How much exposure have you had to other beliefs besides your own?

Question

Was there anything in those exposures that made you learn something about yourself that perhaps you hadn't realized before?

take a more spiritual approach to the question if you wish...

Answer 1

Quite a bit - spent time with Buddhists, studied Hinduism, and so on. My most influential experience was in high school when I helpd a Muslim friend run an event for his church, the Islam center here in town. I was simply amazed how similar it was to a Christian church gathering. What I had realized is that the people following other paths seem to have the same claims on truth and being good persons as we do. And so I had to re-evaluate what it means to believe in this God or that, what we really know about God and where our experience and knowledge about spirit really originate from. Above all, it taught me the Hindu principle - Thou Art That. It is teh same, the mystery of the cosmic dance IS what IS.

Answer 2

Wow, I journeyed through a lot of religions. They all had something to take with me, which is why I cannot "prune" my beliefs I do hold enough to fit in one religion now. I guess I outgrew them. I can't join anything because they have things I have to believe which I do not and things I do believe that they don't.
(OK, I do not expect regular religions to allow for "Crunchy Chocolate Heaven" at all...but I love the concept.)
So some days I feel conservative, and then I am an Atheist, since I lack a religious home, as it were. But other days I am feeling better and I allow myself the luxury of my own beliefs. I cannot change them, they are part of me and I live at peace with them all then. They form a large, beautiful, complex quilt that I can also wrap myself up in when the world is too stark and cold to be an Atheist - which is most days, actually.

Answer 3

I was raised Baptist Protestant

I explored Catholicism but that didn't feel right

I found Wicca - that was closer and I discovered quite a bit about myself there

I researched several branches of paganism while in Wicca and went on a quest to learn more about my ethnic roots religiously. Celtic, Native American, various Christian branches. I've research Mormonism (a sister-in-law and family are Mormon), curiosity led to research about Khemetic paganism, Satanism (LaVey), Setian, Slavic, Greek, and Roman.

I do believe that I've learned alot along the way.

Then found Asatru Heathenism and had that "coming home" feeling and haven't looked back and discovered what I was looking for in myself was reinforced in Heathenism.

Answer 4

Yes, certainly. I was raised Christian, but my family didn't go to church. They sent me to churches of various denominations with friends, and also to Temple with my neighbor. My cousin taught me about Dianic Wicca, and later on I became a pagan. After studying about Asatru, Druidism, and Solitary Witchcraft, I became a solitary Neo-Wiccan. I've been in relationships and friendships with Agnostics, Buddhists, Hindus, Jewish folk, Christians, Mormons and Atheists.

Only recently did I come back to Christianity through God's divine will.

Answer 5

Mostly Christianity, but some Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Paganism and Scientology. I learned from them that they just don't fit in my world.

Answer 6

I have had lots of exposure. I learned that all religions are a pointless waste of time since there is no god.

Answer 7

i once decided to listen to all sides of religion and i attended several domanations but i decided, i was happy with believing jesus was the way the truth and the life.others can believe as they wish but i see no other way

Answer 8

I sometimes drink the waters of various wells.

Answer 9

Yes and I learned that I'm exactly where I'm meant to be.

Answer 10

Once I left religion, life was way better.