn about them so that you can minister to others, then it is not wrong. But, you have to be careful because if your faith is not strong, you may get caught up in believing some of the things that you study.

If you are a baby Christian, I would not recommend studying other religions, until you are a more mature Christian.

Answer 9

Who told you that it was wrong?

I study other faiths because I have a genuine curiosity to know why other people act the way that they do.

Besides, it is easier to explain your faith to someone else if you understand where they are coming from.

Answer 10

I thik that it could be wrong, but it's not always so. I think that by understanding what others believe you can better rufute arguements.

Example:
I was on a message board and people kept bringing up Zoroastrianism as if it were somehow a 'more pure' religion than Christianity. What I did was write a whole post on it, an no one used it as an example of a pure religion after that. heh heh.

Answer 11

There is absolutely nothing wrong with looking into other religions, In fact you must understand there is something true in all religions that have some following. I have studied all the reigions that I could to know how to speak to people of that religion but sad to tell you that too many people do not know their own religion