Do you study other religions?

I have been extensively studying religions for 12 years now, scammerwear! Initially i started this study to find which religion seem close to reality and provide answers in more logical and appealing way. Now, The purpose of my study is to remain open to truth no matter from where it comes. It intrigues me to think, why, where and how a particular religion started and what made people believe, in that particular religion; How it developed/evolved over time and from what phases it has been through. It also intrigues me to study cultural effects on religion and disparity of the same religion in different cultures. Interestingly many religions have many common things, specially, pertaining to morality, social behavior and human values, which makes me conclude that probably we belong to same reality or that we may all are seeing the same thing from different angles, thus having different perceptions of same reality. It is, however, pertinent to point out that many people who claim that they study religions (specially on Mylot) don't actually take it from source and still claim to be doing so. This is a very serious issue, in my opinion. Majority of the people, i found claiming studying religions, do it with up side down approach i.e. they see/study religion from the adherents of the religion. This is an intellectual crime as a person can never truly represent a religion and anyone trying to understand a religion through people will end up in ignorance. e.g a person was claiming something to be in bible and claiming that he has himself read, while it is NOT actually there. Similarly some people were claiming something was in Quran and saying they have read it, which is actually NOT there. Another person was claiming something about a pagan denomination which was NOT true. Some do a little better job and study a religion from a book by a credible author written about that religion, which though is better than judging from people but still will not provide true picture as subjective experience of writer will hinder approaching truth. So one needs to go to actual sources and that too with the knowledge how to use that source. In actual life i have somewhat better experience with people, they are more serious and reasonable than on internet (Mylot). I do agree that by studying religions, we may have more tolerant world than we have now. Best of luck for your quest:-)

Like you, I too study all kinds of religions. As many as I can actually, I consider it much more than a hobby as I feel it gives me insight to the views of many other people. Unfortunately, however, most people that I come into contact with study other religions not for the purpose of learning, but for attacking. They study so they can find what they percieve to be flaws in others, holes in various areas and attack others for their beliefs. I find great fault in that as it only leads to more hatred and anger. I hope more and more people will become less eager to learn for hate and more eager to understand others.

I do study other religions. I've always enjoyed learning about what people believe, and studying the similarities and differences between religions. It's so interesting to me how many different religions have a lot of the same moral ideas. =) I love learning about other religions also because it helps me get to know people better. I have a lot of friends and loved ones who believe in different things than I do, and I see understanding their beliefs as part of understanding them. Once in a long while I'll meet someone who is part of a religion I don't really know anything about, and at the first opportunity I'll do some research on that religion. I know people that say "Why look into it if you aren't going to convert?" but that's not what it's about for me at all. It's about knowledge, and understanding others, and being open to truth from all sources.

but i think you must study your religion first, that will give you a more clear idea. and when ever you will read other religious books, do not show any sort of partiality, and leave up to creator that what is good for you, you will get it, best of luck

I love to learn about different religions, cultures and society. I agree people would gain more understanding of each other if they studied more of different cultures, like the old Indian said dont judge me until you have walked a mile in my moccasins.

I agree with you. I try to study other religions when ever it is possible. But it's not to understand my own religion better but just to get an understanding of other people, how they behave and their motivations. I think more and more people should study other religions and they will find that most religions are about 80% similar.

First of all, many many thanks to you for bringing this issue to our notice. I quite agree with you, studying other religions help you to understand your own religion better and thereby reducing religious conflicts. And what's the harm in studying other religion? Apart from my own religion, I've tried to study few other religions, not thoroughly, but in a nut-shell. And I have always been overwhelmed by the fact that each religion has one thing in common - it is to serve to the people.

Yes, in my organization there are Hindu and Muslim members so I study those religion to know its good things so that I can advise them accordingly.

I love to learn about other religions and I encourage my kids to do so as well actually....My personal spiritual path consists of old world Witchcraft, Vodou, Buddhism and Native American Spirituality but yrs ago I was also a devoted Christian so I'm up on all of those ones and I've studied Satanism as well...but I am working on learning about others....for example I'm interesting in learnign more about Islam, Judism, Jainism and Roman Catholism to mention a few :-D I think its important for us to be educated PROPERLY on other ways....and to share that with our kids...I agree with you that if more ppl took the time (with open minds) a lot of societies issues wouldnt exist or at least wouldnt be so intense ya know...

I do study other religions also,but i do study religions based on what i have heard only to my friends with other religions because i have many friends came from many religions.Sometimes we argued about our religion,i am catholic here.And i know some religions rules or what they call about it.

ya even i too study various other religions. i make it a habit to know abt the principles of all religions. it helps us in growing socially. ya u r right! all regions and beliefs have taken parts from all others. every religion teaches peace and sacredness. we need to consecrate our habits and follow them. its fanaticism which separates from proper religious tolerance...those fanatics cannot understand others.secularism should be made mandatory all over the world

yes.. i often study other religion too.. i think we as human.. shouldn't just believe our religion blindly.. we have to explore others too.. to see the benefit of a religion.. i think every religion has the similar teaching.. that's why i always think there's no point for us war over religion.. do you agree? i also think that if you study other religion.. then you will know what's wrong with your religion.. and definitely you'll be a better man.. i know it's hard to accept that if you found out that your religion is not teaching something good.. but we just have to accept it.. because we're human =)

different religions have different benefit,and different religions have different belief.if our the religions have the same belief to gain a better insight,the world will peace more,and never have more religious conflicts and understanding.

It is so easy to miss the ways of the other religions because when you are busy following your own astutely. Sure, religions have a lot in common. What is the significance of religions being similar? Civilisations located far away without any trade or intellectual interaction having identical religious beliefs. The aborigines of Australia and the Indus valley civilisation worship "the mother god". There is so much in common not only in religious text but also in the languages. Latin and Sanskrit perhaps the world's oldest languages have a lot in similar. And languages emanating from them have a lot of similarities. Can it be that we are all talking a transformed version of a single language even older than latin itself. In such a scenario, there is every possibility of religion taking a similar pattern. I for one believe all religions have emanated from a common source in the past. We all talk a version of the same ancient language, follow a version of the ancient religion, hear to similar stories of the ancients, yet there are so many conflicts between people of different religions just because the other person follows a different religion. These different versions have evolved and undergone adaptation over years. Perhaps one day they may evolve, the same way as humanity emerged as a distinct species, into different "intellectual species". Even on that day, when people like you and me sit and investigate different religions, we will find them to be similar just as we find that there is 95-99% similarity in the DNA of humans and apes. If people feel that they are experiencing the same essence in different lifestyles, there will be no room for conflicts. :)

It is my primary practice to get to know People, personally, as Human Beings... as much as possible... it's a Natural Instinct, and as such, the Intellectual need to study a particular Human Being's religion, for that particular Human, may arise, or it may not...But that's just me.

i try to understand other religions by meeting people and making friendship

Nope i dont study other religions, i study my own so that i will not be confused and hopped in for another one coz i think of my religion is not right..im not like that ..i have to read and study deeply my owm first i guess..

I love to study differenet religions. It can be fascinating some are so alike or so different.

I find it cool to study other religion for us to have a view of their practices which is far beyond our own. It as a good experience to meet other people too.