Question to believers of different faiths

[Spirit of Light]

A very easy question.

How do you feel/react if someone from a different faith wishes to read from their Scripture to you? Do you listen with interest or do you ask them to leave you alone?

Personally I have been both stopped on the street, or asked to come to their church or temple to listen to their preaching, and if I can I always say yes to listen to them. And even have a calm discussion on the topic they speak about.

 

[The Hammer]

I prefer not to be preached at unless I am asking for it.

 

[InChrist]

A very easy question.

How do you feel/react if someone from a different faith wishes to read from their Scripture to you? Do you listen with interest or do you ask them to leave you alone?

Personally I have been both stopped on the street, or asked to come to their church or temple to listen to their preaching, and if I can I always say yes to listen to them. And even have a calm discussion on the topic they speak about.

I think it’s polite and wise to listen, ask questions, discuss... then later ask God for wisdom and guidance concerning truth or falsehood and wait as He provides discernment and direction.

 

[Spirit of Light]

I think it’s polite and wise to listen, ask questions, discuss... then later ask God for wisdom and guidance concerning truth or falsehood and wait as He provides discernment and direction.

If you come to Norway one day I join you in church if you wanted to go there while you were here

 

[Spirit of Light]

I prefer not to be preached at unless I am asking for it.

I never been to a druid sermon before

 

[JustGeorge]

A very easy question.

How do you feel/react if someone from a different faith wishes to read from their Scripture to you? Do you listen with interest or do you ask them to leave you alone?

Personally I have been both stopped on the street, or asked to come to their church or temple to listen to their preaching, and if I can I always say yes to listen to them. And even have a calm discussion on the topic they speak about.

It depends on the motive.

If their desire is to convert me, or to prove 'wrong' and 'right', I don't like that much. However, if they are simply wanting to share something they love, I encourage it. I'm always happy to hear something someone found joy in.

We used to have a group that met weekly to share pieces of scriptures. It was fun.

 

[The Hammer]

I never been to a druid sermon before

Exactly.

Edit: It's more of an experiential thing

 

[Spirit of Light]

Exactly.

Would I be allowed to watch? Or are there certain rules for who can be there?

 

[Lain]

How do you feel/react if someone from a different faith wishes to read from their Scripture to you? Do you listen with interest or do you ask them to leave you alone?

It would depend on the circumstances and the religion. Relevant factors to me would be if it's a monotheistic religion or not, for I hold that "all the gods of the Gentiles are demons," and I would not want their words read to me by a follower. If the person was aggressively trying to convert me or if I didn't have time would also be a factor. In a calm and friendly circumstance I would be willing to hear it and would probably enjoy it, especially if it was in the context of giving commentary or a lecture so I could learn.

 

[The Hammer]

Would I be allowed to watch? Or are there certain rules for who can be there?

Depends on the group typically.

I prefer most of my rituals to be solitary. But would be willing to have a few attendees/participants.

 

[Yazata]

A very easy question.

How do you feel/react if someone from a different faith wishes to read from their Scripture to you? Do you listen with interest or do you ask them to leave you alone?

It depends on the context.

If somebody is preaching to me, I generally respond in a "I'm not interested" manner. I'm not interested in changing to a different path at this point in my life. And generally those who evangelize me are representatives of traditions that I don't like all that much.

But if we are discussing some issue from the philosophy of religion or some point of comparative religious doctrine or something, learning what their scripture says and having it explained to me by an insider in that tradition might be a valuable contribution and I'll listen with interest.

 

[Truthseeker]

How do you feel/react if someone from a different faith wishes to read from their Scripture to you? Do you listen with interest or do you ask them to leave you alone?

I don't believe that has ever happened to me. Not in the oral sense. Personally if stopped on the street to be preached at I would ignore them. I prefer to read the scriptures than have them thrust onto me.

If this happens in a written form from a forum like this one I would consider the words and perhaps reply, perhaps not.

 

[SA Huguenot]

A very easy question.

How do you feel/react if someone from a different faith wishes to read from their Scripture to you? Do you listen with interest or do you ask them to leave you alone?

Personally I have been both stopped on the street, or asked to come to their church or temple to listen to their preaching, and if I can I always say yes to listen to them. And even have a calm discussion on the topic they speak about.

From my experience it just sharpens your thinking.

I dont believe I should force my religion down other peoples throats, but I love talking about religion.
Therefore I dont allow others to force their religion down my throat also. But if they start to talk about it, there is no fault in entering in the discussion with sincerety and truth.
However, I will not initiate the discussion.

I will listen to what they say, and If I agree with the points they speak about, I will accept the good faith in which it was relayed to me, no matter what religion they are from.
If they tell me something which I dont believe is true, I will also steer the discussion in that direction and relay my belief.

This way the person I am speaking to might learn something to value which they never knew, or was a question they never had answers too.
And vice versa.

 

[osgart]

I believe in freedom of speech so long as it is not harassment or abuse.

 

[rosends]

A very easy question.

How do you feel/react if someone from a different faith wishes to read from their Scripture to you? Do you listen with interest or do you ask them to leave you alone?

Personally I have been both stopped on the street, or asked to come to their church or temple to listen to their preaching, and if I can I always say yes to listen to them. And even have a calm discussion on the topic they speak about.

If I'm walking on street or sitting on a park bench or in a lobby of a building or at work or such I would prefer to be left alone.

If I voluntarily walk into a house if worship during services then I'll listen or walk out depending on many variables.

If I am engaging in a discussion (virtual or IRL) then I listen and if anything is relevant and ripe for discussion, I discuss.

 

[sayak83]

A very easy question.

How do you feel/react if someone from a different faith wishes to read from their Scripture to you? Do you listen with interest or do you ask them to leave you alone?

Personally I have been both stopped on the street, or asked to come to their church or temple to listen to their preaching, and if I can I always say yes to listen to them. And even have a calm discussion on the topic they speak about.

Today it will be no as I simply do not have time between work and family.
In the past, as a student, I had gone and explored many groups on invitations. In future I might if its linked to some focussed project (like interfaith understanding or religion's place in current society or something like that).
I feel that my time for open ended exploration is past. Currently I am in the phase of using what I have understood or learnt into constructive action.
But who knows what future may bring. Maybe I will write a book on this topic and explore more in order understand the relations between faiths and practices.

 

[rational experiences]

In my youth I was prepared to visit what others claimed was better practices than what I believed.

I always admired their faith when love care and ceremony is interesting and did no harm. As life is diverse.

In later life we see a lot of info on tv and it taught advice also.

 

[The Crimson Universe]

How do you feel/react if someone from a different faith wishes to read from their Scripture to you? Do you listen with interest or do you ask them to leave you alone?

If they're not asking any donation money or selling any of their books and simply have the intention of preaching, then i have no problem in listening to what they have to say.

There's one sect in Hinduism (the Hare Krishnas). I find them annoying since they are always asking for donation money and won't leave you alone until you give them something. Once they get to know your home address, they will pop up at your doorstep, asking for more money. Also they disrespect other Hindu sects, which i really don't like.

Other than this, I respect all major religions and believe them to be different paths that takes us towards God or divinity. I have been planning to read scriptures of major religions, but lately my health is not so good. I guess it has to wait for now.

 

[Spirit of Light]

If they're not asking any donation money or selling any of their books and simply have the intention of preaching, then i have no problem in listening to what they have to say.

There's one sect in Hinduism (the Hare Krishnas). I find them annoying since they are always asking for donation money and won't leave you alone until you give them something. Once they get to know your home address, they will pop up at your doorstep, asking for more money. Also they disrespect other Hindu sects, which i really don't like.

Other than this, I respect all major religions and believe them to be different paths that takes us towards God or divinity. I have been planning to read scriptures of major religions, but lately my health is not so good. I guess it has to wait for now.

Maybe the scriptures could heal you when you read? I wish you to become healthy again soon.

 

[SA Huguenot]

Maybe the scriptures could heal you when you read? I wish you to become healthy again soon.

What scriptures did you read?