Have you ever been to a service in another house of worship?

Question

For instance: I am Jewish, and I've been inside several churches. I think some of the Christian prayers are so beautiful.

Have you ever been to a service in another faith's house of worship and if yes, what was it like for you?

I shouldn't have to say this but - NICE answers only please! No insults needed.

MALAK - you would be welcome in any synagogue; a Reform one may be best as then there's quite a lot in English! Any decent Rabbi (our version of Priest or Imam) would be happy to have you attend.

MNL-1221 - Wow! I'm impressed! I hope you get to go to the Jewish seder; enjoy!

DA MAN - of course you would be allowed in a synagogue; why wouldn't you be???! If you do go, try and find a Reform or Liberal one, it's far more relaxed!

Answer 1

Tabatha, does the halakha permit you to enter a church?
A mosque?

Can you give a source?

Answer 2

Yes. I'm a Christian, and I've attended quite a few Jewish services, including Purim, Rosh Hashanah, and even Yom Kippur one time. I've visited the Hannukah House they set up on Fifth Avenue (NYC) every year. I've also attended a pre-Passover women's seder at a synagogue. I wanted to attend a "pure Jewish" Passover Seder this year (as opposed to a Messianic Seder, of which I've attended several), but I got sick with a month-long chest cold in April.

I'm not sure I've attended services of another religion that was not Christian or Jewish. I haven't even been inside the mosque down the block from me! Oh yeah--my cousin's funeral service incorporated some Islamic prayers.

Answer 3

Some, depending on what you mean by another faith. I've attended many denominations of Christian churches including Catholic, Methodist, Assemblies of God, Baptist, Pentecostal, Disciples of Christ, Presbyterian, and bunch of different non-denominational churches. Currently attending a non-denominational church that's affiliated with the Baptist convention (I guess that makes it technically Baptist though I still struggle with that idea *smile*).

I've also attended a Passover seder and participated in Shabbat services regularly for the past few years (my son attended a Jewish preschool/kinder...just moved to 1st grade this year in public school) but haven't been to synagogue for Sabbath services yet...planning to do that someday soon (they just opened a new synagogue in town...the old one closed before I moved here leaving the Jewish community homeless for a few years). I love the Jewish ceremonies/celebrations and have been considering celebrating them instead of the pagan-rooted Christian ones for a while (we've been getting both through the combination of home and my son's school). ...and I was particularly impressed with the Jewish preschool my son attended (compared to the Christian schools I checked out before I put him there!)...and he loves the songs and stories about Haman and Judah Maccabee.

Haven't been to services for any other faiths but mostly because I haven't been invited. There are a few I wouldn't attend even if invited, but for the most part, I'm open to learning about the beliefs and religious practices of other people.

Answer 4

Yes, I've been to a Jewish Temple, a Hindu Temple, a Muslim Mosque, and a Budhist Temple. Overall they were good experiences, but I admit it was a little strange to think that the folks there believed totally different from me. I guess that comes from worshiping a certain way for so long. The Jewish temple was the most familiar to me. I'm Catholic.

Answer 5

I've visited a couple of synagogues, as part of my RE lessons they were both modern, well-maintained buildings that were nicely laid out for community events as well as worship. My father, an Anglican minister, was also quite impressed by my description, as he has always felt that a church (or any place of worship) should be a community resource as well as a religious one. I've also visited Roman Catholic churches, a Quaker meeting hall and a monastery, all very interesting for me (Anglican)

I would have liked to have visited Buddhist, Hindu and Sikh places of worship, but there were none close enough to my school to make it practical. It might be interesting to visit a Islamic temple, but I don't know of any within public transport range that welcome visitors.

Answer 6

Yes, I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
I have been to a Baptist church and a Catholic church.
I have to say, though both religions teach some correct truths, I do not feel the spirit the same way as I do when I am at the LDS church...it truly is the Lord's church.

Answer 7

As an Atheist I have been to a Mosque, Synagogue, a Church and a Hindu Temple. It wasn't to pray but more to find out about their beliefs and culture, it is very fascinating.

Answer 8

I'm presbyterian, and I've been to baptist services (too loud and disrespectful for me), catholic services (I do like the reverence shown there), and a couple of other denominations, which weren't too eventful. I'd love to attend a Jewish synagog sometime, but where we live there simply aren't any. I'm not sure they'd appreciate it either, I'd have to check that out first of course.

Answer 9

Yes. I am a Christian, and I have attended Buddhist, Taoist, and Hindu religious services in China, Singapore, Thailand and India. I enjoyed it, collected some literature, got some first-hand interpretation of their religious iconography, and made some offerings.

Answer 10

ohhhh yes. my mother raised me without religion. i had a few aunts that would take me to catholic church and Lutheran church and i even visited Mormon church a few times.
finally, i went to an all black church - and its there i felt most at home and in touch with Christ. i brought one of my best friends and she was of course caught off guard by the differences in her church and mine. so i went with her to hers and i can honestly say im not interested in going back to the typical church

and ive never been to a synagogue, but id very much like to experience it! :)