Fellowship with People of Another Religion

[Evee]

Can you find fellowship with people of another Abrahamic religion? Do you find it easy/fulfilling/useful to praise or worship G-d, with people of a different Abrahamic religion from your own? Do you even think it's appropriate?

I ask specifically because I'm a Jew, currently living with a family of Christian missionaries (long story), so I mostly hang out with Christians, who are cool with my being Jewish and are happy to include me in their prayers. And the thing is, all except for the "in Jesus's name I pray" at the end, their prayers don't seem all that inconsistent with mine.
But I wonder if this is just because I have so little exposure to people who genuinely practice my own faith.
Most of the time, it doesn't really bother me, but after a while, I get tired of hanging out with people who have beliefs that are ALMOST mine, but a little bit off. It starts to get a little discordant after a while. Does anyone else find this?

Thanks for the answers!

EV

 

[Levite]

As a rabbi, I do a fair amount of interfaith dialogue, and in fact, several of my close friends are Christian ministers and priests/nuns, and I have a fairly cordial relationship with a young gentleman studying to be an imam. I have, at various times, had very pleasant relationships both professional and personal with Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain lay leaders and monastics.

I think interfaith friendships can be really beneficial. By learning from each other, we understand our own choices better. And be seeing others practicing their way, hopefully we learn that there are, indeed, many truths, and many paths to Truth.

That said, I can also imagine that if I were surrounded only by members of another faith, I would probably get lonely for other Jews after a while. Judaism, after all, is in no small part about community. And I know from experience that being the lone Jew someplace out of the way is very trying.

 

[Zardoz]

Can you find fellowship with people of another Abrahamic religion? Do you find it easy/fulfilling/useful to praise or worship G-d, with people of a different Abrahamic religion from your own? Do you even think it's appropriate?...

I have always promoted fellowship and unity and peace between all Abrahamic faiths, we are all related.

However, joint worship... well that's a bit more difficult sometimes. I'd rather not go into details here as this is a DIR and not a debate forum so I'd not want to be too controversial.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Can you find fellowship with people of another Abrahamic religion?

Of course, but is fellowship alone a worthy goal? And why must fellowship with people of another religion be achieved at the expense of fellowship with people of your own?

 

[LAGoff]

I used to feel threatened by other religious systems until I became peaceful enough- through finally getting the message of peace in my own religion- to see that they are also just trying to walk the path of peace(I do believe that some paths to "peace" are dangerous-e.g. Communism- even though they have the best intentions).

This(not feeling threatened anymore) occured recently, which is why I finally had enough peace to settle into this forum.

 

[Rainbow Mage]

Can you find fellowship with people of another Abrahamic religion? Do you find it easy/fulfilling/useful to praise or worship G-d, with people of a different Abrahamic religion from your own?

Sure, but then again, I'm even more universal-minded then that. I can praise and worship God with anybody, not just Abrahamic religions.

 

[Abu Rashid]

Can you find fellowship with people of another Abrahamic religion? Do you find it easy/fulfilling/useful to praise or worship G-d, with people of a different Abrahamic religion from your own? Do you even think it's appropriate?
I ask specifically because I'm a Jew, currently living with a family of Christian missionaries (long story), so I mostly hang out with Christians, who are cool with my being Jewish and are happy to include me in their prayers. And the thing is, all except for the "in Jesus's name I pray" at the end, their prayers don't seem all that inconsistent with mine.

Personally I don't think it's appropriate, and could never pray for instance with a Christian, knowing they would be praying to a human being, believing him to be God.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

No, but I can imagine preparing an iftar meal for you and sharing it with you as we seek out what we have in common.

 

[Abu Rashid]

Speaking about common beliefs and goals is fine I think. And this is indeed what the Qur'an commands the Muslims.

Say: "O People of the Book! come to common terms as between us and you: That we worship none but Allah. that we associate no partners with him; that we erect not, from among ourselves, Lords and patrons other than Allah." If then they turn back, say ye: "Bear witness that we (at least) are Muslims (bowing to Allah.s Will). (Qur'an 3:64)

 

[Evee]

Thanks for the answers, guys! Abu Rashid, may I ask who the "People of the Book" are?
I'm staying with a (Christian) friend in a city that's new to me and she and a few of her Christian friends do a bible study every morning. I gotta say, it's interesting to hear Moses's or Isaiah's or Jeremiah's words quoted, especially by Paul whose thoughts about Judaism are so different from mine. Anyone tried to study shared scripture with someone of a different faith?

 

[FluentYank3825]

after a while, I get tired of hanging out with people who have beliefs that are ALMOST mine, but a little bit off. It starts to get a little discordant after a while. Does anyone else find this?

I see having only slightly different religious beliefs from another is like having two sets of train tracks only one degree apart from each other. Eventually the separation of those two tracks will number in the hundreds of miles.

While I support attempts at cooperation between different Abrahamic faith traditions, I also believe that each of those faith traditions, while having only slight differences, will never be fully capable of full-fledged unity or integration.

 

[Abu Rashid]

Abu Rashid, may I ask who the "People of the Book" are?

Sure. Followers of Abrahamic religions.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

While I support attempts at cooperation between different Abrahamic faith traditions, I also believe that each of those faith traditions, while having only slight differences, will never be fully capable of full-fledged unity or integration.

Nor should they be desirous of such an outcome: full-fledged unity and integration is not fellowship, its dissolution.

 

[FluentYank3825]

Well said, Jayhawker

 

[.lava]

Can you find fellowship with people of another Abrahamic religion? Do you find it easy/fulfilling/useful to praise or worship G-d, with people of a different Abrahamic religion from your own? Do you even think it's appropriate?

I ask specifically because I'm a Jew, currently living with a family of Christian missionaries (long story), so I mostly hang out with Christians, who are cool with my being Jewish and are happy to include me in their prayers. And the thing is, all except for the "in Jesus's name I pray" at the end, their prayers don't seem all that inconsistent with mine.
But I wonder if this is just because I have so little exposure to people who genuinely practice my own faith.
Most of the time, it doesn't really bother me, but after a while, I get tired of hanging out with people who have beliefs that are ALMOST mine, but a little bit off. It starts to get a little discordant after a while. Does anyone else find this?

Thanks for the answers!

EV

i personally look for common ground to unite with others. for example, i know people who love animals and i do love animals. they are not religious at all, some of them believe in God and some are atheists. what unite me and them is our love for animals. same thing works with any believer of a Creator. if you love the one who created you, your love for G-d would be what unites us because i love it too. i see no problem with it. on the contrary, i think people should search for what they have in common with others and build relationships on that ground

.

 

[Cosmos]

Baha'is take it to heart and do everything by any means to make bonds and lasting friendships with everyone, not only of other Abrahamaic faiths, but all faiths, and people of all persuasions! We derive our understanding of our faith through our beloved Master Abdu'l-Baha, Exemplar of the Faith and Interpreter of the Holy Scriptures, has time and time again enjoined friendship with members of the churches and mosques. Abdu'l-Baha Himself delivered numerous speeches in Christian churches of various denominations and His whole life participated in prayers with Muslims in the mosques, even practicing Ramadan clear into His elderly years. The only way, we believe, to ensure world peace and tranquility for the citizens of humankind is to rid ourselves of estrangement that engenders disunity through fear of the unknown.
It is important to note Baha'is consider any place dedicated in mentioning the Name of God is a House of Worship (Mashriqu'l-Adhkar), including our own sacred temples around the world. Believing that all the world's religions are essentially one religion in varying capacities and exigencies there is no need to divide ourselves based on sect, creed, or religion, as all sectarianism is due to misunderstanding. The remedy the world's peoples sorely needs is commonplace acceptance of universal spiritual principles and universal education in the diverse languages, cultures, and religious traditions, so that we can all come to a realization that we're not at all so different when it comes down to core values.
Though there may be beliefs amongst individuals that we may not all agree upon or even approve, but such a thing should not become a reason for discord or worse yet violence. While I understand why Jews and Muslims can pray in one another's places of worship but not so in a Christian church, and I agree that attributing partners or associates with God is a grievous mistake, from a Baha'i point of view we believe in the Sonship (i.e. Divinity) of Jesus Christ--and Muhammad--so just as faithful Muslims can agree with the Virgin Birth and the Immaculate Conception (not to be confused as the same thing) there certainly must be essential points on both sides of the aisle (all sides really) being missed by both parties. Greater than rituals or the reading of scripture for hours on end is the practice of the Law of God.

 

[arthra]

Baha'is are encouraged to consort with everyone ...


"Wherefore, O my loving friends! Consort with all the peoples, kindreds and religions of the world with the utmost truthfulness, uprightness, faithfulness, kindliness, good-will and friendliness; that all the world of being may be filled with the holy ecstasy of the grace of Baha, that ignorance, enmity, hate and rancor may vanish from the world and the darkness of estrangement amidst the peoples and kindreds of the world may give way to the Light of Unity."

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith p. 445

 

[Kathryn]

I respect truth wherever I find it, and rejoice in commonalities, rather than trying to split hairs about differences.

I think that most religious minded people are sincerely seeking enlightenment and peace - and right off the bat, I respect those goals and we share them in common. So there's already common ground.

Personally, I prefer to focus on what joins us rather than what separates us. I think when we do that, we realize how similar we are, rather than how different.

That being said, I do have strong religious and moral convictions myself, which I apply to my own life. However, I don't think that I have all the answers, and I don't think that my scope of life experience gives me the right to beat people over the head with my religious beliefs.

Religion is far too personal, far too sacred for me to push my ideas onto someone else - unless I see the rights of the innocent being trampled. Then and only then do I feel the need to step in.

 

[Kathryn]

i personally look for common ground to unite with others. for example, i know people who love animals and i do love animals. they are not religious at all, some of them believe in God and some are atheists. what unite me and them is our love for animals. same thing works with any believer of a Creator. if you love the one who created you, your love for G-d would be what unites us because i love it too. i see no problem with it. on the contrary, i think people should search for what they have in common with others and build relationships on that ground

.

.lava as usual, you are refreshing and pleasant. May the Creator bless you and yours.

 

[NTKen]

Evee, please remember that the prayers sound much like yours in that Christianity is based on Judaism. The largest part of our Bible is your Tanakh. Our Messiah was a practicing Jew. He read from the Scripture and taught at the temple in Jerusalem. Many Christians have lost sight of the Jewishness of Christianity. One of my newest friends was raised Reform Jew and we have had many discussions and fellowship together learning about each other's views and training.