Is it ok to believe multiple religions?

Question

I have recently been reading about the Native American Lakota and have found that I believe their spirituality is on a more harmonious path with the teachings of Christ than the catholic/lutheran religions of my upbringing. I still believe there is only one God and that the Lakota and the Christians worship the same "Great Spirit", but I think many christians have lost their way and even though Jesus was sent to put them back on track they have missed his message. Am I wrong about this? Opinions please.

Athesists-- I don't want to hear from you. If you don't like the fact that I believe in a higher power too bad.

Answer 1

No, you are not wrong.

Multiple religions are multiple paths up the same mountain to the same peak. By looking at all the paths, you may see the destination and high road more quickly.

Swami Ramakrishna studied all the religions and also came to the conclusion they lead to the same place. Some people in every religion has found value in multiple religions. Mahatma Gandhi was another...he pulled from Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, etc.

The greatest saints have been this way.

~ Eric Putkonen

Answer 2

I think many cultures world-over have shared similarities in beliefs/views at one time or another, even if most don't now.

While it's fine to share a similar view, I don't think it's advisable to just pick up a tribe/Nation's spiritual views, especially from books. From what I've heard for some years (from a Lakota couple), there is a lot of false and distorted information out there in books and online. And theirs is one of the most exploited. I know for one they don't treat their beliefs as a product to sell like whites do, they are pretty hush-hush about it. (Making a person question how accurate info in a book could even be.) Which I have a world of respect for more then I do any of these "white" religions that pass their religion around like free AOL CDs.

Answer 3

Many religions will have elements of truth or inspiring spiritual realities or teachings. But that doesn't make them THE truth.

I do not know much about the Lakota teachings nor did you include any, therefore I can not comment directly to your situation/beliefs.

Answer 4

I think that many people instictively gravitate towards the truth. I am a Catholic, but I have found things of value in some of the teachings of Bahu'llah. I don't believe he was who he said he was, and I reject many of his claims, but some of his teachings have value.

Likewise I am a disciple of Morehei Ueshiba. He never claimed divinity beyond any other person, but taught that every person can strive to harmony with the universe. His philosophy of non-violence without submission complements my Christianity very well. Indeed, the name of his art translates to "The path to harmony with all living things" -- Ai-Ki-Do. If Christ were to practice a martial art, this would be it.

One of the reasons the Catholic church is so rich in tradition, is because it's flexible enough to accomodate the cultures where it takes root. I have been to a deeply moving Easter celebration in the remote highlands of the Philippines, where they celebrated it in the way they would in their culture. You might argue that it was not traditional, but it was more sincere and joyful than anything I have seen in the US.

Answer 5

I don't think you need to ask people on this site for validation. What is important is that it is sensible and valuable to you. I can sympathize with you, though. I was brought up in the Catholic faith and have studied and practiced many spiritual disciplines over the course of my lifetime. My Christian friends thought I was nuts when I told them that I thought that a form of Hinduism was very relavant and that I believed in it as well as the Christianity I was brought up with. More than a quarter century later, I still believe in it and regard all beliefs systems as simply different ways of expressing the same truth.

Answer 6

whatever works for you.
organized religions are frameworks; our lives and paths can lead us to many different places.

I myself would be cautious about using the framework of another culture without the consent of those participants, especially since that culture has already faced the negative ces of imperialism, colonialism and appropriation of its culture. In other words: as our culture has already infringed so much upon theirs, encroaching on their spirituality should not be taken lightly.

There may ways that allow you to pursue a similar philosophy while also being respectful; please don't assume that it's fair game because it looks cool. Native American traditions have a more complicated intellectual property tradition than our culture admits or values.

Answer 7

Religions are about faith, not belief. "Faith is the subsance of things hoped for" Heb. 1:11. Belief is something accepted as probable or possible based on previous, real world experience. You can have faith in anything, probable, possible, imaginary, or whatever.

ALL of Christianity was infused with evil very early on by the heretic Paul whose influence permeates most of the New Testament. That's why all Christians are so unChristlike. The best we can do now is discard every book in the NT except Mathew, Peter, James and The Revelation. Then you will be back on the Jesus Path. (The Revelation should be read as a book of its' time only. understand the real biblical meaning of 'prophesy' as 'teaching', not 'telling of the future', which is forbidden by other teachings in the Bible.)

I live adjacent to a Pueblo Indian reservation and have worked with them in many capacities over the years, in their schools, agricultural organizations, with native artists and in cultural and archaeological studies. I have been invited to many dances, ceremonies and social events. Your observations about their spiritual orientation are correct and are universally shared by all tribes.

I am convinced there is one path only and Christians aren't on it. This is not a matter of faith on my part but of evidence provided by Christians themselves in the manner in which they conduct themselves.

Answer 8

You could be right. Religion by definition is "mans way of worshiping god", but just because you believe in an aspect of a group doesn't mean you believe in multiple religions. Every religion has truth and lies mixed together.

Answer 9

Yes, many Native Indian American belief systems do syncretize well with the Cristian faith as do elements of the Pagan religion and other religions. I don't think there is anything wrong with seeing truth in other religions, and so I can understand why you want to keep studying other beliefs. I think it can be done while keeping your faith in Christ.

Answer 10

Mormons believe that Native Americans are lost Israelites. From that perspective it makes sense that you would find parallels.