Is it the job of one religion to refute another?

Question

Or should we all just stick to what we preach - to love each other - or is it really that hard to just accept our differences?

Dear noncrazed, when I speak of loving each other, I mean allowing each other our differences. By all means, if you feel it's necessary to speak out about something - DO IT! What I am saying, as that a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I am a little tired of people feeling like they understand my religion, when by their answers they clearly do not. And while I do not subscribe to the currently societal theology that we should all be politically correct, I do believe that our intolerance has been just as much an albatross.

I had some typing errors in that last part, I hate that. Sorry everyone.

Answer 1

I am all into accepting each other as an intelligent group for discussion. Without differences though there is little need for questions. Pointing our differences is how we make intelligent decisions. That doesn't mean we have to make it personal by atacking any groups character, unless it directly relates to their doctrine. People are always going to be imperfect no matter what faith they allign to. That is why we need God.

Answer 2

The primary purpose of religion is to provide a background meaning to life, an answer to "why" things are as they are. But for some people, finding AN answer, A meaning, A "why" is not good enough. They need THE Answer, THE Meaning. Otherwise it's just "made-up". So they spend nearly all their time showing others how wrong they all are, rather than exercising any of the moral mandates of their own religion.

Sadly, they are the noisiest adherents and get all the attention, while those quiet adherents who seek to bring peace, justice and compassion to the world are overshadowed.

Answer 3

Some humans even on the issue of Religion or Spirituality are still after thousands of year determined to prove there point of view to others. You could admire the stubbornness under other circumstances, but just plain bullheadedness is not to be admired.
We humans have a long way to go before we rise above our own horrible selfishness. For Christians, it is almost laughable because of the teaching of Christ. Christ taught turning the other cheek, but many Christians can not figure out what that means I guess, because holding a grudge is still big, very big, business in the Christian community.
So Christians have no right to look down their collective noses at anyone else. Christ also taught to look first at our own problems, prejudices and favoritism's before condemning someone else.

Answer 4

Religion is not supposed to be about BLIND faith, but a faith which also makes sense and above all is founded on truth. Where people are concerned for truth, then there are bound to be differences of opinion as to what constitutes the truth. Therefore, debate and correction must be part of our spiritual growth.

Bashing the proverbial out of each other has no more place in religious enquiry than it does in, say, an international scientific gathering.

Answer 5

We are to look to God's word and Jesus' example for that one.

It is no more our job to make other religions look bad than it is for any one politician to make other politicians look bad .... but it happens, doesn't it?

Once again I go back to that idea of a big football game. God is the one who created the game and it's rules. If we want to play the game .... we must follow the rules. If we choose not to follow the rules we will not be allowed on the playing field.

If we are not part of a team (Christianity, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, etc.) we cannot get on the field of play. For some that is fine. They don't really want to play the game. It's too confining and structured. They seek other outlets for their energies.

We only need focus on one thing, if that is our goal, play the game well, following the rules and the guidelines set down by the creator of the game.

We also have the choice to make up our own game if we want but we'll not reach the same goal as those playing other games.

Good luck in the game that you have chosen to play.

Kev

Answer 6

Religions were made because people had different understandings of scripture, but the real good religions are to love everyone, regardless of what they believe. My church is currently renting, we wanted to move to another church to rent on satrurdays for service yet we were declined because we are from a different religion. We are still Christians yet they turne us down, that is not loving your neighbor. that is going against everythign they preach.

Answer 7

Why can't people of certain religions speak out about other religions groups? I'm not talking about violence here - just voicing opinions.

Honestly I am sick of all this tolerance crap. Now-a-days no one can speak out against another group without being slapped down and told they aren't be loving and peaceful. That they have to accept differences and just accept other people. That they can't speak out against what is going on.

People should be allowed to voice their differences and whether they think something is right or wrong.

You say that we should stick to loving each other. Would you want me stop you from drinking posion out of love - or would you rather I just respect your decision and let you drink?

And, no, I'm not Christian. I'm just tired of claims that people cannot speak out against what they view as wrong and just need to accept all other actions and viewpoints as being correct in 'their own way'.

Answer 8

Of course it isn't, but on an open forum like this I am not sure it can be helped. Members here are constantly attacked, and desire to stand up for what they believe. We often get involved in the defense of the faith, which is usually worthless, but you never know when someone might be helped by what you have said.

It is like sowing seed. Some may sprout up and other may not.

grace2u

Answer 9

It's implied. If you didn't believe that your particular "faith" was necessary to your "salvation," what would be the point? And, of course, the other implication is that everybody outside of your cult is "damned."

That said, it's true that most religious people don't push it to these conclusions. Most people ARE happy to "live and let live," for the most part. Of course, the fanatics get away with a lot of things because they have the social buffer of the "moderates."

Answer 10

If when I present the Gospel to someone, beliefs that are false impede the person from understanding the gospel, then I will refute them. Otherwise, I'd as soon not bother.
Here on YA, some people throw out some belief of theirs as a challenge, and occasionally I will take up the gauntlet, but it is basically a waste of time.