In what ways has learning about world religions influenced the way you think about religion?

bush: In what ways has learning about world religions influenced the way you think about religion?
In what ways has learning about world religions influenced the way you think about religion? Why is it important to learn about other peoples’ beliefs and attitudes? How will you utilize this information in the future?

Answers and Views:

Answer by 3.14159265
Learning about other religions helped make me an atheist.

Answer by gutbucket
I have seen how similiar all theistic religions are, and how they were all derived from ancient pagan myths.

Answer by Born Again Pagan Atheist
It made me realize that all of them,

every

single

one of them,

is entirely based upon the thousands of years of mythology, superstition and folklore that preceded them.

Answer by Im baaack.
I find truths in many religions and find evidence of actual events by connecting the dots of many religions in a geopolitical context.

Answer by Greg Reich
Learning about the religioins of the world made me realize how arbitrary adherence to religion is. It is almost always an accident of birth. Hindus will raise children to be Hindus; Shintos will raise children to be Shintos; Christians will raise Christians; it’s all learned behavior and passed on from generation to generation. There are exceptions. People turn to religion after hitting rock bottom with addiction, or they have hard emotional or economic times, or they just like what they hear when they talk to members of a certain sect.

Knowing about world religions only reinforces my rejection of them. There are too many, and they are too divided, both from each other and from within, to buy into any of them.

Answer by hex
It shows that all religions evolved from the same seed.Mythology.

Answer by Annie C
I just think it’s important to learn about as much as possible in order to broaden your mind, studying other religions hasn’t really affected my beliefs though. I am a Catholic, but I am and always have been aware that there is a definite possibility that I could be wrong.

Answer by OurWorld
It is interesting that all religions emphasize the ‘Golden Rule’ but have a tendency to become dogmatic and historical, dividing them from the others.

The Golden Rule in 13 Faiths >>

Baha’i Faith
Lay not on any soul a load that you would not wish to be laid upon you, and desire not for anyone the things you would not desire for yourself.

Buddhism
Treat not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.

Christianity
In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.

Confucianism
One word which sums up the basis of all good conduct … loving kindness. Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself.

Hinduism
This is the sum of duty: do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you.

Islam
Not one of you truly believes until you wish for others what you wish for yourself.

Jainism
One should treat all creatures in the world as one would like to be treated.

Judaism
What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour. This is the whole Torah; all the rest is commentary.

Native Spirituality
We are as much alive as we keep the earth alive.

Sikhism
I am a stranger to no one; and no one is a stranger to me. Indeed, I am a friend to all.

Taoism
Regard your neighbour’s gain as your own gain, and your neighbour’s loss as your own loss.

Unitarianism
We affirm and promote respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

Zoroastrianism
Do not do unto others whatever is injurious to yourself.

Golden Rule Poster
Scarboro Missions

Answer by Davin J
By studying or learning about other religions,it helps you understand other people.
You realize that not every person is the same.
I love learning about religions. But as others said,many religions(if not all) are based on mythology and are passed down as such.

Answer by Figure it out!
I grew up in a Christian environment, but I have never been one to just accept whatever people tell me. I have to research and figure it out on my own. I looked into other world religions and determined, after I had graduated from college and was married, that Christianity is the ONLY viable true religion of God.

A good book that I read a couple of years ago on the subject of Christianity is “The Case for Christ” by Lee Strobel. If you are really looking for truth, it is good to read many sources and opinions to determine which religious direction is most viable.

It has been good to know “some” of the world religions (there are many minor ones as well as the major, well-known ones). It has shored up my faith in Jesus. It has also given me insight on where those other people are coming from in their beliefs, making it easier for me to teach them about Jesus IF they are receptive to other ideas.

Think about it. Research & study it. Figure it out.

Answer by steelcityroller
There are unbelievable stories in almost every religion that make them hard to believe by others that didnt grow up with those beliefs. For example the Muslims believe that Muhammad flew up to heaven on a magic horse. The article below tells many of these unbelievable religious stories.

Answer by meena s
It has made me to understand mine more and also ensured that I am on the right path of life.