How many religions have you STUDIED outside of your own?

Question

the key word here is studied. Reasons and conclusions would be nice.

Answer 1

Judiasm, to some depth (including English translations of Torah & Sefer Yetzirah), because of interest in Kabbalah and the religion itself, desire to understand the roots of my former religion (Roman Catholicism).

Christianity, in huge depth including Biblical college studies plus the Summa Theologicae and other Doctors of the Church's writings, because of desire to become a priest while I was religious (Roman Catholic).

Islam, complete reading of the Qu'ran and some hadith, because of desire for general knowledge.

Hinduism, nearly complete reading of the Gita, because of desire for general knowledge.

Paganism (many different traditions), many different sources, because of desire to understand the symbolic systems involved in ritual and general knowledge.

Buddhism, general reading of books & online, because of desire for general knowledge.

Answer 2

I have read about multiple religions. I wouldn't call it in depth study, but I have read the basic principles underlying the major world religions (i.e. Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc.). I am an agnostic-atheist, but the whole religion issue intrigues me.

I used to attend church (albeit sporadically) whenever I was younger. The only churches I attended were Christian based, but the array of differences was needless to say quite astounding. I have been to Mormon, Baptist, Catholic, Pentecostal, Episcopalian, and Methodist churches. It amazes me how different the practices are and how even within the Christian faith, some sects condemn other sects to hell. Wow!

Anyway, I probably should do more research, at a minimum for education purposes. Islam is one religion which I don't know much about, and often times when in religious discussion with Muslims, or here on Answers, I will attempt to learn more. Educating myself in religious matters is an ongoing process. I will never be arrogant enough to claim that I thoroughly understand any religion (unlike some people).

Answer 3

Studied to what extent?

I guess probably about 6 or so. I am reading the Quran currently, and have looked at Mormonism, JW, various occult practices, Scientology and my ongoing readings in Judaism.

I am fascinated with how important religion is to so many people currently, and through recorded history. Various beliefs have seen a rise and fall in popularity, and then a rise and fall all over again. We are in a surprisingly consistent ebb and flow steady state. In years past, you might say Paganism was dead and buried. Now we see this group of belief systems coming back.

I also have had numerous personal spiritual experiences, solidifying my person faith in Jesus.

Answer 4

I have studied many. Not to convert. But to understand. Buddhism. Wiccanism. Paganism. Feminist Goddess Worship. (very different from either Wicca or Paganism.) Islam. Judaism. Even satanism. I can't list all the forms of Protestantism I've looked into. (I'm a Catholic)

Do I need reasons? Do I need conclusions? No. I just like to be informed.

Answer 5

I was raised Jewish, and have also done fairly indepth studies into Christianity (Protestant and Catholic based sects), Islam and Hinduism. I find religion, in general, fascinating, as I do most other realms of philosophy and mythology. I do not, however, practice an organized form of religion.
I am a psychology major, and the formation of religion and the reasoning behind it's existance and continuation make complete sense to me, psychologically speaking. People need to justify their actions, have a source for hope, a sense of belonging, rules to provide a structural example for their lives, etc...
Viewed with an open mind, there are positives that can be drawn from the practice of an organized "faith"..However, too often is a person born into a religion and taught to see the world with that religion's bias and, rather than realizing that EVERYTHING is up for interpretation, ends up following a distorted guide on what is "right" and "wrong"..
My personal experiences have led me to believe in a "God" (the quotation marks are simply because I think the entity generally referred to as God, is different for everyone)..
I think it is advantageous for people to believe in SOMETHING, but in nothing blindly..You may be born into religion, but you are not born into faith..faith is developed.
My favorite quote is one of Buddha, and I live my life by it, not because it is a quote from Buddha, but because it makes SENSE..and I feel doing what makes sense for you and your true beliefs and innate passions is what is most important... “Believe nothing.
No matter where you read it,
Or who said it,
Even if I have said it,
Unless it agrees with your own reason
And your own common sense.”

Answer 6

Wicca - I saw an article about it in a magazine and liked what I read. Conclusion - a very nature based religion.
Budhism - Took it upon myself to buy a book on it because my little sister had been talking about it, figured it would be a good idea to see what it was all about. Conclusion - quite liked it! I like how it gives you a strong positive basis for living in today's society.
Christianity - Denominations - Seventh Day Adventist, Lutheren (sp?), Baptist, Catholicism - mostly because of my parents. Was in the Catholic school system for most of my elementary and junior high years, then went into a private SDA school where they really pushed that everything is the fault of the Catholic belief system - I stood up to that and said that I found it unfair for one belief to be held responsible for the problems of our world, we are all to be held responsible - well got kicked out of that school because I voiced my opinion which is why I will never be part of that system.
I find religion to be very commercialized which is why I'm a solitary practitioner of a little Wicca and Budhism. I like the Wicca for the pure fact that it gives you something to focus on as you try to reach your goals, and I suppose because I'm an earth sign, I tend to feel a certain attachment to the earth. And Budhism for the plain truths! Nice to have something solid to fall back on in my times of struggle and to allow me to feel responsible for what happens in my life. I don't like the idea that someone/some being has control over what I do/think/feel, we are all ultimately in control of our own happiness. My thoughts...

Answer 7

Studied:Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Wicca, Ancient Egyptian, Roman, Greek and Scandinavian pantheons. To lesser degree Zoroastrianism, Santeria and central American Shamanism.
Reason: Looking for truth. Wanting to understand my existence and the cosmos I exist in. Whether we have a purpose and a destiny or whether we choose both.
Conclusions: Each contains dollops of human wisdom and stupidity. All have screwed up pre-scientific cosmologies. Most have anthropomorphic notions of deity and a god or gods that are reflective of the best and worst in humankind. All are bull, but not all are all bull and nothing more.

Answer 8

Many - and the similarities are striking - for instance:
On a clear evening in midwinter, looking eastward we see the most striking of all the constellations in the sky, the three stars in Orion's belt pointing to the east from where they came, as if announcing a marvel. Then the marvel comes. Sirius, the most brilliant in all the heavens, rises in the east in line with those three stars. To the Egyptians, it was the most important of all the stars; they regulated their calendars by its rising. At one period in Egypt, it reached its highest point at midnight on December 24. Astronomically speaking, the Three Kings had "seen his star in the East."

Many Christian churches are built on Pagan holy places or temples. The Vatican is partly built on a Mythras temple.

Isis was often represented standing on the crescent moon, with twelve stars surrounding her head. In almost every Roman Catholic church on the continent of Europe there are pictures and statues of Mary, the "Queen of Heaven," standing on the crescent moon, her head surrounded with twelve stars. (12 apostles? 12 signs of the zodiac?)

- Sommona Cadom was called Maya Maria, i.e. 'the Great Mary'; the mother of Adonis was Myrrha; the mother of Buddha was Maya; all these names are the same as Mary, the name of the mother of the Christian Savior. The month of May was sacred to these goddesses, so likewise is it sacred to the Virgin Mary at the present day. She was also called Myrrha and Maria, as well as Mary"

Mithras was born in a cave, and so were many others including Jesus. All of them "descended into hell and rose again on the third day." There are twenty or thirty of these stories scattered through the centuries, and the stories and the missions are ever identical.

"The Jesus-story, is so similar to the stories of former Sungods and with the actual career of the Sun through the heavens they cannot well be attributed to mere coincidence. There are (1) birth from a Virgin mother; (2) the birth in a stable (cave or underground chamber); and (3) on the 25th December (just after the winter solstice). There is (4) the Star in the East (Sirius) and (5) the arrival of the Magi (the 'Three King's); there is (6) the threatened Massacre of the Innocents, and the consequent flight into a distant country (told also of Krishna and other Sungods). There are the Church festivals of (7) Candlemas (2nd February), with processions of candles to symbolize the growing light; of (8) Lent, or the arrival of Spring; of (9) Easter Day (normally on 25th March) to celebrate the crossing of the Equator by the Sun; and (10) simultaneously the outburst of lights at the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem. There is (11) [61] the Crucifixion and death of the Lamb-God, on Good Friday, three days before Easter; there are (12) the nailing to a tree, (13) the empty grave, (14) the glad Resurrection (as in the cases of Osiris, Attis and others); there are (15) the twelve disciples (the Zodiacal signs); and (16) the betrayal by one of the twelve. Then later there is (17) Mid-summer Day, the 24th June, dedicated to the birth of the beloved disciple John, and corresponding to Christmas Day; there are the festivals of (18) the Assumption of the Virgin (15th August) and of (19) the Nativity of the Virgin (8th September), corresponding to the movement of the god through Virgo; there is the conflict of Christ and his disciples with the autumnal asterisms, (20) the Serpent and the Scorpion; and finally there is the curious fact that the Church (21) dedicates the very day of the winter solstice (when any one may very naturally doubt the rebirth of the Sun) to St. Thomas, who doubted the truth of the Resurrection!"

There are 346 similarities between Krishna and Jesus. Too many to be coincidence?

Answer 9

I'm not a scholar or theologist but would love to be. I am learning with friends, 2 biblical scholars and on my own Islam, Judaism currently.

Years ago I did a lot of reading about Scientology when i found out John Travolta was one. Interesting but sounds improbable to me. And I read a little about Kabbala 2 years about when the whole Madonna thing was out. No interest.

Had interests in Buddhism in college when I was 'trying to find myself'. But I'm not calm enough to be a Buddist.

Answer 10

Several other denominations of Christianity, Judaism (reformed and hasidic), Islam (sunni, shiate, sufi, ismaili,) Buddhism (tibetian), Hinduism, Taoism, a little on Zorastrianism, a little on Rastafarianism.

Reason I studied them my under grad minor was religious studies and I am pursuing my masters in theology.

Conclusion. . . underlying themes all have the same common strands

Answer 11

I lost count a long time ago. I don't pay attention to the quantity of religions, but more of the quality on how I study them without taking a biased position.

I have studied many religions to find one which best fits me, though none seem to gratify my spirituality and philosophy. If I chose one though, well if I named what I was, it would be:
Agnostic Spiritualist Theism