Why do people only have ONE religion, why can't someone embrace 2 or 3 religions...?

Question

why cant I be a Muslim, Christian and Buddhist all at the same time, and embrace the parts of these religions that work for me, and reject the parts that dont? I dont get this obsession people have with following just ONE religion.

Answer 1

Nothing of any importance can be taught. It can only be learned, and with blood and sweat.”
Robert Anton Wilson
Breaking with the church is a good first step to a real relationship with God. Study all religions. Read all the arguments pro and con for each one and like a buffet pick and choose the parts that make sense to you. Religion is a map (albeit a somewhat outdated one that only points out the permanent points of interest) Spirituality is the territory. Do not mistake the map for the territory! Once you get there it'll be different from what the maps tell you 'cause you'll have your baggage along and be looking at it through your eyes not anyone else's. God's waiting for you but God is very patient God has all of eternity and so do you.

Answer 2

It is difficult to follow different religions because some of the commandments will be in conflict with the other. Now in such a situation you will choose something that suits you and your interests and may not be in the interest of the others.

Ok lets look at it like this, I want a vehicle which can fly, do dune bashing, carry 70 people, also can be used as a boat etc... the first thing you would do is laugh at me because all the mentioned are in no way close to one another.

You cannot walk on different roads at the same time there is no stability in that. You will become more confused as is what is to be done when some belief conflict arrives.

But if you follow just one it is easier to make decisions and can continue with your life on this single road.

Answer 3

Good question.

You are touching on the notion of religious pluralism, which asserts that all "beliefs are equally valid within a believer's particular context." See link below.

Related to this concept is the notion of a religion's inclusivity vs. exclusivity. Inclusivity "asserts that while one set of beliefs is absolutely true, other sets of beliefs are at least partially true. This contrasts with exclusivism, which asserts that only one way is true and all others are in error. Many religions lean toward exclusivism.

In the field of comparative religion, there are three primary world religion categories: Abrahamic, Dharmic or Taoic with thousands of more sects. Yes, you can pick and choose the parts you like about each, but some might argue you're not a true believer in that religion if you don't follow their main tenants, especially those that contradict each other. E.g.

Christianity: "I am the way the truth and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me."
-- Jesus Christ, John 14:6

Yet Judaism rejects Jesus as the Messiah. Each religion has their own type of deal-breakers to ensure followers don't pick and choose as you are doing. I personally don't see a problem with it.

Answer 4

People have only one religion because if someone has more than one religion he/she will be called a person who has no firm opinion and no firm belief.You are free to chose the right one in line with your conclusion which one is the best..Islamic teaching is different with Christianity and it is not the same with Jewish religion.Buddhaism is far different with Islam,Christianity and Jewish religion.We can not exchange each other .
If we change our religion in a short time or we have 2 or more religions at the same time so it means that we have no religion at all.We can not accept certain parts of a religion and reject the other parts.We should accept it throughly. or as a whole.

Answer 5

Many people's religious beliefs are shaped by tradition or family, which typically (but not always) embrace only a single religion. Also, many people are unable to accept the logical contradictions required to follow more than one of a set of mutually exclusive beliefs.

But faith by its very nature can operate outside of the realm of facts and logic.

Thus, you can build your own belief system from disparate parts if that is where your conscience takes you.

Just don't expect others to accept your way of thinking only because you feel you have received a great revelation.

Answer 6

Dear Rihannsu,

The simple answer to your question is: you can. But i think a question you have to examine is- what is your purpose in having a religion.

Most religions have the bottom line purpose of knowing God. And not all religions teach the same things about God or even agree on who God is. And the thing is: not everyone can be right. And sometimes believing in one religion means that you can't believe in another religion especially if there are teachings that conflict.

So if your purpose is in truly knowing God you have to really examine what each religion teaches about how to know God and you have to consider the source. Is it just the teaching of men, or is based upon what God says.

Hope that helps. Kindly,

Nickster

Answer 7

Because the main goal of any religion is to destroy all others.

Religion has always been about absolutes. Everything is black and white. Followers can't even begin to consider that another religion might be right because that would leave room for the possibility that theirs might be wrong.

Also, religious people are elitist. They want to believe that they are special, the chosen few, and the only ones going to heaven while all the other poor saps and infidels are going to swim in a steaming hot lake of poop forevermore.

Answer 8

Seems if you put all the formal religions together you have a large portion of humanity . Humanity in conflict . some one once said diversity in harmony brings results . I see some good in most religions maybe they should try to start a new system to bring people together in the commonally of good .
I for instance am not theistic could all religions find it in the hearts not to hate me for my non theist approach . for instance when I look at the trees they don't critisize ,hate or condemn . Maybe we could all learn to be more like the intelligence of the tree.
peace

Answer 9

I think you would find Joseph Campbell's book, Pathways to Bliss interesting.
One of his major contentions is that if the events that are looked upon as actual historical events by western religions are interpreted as the myths they actually are, western religions and just about all other religions have the same goal- which I'm not going to get into. Read the book and find out. The long and the short of it is that he suggests that you do, in fact, choose the myths that help you find your "pathway to bliss" in whatever source you find them.

Answer 10

Because most religions have completely different views... and you can't just pick and choose what aspects of a religion you like, or you're not really embracing that religion at all...