Has anyone changed an opinion based on something they learned here on R&S?

Question

I dont expect people to change a belief system or faiths but has anything changed
I'll start
as a protestant Christian I have come to realize that the Protestants and Catholics are probably not as far apart in their beliefs as most might think
example:
praying to statues - I once thought that Catholics did this regularly but its just not true - I have come to understand that it is no different then me praying at my bedside - I'm not praying to my bed but that is what I am looking at/leaning on... whatever - I know my prayers are going to God not to my bed and that is the important thing

In fact I believe there are many other misunderstanding like this between the Protestants and Catholics but that was an easy one to explain

any others have experiences like this?

Answer 1

I am a born proud Muslim and I have realised how people who are ignorant of Islam generalize, and think that all Muslims are terrorist and only want to force our religion onto them, This is so not true and if they only take the time to enquire and learn about the true tolerant and peacful Islam they will be amazed, and I have made so many friends that have strengthened my faith in Islam and has made me realise that there are good people out there who are here to learn and there are those who visit R&S to cause hate and animosity amongst people.

Answer 2

I'm Agnostic and none of the questions or answers that I have read in this area have changed my opinion, however I have found a lot of this very interesting reading and I enjoy finding out about how other people think and giving my opinion on it.

About your Catholic/Protestant theory: You are of course correct because at the end of the day the Protestant faith grew from the Roman Catholic one, so there are bound to be similarities. I come from Northern Ireland where the religious differences between Catholics and Protestants are a way of life now and not actually very much to do with religion now either!!

Answer 3

I am glad to hear that you are actually enlightened about some catholic practices! :o) People often do not understand the rosary either. This is a type of meditation, like repeating the our father prayer, and the prayers used are a way of focusing the mind on the life of Jesus (called mysteries). It is hard to think of anything else other than God, when you are chanting the prayers and pondering the meaning of Jesus'life events and how he had to experience life to relate to us, and wanted to do so out of his GREAT love for us. I find this a very calming and peaceful experience but I am disheartened at the misconceptualization of what the rosary devotion is.

Answer 4

I don't know that it's so much a change, as a reinforcement.
I used to think Mormons were just those annoying people who came to the door, every so often.
I've 'read' a few Mormons in these pages, and I have to say I have a far greater respect for them having seen the courageous and fair minded way they explain their faith.
Except for the bit about coming to the door, I could also say the same about Asatru, Buddhists, Muslims, Secular Humanists, Animists, Wiccans, Pagans. Pretty much everybody.
Sadly, my opinion of those who hide behind Christianity (and are, in all likelihood, not even Christians) and use that faith as a platform (and a shield) to launch attacks on their 'opponents' remains as poor as ever.

Answer 5

Wow, this is very refreshing to hear. I was raised Catholic, did not practice for years and returned roughly three years ago because my wife is a strict Catholic. Often times I am amazed by the amount of Catholic bashing on this site. Some is due to misunderstanding and some is intentional. The weird thing is all this Catholic bashing and misunderstanding has convinced me that the Catholic Church is the right place for me.

Answer 6

Well let's see...

Good things:

That I get along better with the Atheists then with most other groups....

That there are a lot of nice Muslims on here...

Bad things...

(Some) Wiccans think I am a "Fundie Pagan" because I practice a reconstructionalist religion, not a Neo-Pagan one.

That many people do not have the ability to comprehend basic questions. Which leads me to believe we have a poor education system here in the US.

Answer 7

I've actually answered question about Catholicism and don't even practice anymore. I don't know what this has to do with anything. I think I've learned how intolerant people are. Much more than I ever imagined and it makes me sad. If we were all in a room talking to each other I don't think people would say half the things they write on here. Sad.

Answer 8

It had never occurred to me before playing in R&S that there was such a thing as an anti-theist. It's a sick, sad world.

Edit: Oh yeah, I've also realised "agnostic" is a fairly meaningless term in and of itself, certainly not useful as a personal "label". So I guess that makes me an agnostic atheist.

Answer 9

I used to believe that the vast majority on Y!A were ignorant and stuffing... boy, did I get a spanking! There are a lot of good cards mixed into a bad deck... which happened to have been shuffled into a good deck in the first place.

Answer 10

Let's just say that I have become more tolerant of those who do not share my beliefs. I was "Spanked" on more than one occasion for some of my opinions and learned my lesson. Well, not literally - that would be another question all together, about the spanking.