What do you admire about a DIFFERENT religion?

[Jupimartian]

I took a Buddhism class and was amazed by the philosophy. It was so different from the "trust that God will magically sort things out" belief that I was raised with. I still enjoy reading about Buddhist philosophy and applying it to my life.

 

[dyanaprajna2011]

First, I think this thread is a great idea. Second, I think there's too many things about too many religions that I like to list them all here, but I'll give it a shot:

Christianity:
-I love the simplicity and mysticism of Quakerism
-I've always loved the mystical elements and beauty of the Eastern Orthodox liturgy
-the overall dedication of most Christians to their faith
-the family oriented Mormon faith

Islam
-The adhan
-their dedication, like Christians, is strong

Hinduism
-there's so much here that's similar to Buddhism, it's impossible to list them all, or pick just a few things

Taoism
-just like with Hinduism, the similarities with Buddhism, and particularly Zen, are intriguing

Paganism
-their devotion to nature
-their general openness

These are just a few things, but are by no means all things, that I like about other religions.

 

[Straw Dog]

Jainism. There's something beautiful about considering the smallest life forms worthy of preservation.

 

[Straw Dog]

Neo-paganism. It`s highly adaptive and open to natural diversity.

Quakerism. It's skeptical about absolute dogmas and allows open interpretation of the "inner light" within every individual.

 

[savagewind]

Amish Modesty
Baptist Love of Bible
Buddhism Ancestor respect
Catholic Discipline in education
Hindu Self discipline
Islam Importance of prayer
Jewish Family ties
Mormon Wonderful mystery

 

[-Peacemaker-]

I like the focus on Kung Fu by buddhist monks

 

[savagewind]

Jehovah's Witnesses' subjection to the superior authorities.

 

[dyanaprajna2011]

I like the focus on Kung Fu by buddhist monks

I want to address a bit of a small misconception. Most Buddhist monks don't practice martial arts, this is mostly done in the Zen school. And even then, it's not done by most Zen monks. In this instance, Kung Fu is practiced mostly just by the Zen monks of Shaolin monastery in Hunan province in China. There's legends stating that it was Bodhidharma, the first Zen patriarch of China, who discovered and first taught Kung Fu, but this is mostly legend: matter of fact, the roots for Kung Fu go back a few centuries earlier. Just putting my two cents in.

 

[chinu]

What do you admire or like the best about a religion/path that you DONT belong to?

I have a couple that I can think of right now.

Catholicism: I love cathedrals, the ritual of mass, and Gregorian chant. It's haunting and incredible. Also, I'm Irish so Catholicism brings me back "home" in a sense.

Paganism- the ability to think freely and evolve your own thoughts into something that doenst need to fit in with the rest of the group. Also, the sacredness of the natural world gives me the strongest sense of peace.

All Religions- i love people

 

[Thunderfoot]

I admire Jewish determination, patience, and general willingness to hear, listen to, and discuss thoughtfully with others - without a whisper of a hint of proselytizing.

 

[Katzpur]

I love visiting beautiful Catholic cathedrals. They are truly awe-inspiring monuments to God.

I admire the commitment most Muslims I have known have for their faith. Islam truly seems like a religion that guides a person's entire life.

I love pagans! They're just plain nice.

 

[Satyamavejayanti]

I admire nothing, its not like i hate other religions but whatever is worth admiring is already available in mine.

plus i have not found anything admirable about most religions so far...

 

[satyaroop]

the punishment for rapists in islamic countries; showing them no mercy; let the sword do the talking

 

[Philomath]

What do you admire about a DIFFERENT religion?

I admire the devotion that Muslims have towards God. From my experience no other religion or religious adherents have had that same amount of devotion.

 

[Rainbow Mage]

I'd have to say Hinduism and Buddhism, and I'm not even sure I consider Hinduism different from the other nature based, Polytheistic paths across cultures. Hinduism is India's version, so to speak

Hinduism has went much deeper into human nature and the nature of reality than most though

 

[satyaroop]

I admire the devotion that Muslims have towards God. From my experience no other religion or religious adherents have had that same amount of devotion.

I'm curious, how did you manage to measure the level of commitment or devotion?

 

[Philomath]

I'm curious, how did you manage to measure the level of commitment or devotion?

I've observed the adherents of different religions and Muslims always seem to be the most devoted from my experience.

 

[Amechania]

Any religion can be admirable when the emphasis is on the nurturing of the human spirit. Those same religions can be loathsome when the emphasis is on the narrowing of the human mind.

 

[Sha'irullah]

I enjoy the mosque and piousness of Muslims.

The color and grandeur of a mandir and the Hindu epics.

The culturalism of Judaism.

And the reclusive coexistence of a bhiksu

 

[HankHill]

Islam: opposition to some backwards ideas like superstition and blindly following what your forefathers did, the brotherhood between and inclusion of all different races in a single house of worship, the staunch opposition of idolatry, nasheeds, the placement of Jesus in a midway point breaking CS Lewis's liar-lunatic-Lord idea, emphasis on purity (wudu, diet, etc.), the general egalitarianism preached by the faith even if it may not play out in practice

Mormonism: the strong opposition to the use of drugs and a generally successful way of practicing and keeping their faith relevant in the modern world

Sikhism: a strong sense of connection to the past leaders of the Sikh faith and to instances of past persecution