Would a church that practices all religions work?

Question

I was thinking the other day if a church that teaches about a different religion every night and allowed everyone to attend in order to learn about each other would work.

Doesn't our indiffererances come from our ignorance of each other, this would be an attempt to erase this.

Answer 1

no

Answer 2

To some extent, it would.

However, I don't know, first of all, that you'd come across much of a congregation. Most people would prefer to stick to their own religion.

Also, worshipping a different way each night may conflict with peoples' true religious views. Although they'd be learning in the process, they may need to betray their own beliefs in order to do so; therefore, it may prompt grudges and unhappiness, or simply a rather boring service with a large congregation, but few true participants.

However, I think that a nightly calss of that sort would be a good thing to do. It would offer people a chance to explore other religions, without feeling obligated to take part by the "church service" association.

Yes, I feel it would, in fact, help with indifferences. Diversity is a wonderful thing, however, when it reaches a certain point of ridicule, it can become negative. Therefore, learning about other religions would aid this.

All in all, if you've the time and resouces, I'd say go ahead--start with a "meeting" type thing, maybe at a local church if they'd be willing to allow you to use a meeting room. As your idea grows, change the pace and overal structure to accomodate new needs.

Answer 3

Sorry, it would not work, simply because all Religions are not the same, nor are they equal, some are diametrically oppossed to each other. Some are cults,pagan or Satanic, such as the Norse or Greek as an example. Those subjects would be better addrssed in a World Religions class. The United States Military, has been experimenting with chaplains preforming rites and rituals of other demoninations and religions, rather than stay with the religious affilliation of choice.

Answer 4

I think that is a great idea, but I'm not sure education should take place in a house of worship. The people teaching about religions should be objective educators, not preachers whose ulterior motives, though often unconcious, would conflict with a sense of acceptance. The only way this could practically happen would be if the people participating were not especially religious. Anyone who is religious would be too close minded to be accepting. I don't think I'm being pessimistic, only realistic.

Answer 5

I do not believe our indifferences come from ignorance. Instead they come from ego and an unwillingness to bend and accept that while there is one truth, there are many ways to live that truth.

From my perspective, the Unitarians are just another religious sect. What you are proposing, if I understand you correctly, is that we open a Church-Synagogue-Mosque-Temple-Sanctuary type of place where one night we have a Roman Catholic Mass, another a Shabbat Service, and so on until we have experienced a ritual service from all religions. Most are not interested in anyone else's beliefs. They only want them to believe as they believe. Strength in numbers maybe?

A beautiful thought. I actually did this on my own when I lived in Florida, by going to services in every sanctuary near me with a gentleman who was also interested in this same thing (only his name was NOT Sean). It was very valuable and sent me on my journey much more knowledgeable than most. But while the thought has merit from an individual's perspective, to try to market it to the masses would prove disastrous in light of the wall of egocentricity you would end up facing. There is no trumpet loud enough to crumble it.

Answer 6

The Baha'i Faith in my area of Calif. got together with as many different faiths as possible and set up an Interfaith Alliance. We met once per month at various locations and each month one of us would talk about our faith, what it meant and and answer questions. The Muslims had us meet in the barn on their farm where they hold local services. They are a long way from a mosque. We all went up in the loft and it was great sitting on bales of hay. We also met with Sikhs, Jews, Buddhists and several branches of Christianity. I was the only Catholic in the group. The rules of conduct were to not proselytize and to treat everyone with respect as it was a learning situation for all of us.

Answer 7

There's already one. It's called the Catholic Church. All will one day be incorporated into it.

The Jews, for they claim to believe in the God of Abraham
The Christians, they claim Christ
The Pagans, they have the mother goddess, Mary
The Wiccans, they have the white magic transubstantiation turning bread and wine into body and blood.
Darwinism, Pope Says Evolution Compatible with Faith
Buddism, they worship a man in the stead of Christ, called the pope.
Hinduism, they have many gods they pray to called saints

I could go on and on, but you get the point

Answer 8

Nope! Won't work!
The mass confusion in the parish would wipe out any sense of order in all of the religions.
Besides once you get to some of them you would have to stop any more teaching of other religions because some of them teach you can't trust no one elses' but theirs. Here you would have a condundrum. What to do? Do we stop or carry on and disregard what we just taught the parish? What to do? What to do? What do do? What to do?
That would be the parish mantra; "what to do"?

Answer 9

I'm not sure that would be called a church or a religion??? But I agree that learning about other religions and beliefs is a good thing.

Answer 10

Unitarians accept all paths as valid and make a conscious effort to learn the truth, not prescribe it.

It works for us.

Answer 11

I think that we should have a new council of Nicea say, where we get all religions together and bash out a one world theory. then we would all have the same belief. They did it at Nicea, lets do it again.