Christians are taught against mixing with other religions.

[Kelly of the Phoenix]

Yet many do it.

Why?

Is Christianity an incomplete and wanting religion that it requires a mix from another religion?

God told me to

 

[Psalm23]

Yet many do it.

Why?

Is Christianity an incomplete and wanting religion that it requires a mix from another religion?

Are you referring to Christians mixing with people of other religions or Christians taking beliefs from other religions and mixing those beliefs with one's Christian faith?

 

[wandering peacefully]

In all my interactions with Christians, that never came up. But someone I know who was raised Christian noted that the denominational barriers have been diminishing since she was a young girl. I understand it's different with the Orthodox. With the growth of non-denominational churches over the past few decades, it surprised me that this was still even an issue.

It may not still be an issue. I have not been involved with religion of any kind for probably 25 years by now. If it has changed that would be a good thing. I lived all over this country as a young person and experienced many different Christian sects. It used to be pretty brutal. I will take your word things have changed as I have no personal experience of religious ideology these days.

 

[loverofhumanity]

I reject the OP claim with no link. Where is your proof that this exists outside of perhaps a tiny minority?

I have fantastic Christian friends, Catholics, and they phone and visit from time to time to have lunch together. But I have also met some door to door evangelists who refused to enter my home claiming that they are not permitted as they could get a spiritual disease.

But the local priest is my good friend and he has visited the Baha’i temples in both Sydney and India. So from my experience Christians are great people but some sects are told to shun other religions which is disappointing because we are all God’s children after all.

 

[Audie]

For my own thoughts I think it has to do in part with the feeling that the Christianity presented in many parts of the western world feels hollow. I think it's interesting how many Christians I have met over the years that seem to desperately clinging to their faith. Sometimes I have met with Evangelicals who seem to be ratcheting up their faith/ prayers to such a volume that they must believe God is deaf. The truth is a lot of people are not getting what they want from their faith and in many cases turn outside to get something new they just weren't finding at home.

Now truth be told Christianity has an incredibly deep spirituality and set of mystical traditions that could easily fill that void for some people. Meister Eckhart is an example I like to use to explain this point but there are plenty of other people who could easily fit the bill. The problem is that in so many places spirituality in the church is just plain old dead. Church is often boring and just a chore for people while other churches are strictly social gathering places. Christian music tries somewhat desperately to get a hold of people's spirits and often fails.

The other thing is that Christianity in it's most conservative forms is kind of a killer. It drags people down to the point of near death with it's fear and rules. Calvinism is almost a joke at this point for how utterly wretched it makes people feel. This is the uplifting message of Christ? The thing people are told all their lives to believe in? It seems like it's a bad deal no matter how you take it.

I think that is why other religious traditions can be so attractive. When you take Christianity and dilute it a little or a lot with something else then that surface level can be reinvigorated. Add this to the fact that even if people don't like Christianity it's often familiar to people and can be an easy comfort. Sure you dabble in Buddhism or something else but ultimately you are still a Christian. I would argue I have no right to tell anyone who is and is not a Christian. This is just what I have personally felt talking to people and examining the issue.

To be fair part of the reason I labeled myself as searching rather than Hindu or Daoist is because both of those traditions have given me a lot and I don't think either of them is 100% right on the money. I think God is too grand to truly be settled into only one tradition etc. Maybe some of them have similar views and I'll say that I can't read people's hearts. I just have a feeling it's at least partially the lack of spirit.

What does "deep spirituality" mean?

 

[Audie]

Really? I've been taught that even other sects of the same Christian religion should not be mixed with. As a Baptist we were not supposed to mingle with Catholics, as a Presbyterian we were not supposed to mingle with Baptists, As Christians period we never mingle with those sinful Jews. The list is pretty long I would guess. Probably a little research would turn up other examples. Of course this is in the US, it maybe different in other countries.

Easy to see how that breeds bigotry and racism,
giving it a holy glow

 

[Muffled]

Yet many do it.

Why?

Is Christianity an incomplete and wanting religion that it requires a mix from another religion?

I believe I wasn't taught that.

I believe Christianity has salvation from sin and the promise of eternal life. I believe that is all one needs.

However if one wishes to understand the myriad of things to understand in this life then there are many sources, some of them valid and some not.

 

[Muffled]

I don't know that that's the case, but if it is, it is likely to reduce the risk of apostasy to another religion through a spouse of another tradition, or of the kids not being raised Christian or only Christian.

I believe kids tend to go their own way no matter what they are taught.

 

[Muffled]

As #It Aint Necessarily So said, plus by mixing with other religions/non-religious you may hear other versions of 'the truth' that may make more sense to you.

I believe it made no sense to me when the Qu'ran said Adam was created from a blood clot and the Bible said from the earth until I heard about finding DNA in the marrow of bones from ancient times. Knowing that cloning can be done from DNA then it all made sense because a blood clot was in a bone found in the earth and that is what Adam was cloned from.

I believe ignoring extra Biblical information leads to bad interpretation.

 

[DharmaCatLamp]

What does "deep spirituality" mean?

The thing that stands out to me is how surface level a lot of spiritual practice feels. When you travel to different places you'll see people praying this way and that but if you ask them why they do that it's mostly just outward expressions. The sort of people who wander around all the time talking about how important Jesus or God is to them whilst not actually exhibiting the teachings in their lives.

When you practice religious traditions with a certain kind of intention and sincerity it can change the way you interact with people around you. You embody those teachings in a way that you wouldn't otherwise. This is not to say that you wouldn't be kind or anything without religion but your experience will deepen.

You will be immersed in God/ Ultimate reality / emptiness and these things kind of blend into your very being. Though those 3 things may seem to contradict each other it is all about perception.

 

[sun rise]

I have fantastic Christian friends, Catholics, and they phone and visit from time to time to have lunch together. But I have also met some door to door evangelists who refused to enter my home claiming that they are not permitted as they could get a spiritual disease.

But the local priest is my good friend and he has visited the Baha’i temples in both Sydney and India. So from my experience Christians are great people but some sects are told to shun other religions which is disappointing because we are all God’s children after all.

One of the characteristics of a cult is isolating members from others in society. Another is opposing critical thinking.

 

[sun rise]

When you travel to different places you'll see people praying this way and that but if you ask them why they do that it's mostly just outward expressions.

Yes. There are many who just follow various rituals and ceremonies mechanically

 

[Audie]

The thing that stands out to me is how surface level a lot of spiritual practice feels. When you travel to different places you'll see people praying this way and that but if you ask them why they do that it's mostly just outward expressions. The sort of people who wander around all the time talking about how important Jesus or God is to them whilst not actually exhibiting the teachings in their lives.

When you practice religious traditions with a certain kind of intention and sincerity it can change the way you interact with people around you. You embody those teachings in a way that you wouldn't otherwise. This is not to say that you wouldn't be kind or anything without religion but your experience will deepen.

You will be immersed in God/ Ultimate reality / emptiness and these things kind of blend into your very being. Though those 3 things may seem to conradict each other it is all about perception.

Of course, ive noticed the superficiality
of common religious practice.
Likewise that some embody folk wisdom,
positive enough if practiced.

Ultimate reality though...you sure about
that? Seems very unlikely.

 

[DharmaCatLamp]

Of course, ive noticed the superficiality
of common religious practice.
Likewise that some embody folk wisdom,
positive enough if practiced.

Ultimate reality though...you sure about
that? Seems very unlikely.

I shrug

 

[Audie]

I shrug

Thats pretty much what i do re woo woo
but i thought Id give you a chance to
show otherwise ifn you care to.

 

[DharmaCatLamp]

Thats pretty much what i do re woo woo
but i thought Id give you a chance to
show otherwise ifn you care to.

Honestly it's not the kind of thing you show. It frustrates people but in most cases you kinda gotta experience it yourself otherwise it's just kinda eh.

 

[Audie]

Honestly it's not the kind of thing you show. It frustrates people but in most cases you kinda gotta experience it yourself otherwise it's just kinda eh.

Well, let me know if ultimate reality ultimately
is able to generate any useful info.