Why learn about other faiths?

[Dawnofhope]

That wasn't an answer to my question, was it?
Just repeatedly saying you revere something seems to me not very useful.
I'd rather want to know how you think about certain parts of those texts and actually see you discuss them.

You seem very concerned with my sincerity lol.

I provided a list of threads I’ve started and debated/discussed with others on RF. Go and read some of them if you like.

Resurrection of Christ - What's the evidence for and against a literal resurrection

The Divinity of Christ

Can theological difference between the Gospels and the Qur'an be resolved?

Salvation through Christ: Unique to Christianity or applicable to other faiths?

Who wrote the Gospels

The Exclusivity of Christianity: Myth or Reality

We’re you hoping I would debate you on your thread posted yesterday?

The Tantric master Yeshua and the Christians

 

[Marcion]

You seem very concerned with my sincerity lol.

I provided a list of threads I’ve started and debated/discussed with others on RF. Go and read some of them if you like.

That is not quite what I meant.
With revering other scriptures you can also mean loosely draping your own religious views over the scriptures of other faiths or paths.
What I meant is to actually explain the texts in the light of spiritual philosophy in order to demonstrate that your own ideology masters the inner meaning of those texts from other scriptures.
This is something that is rarely done at all.

The ideas of one religion concerning other religions are mostly quite meaningless because they only reflect a limited superficial viewpoint of the religion concerned.
This is reflected in the fact that such ideas don't generate any meaningful reactions from people who support those other faiths or paths.

 

[idav]

One of the strengths of religious forum is the diversity of Faiths represented. That presents an excellent opportunity to learn about the faiths of others. This opportunity doesn’t readily present itself to the same degree where I live as religion has become a risky topic of conversation and so best avoided. This year I joined my cities Interfaith council so that’s been helpful.

But why learn about the religion of another in the first place? What is your motivation and what is mine? It’s a personal question really. For me I like to see the bigger picture of ‘world history’ with civilisations that have come and been, and ideologies and beliefs that inspired the masses. It helps me better understand the world as it is today and others in an increasingly multicultural world. It also brings coherence to my own faith and worldview I can not deny.

Obviously there’s other agendas too. We can learn about another faiths so we can make our own beliefs look good and demean others. Many of us know that illusory satisfaction in our worldview as we build our straw man as to what we imagine another’s faith is about. Ego trips are part of the human condition and whose really immune?

Anyway thoughts and reflections? Thanks for listening and discussing if your interested.

We should learn other faiths because faith needs balance and some semblance of scrutiny. IOW avoiding blind faith and not settling for opinions of what truth is. Humans generally aren’t immune to ego but with practice it can be checked.

 

[Dawnofhope]

That is not quite what I meant.
With revering other scriptures you can also mean loosely draping your own religious views over the scriptures of other faiths or paths.
What I meant is to actually explain the texts in the light of spiritual philosophy in order to demonstrate that your own ideology masters the inner meaning of those texts from other scriptures.
This is something that is rarely done at all.

The ideas of one religion concerning other religions are mostly quite meaningless because they only reflect a limited superficial viewpoint of the religion concerned.
This is reflected in the fact that such ideas don't generate any meaningful reactions from people who support those other faiths or paths.

I think what you are trying to say is that I'm not very insightful and you are.

We are both universalists but have very different ideas and ideals as to what is true and what is spiritual. The only way we can meaningfully discuss our very disparate perspectives is to have enough respect for each other to truly listen and understand each other.

In regards the our differing understands of the Teachings of Jesus we clearly have very different POVs. Other than stating those differences and agreeing to disagree its hard to see what else can be achieved.

 

[Marcion]

I think what you are trying to say is that I'm not very insightful and you are.

We are both universalists but have very different ideas and ideals as to what is true and what is spiritual. The only way we can meaningfully discuss our very disparate perspectives is to have enough respect for each other to truly listen and understand each other.

In regards the our differing understands of the Teachings of Jesus we clearly have very different POVs. Other than stating those differences and agreeing to disagree its hard to see what else can be achieved.

It is not your personal fault that your approach fails, it comes with the type of (Abrahamic) ideology you follow.
It is also due to that ideology that you cannot understand the tantric-mystic nature of the teachings of Jesus.

Eastern types of ideology are often more into spiritual philosophy than into religious speculation ("revelations"). This makes it easier to discuss with people who also think along philosophical lines. It is indeed very special that Jesus himself seems to have taught more in the spiritual philosophy type of way. Many people who lose their faith in Christianity therefore still maintain their respect for the teachings of Jesus.

 

[CG Didymus]

I think what you are trying to say is that I'm not very insightful and you are.

We are both universalists but have very different ideas and ideals as to what is true and what is spiritual. The only way we can meaningfully discuss our very disparate perspectives is to have enough respect for each other to truly listen and understand each other.

In regards the our differing understands of the Teachings of Jesus we clearly have very different POVs. Other than stating those differences and agreeing to disagree its hard to see what else can be achieved.

It happened with Vinayaka and now it's happening with Marcion. Can you learn and respect his beliefs? 'Cause rather than respect, it seems like settling to agree to disagree.

 

[CG Didymus]

I think what you are trying to say is that I'm not very insightful and you are.

We are both universalists but have very different ideas and ideals as to what is true and what is spiritual. The only way we can meaningfully discuss our very disparate perspectives is to have enough respect for each other to truly listen and understand each other.

In regards the our differing understands of the Teachings of Jesus we clearly have very different POVs. Other than stating those differences and agreeing to disagree its hard to see what else can be achieved.

It happened with Vinayaka and now it's happening with Marcion. Can you learn and respect his beliefs? 'Cause rather than respect, it seems like settling to agree to disagree.

 

[Trailblazer]

It happened with Vinayaka and now it's happening with Marcion. Can you learn and respect his beliefs? 'Cause rather than respect, it seems like settling to agree to disagree.

From my perspective, agreeing to disagree is respecting someone else's beliefs.
Adrian does better at this than I do. That is why you do not see me engaged in these religious discussions that often.

 

[Vinayaka]

It happened with Vinayaka and now it's happening with Marcion. Can you learn and respect his beliefs? 'Cause rather than respect, it seems like settling to agree to disagree.

It's fine. Shows true colors. If you're not with us, yore agin us. lol

 

[Marcion]

It happened with Vinayaka and now it's happening with Marcion. Can you learn and respect his beliefs? 'Cause rather than respect, it seems like settling to agree to disagree.

It is not a question of having different beliefs because what exactly you believe is much less important in following Dharma. In the Abrahamic way of thinking God will judge you according to your beliefs, but with Dharmic thinking spiritual practices are a universal thing that work exactly the same for everyone in this universe quite independent of your cultural or religious framework.

So you cannot just place the Abrahamic way of thinking beside the Dharmic way of thinking as if they are just a different colour. In fact the Dharmic way of thinking is more broad and more inclusive and less coloured. But I can understand why people fail to understand this, it is because they are stuck in the Abrahamic religious paradigm.

 

[TransmutingSoul]

That is not quite what I meant.
With revering other scriptures you can also mean loosely draping your own religious views over the scriptures of other faiths or paths.
What I meant is to actually explain the texts in the light of spiritual philosophy in order to demonstrate that your own ideology masters the inner meaning of those texts from other scriptures.
This is something that is rarely done at all.

It happened with Vinayaka and now it's happening with Marcion. Can you learn and respect his beliefs? 'Cause rather than respect, it seems like settling to agree to disagree.

It's fine. Shows true colors. If you're not with us, yore agin us. lol

The issue here is that when we do attempt what Marcoin has suggested, the big word of proselytizing surfaces.

That is because any explanation we supply will be from the Baha'i Writings.

If the invitation is to actually allow us to demonstrate as Marcoin asked as follows;

"What I meant is to actually explain the texts in the light of spiritual philosophy in order to demonstrate that your own ideology masters the inner meaning of those texts from other scriptures."

Will the accusations again happen?

Personally I see that is why I subdue many answers I may give.

Peace be with one and all, Regards Tony

 

[TransmutingSoul]

It is not a question of having different beliefs because what exactly you believe is much less important in following Dharma. In the Abrahamic way of thinking God will judge you according to your beliefs, but with Dharmic thinking spiritual practices are a universal thing that work exactly the same for everyone in this universe quite independent of your cultural or religious framework.

So you cannot just place the Abrahamic way of thinking beside the Dharmic way of thinking as if they are just a different colour. In fact the Dharmic way of thinking is more broad and more inclusive. But I can understand why people fail to understand this, it is because they are stuck in the Abrahamic religious paradigm.

I would say that all Faiths demonstrate that the spiritual practices are the same for all.

They are all universal, but I say universal with these practices permeating all of Gods worlds and all of His creatures. What we do has a ripple affect in time.

To me that is all embracing.

Why limit thought to just a Dharmic or Abrahamric way of thinking?

Regards Tony

 

[Vinayaka]

Will the accusations again happen?

Not accusations, Tony, but reality. You should know what proselytizing is by now. But there's nothing stopping you from having a private conversation with Marcion. He might want to read the words of Baha'ullah.

 

[Marcion]

They are all universal, but I say universal with these practices permeating all of Gods worlds and all of His creatures. What we do has a ripple affect in time.

To me that is all embracing.

Why limit thought to just a Dharmic or Abrahamric way of thinking?

Sounds to me like asking, 'why limit yourself to thinking that either the earth is a globe or flat as a pancake'?
In the Dharmic framework one does not suggest that the Abrahamic way of thinking is "wrong" or "disturbs your relationship with God". Everyone has their own type of relationship with God and that is fine.

But on a forum like this you can discuss the ins and outs of such different approaches and how they work out differently.

 

[Trailblazer]

Not accusations, Tony, but reality. You should know what proselytizing is by now.

proselytize: convert or attempt to convert (someone) from one religion, belief, or opinion to another.
https://www.google.com

There is no way you can know if anyone is attempting to convert anyone.
Your reality is your reality. Tony's reality is Tony's reality. They are separate realities. You cannot know the intent of anyone except yourself.

I am tired of these accusations of proselytizing. It is so arrogant for anyone to think they know the intent of any other person.

 

[Dawnofhope]

It happened with Vinayaka and now it's happening with Marcion. Can you learn and respect his beliefs? 'Cause rather than respect, it seems like settling to agree to disagree.

I respect Marcion and Vinayaka. I respect their beliefs. Sometimes interfaith dialogue has difficulties and other times best to give each other space. Vinayaka and I are still talking. Marcion and I are getting used to each other. We may have a fruitful dialogue or not. Let’s see what unfolds.

 

[CG Didymus]

From my perspective, agreeing to disagree is respecting someone else's beliefs.
Adrian does better at this than I do. That is why you do not see me engaged in these religious discussions that often.

No, it's saying that I'm not changing my position and you aren't going to give in and agree that I'm right, so we'll just leave it at that.

 

[Trailblazer]

No, it's saying that I'm not changing my position and you aren't going to give in and agree that I'm right, so we'll just leave it at that.

I do not understand your position but I will leave it at that unless you want to tell me.

 

[CG Didymus]

It is not a question of having different beliefs because what exactly you believe is much less important in following Dharma. In the Abrahamic way of thinking God will judge you according to your beliefs, but with Dharmic thinking spiritual practices are a universal thing that work exactly the same for everyone in this universe quite independent of your cultural or religious framework.

So you cannot just place the Abrahamic way of thinking beside the Dharmic way of thinking as if they are just a different colour. In fact the Dharmic way of thinking is more broad and more inclusive and less coloured. But I can understand why people fail to understand this, it is because they are stuck in the Abrahamic religious paradigm.

And there lies the difficulty. Baha'is tie in the Dharmic religions in with their beliefs of one God that sent all messengers of every religion in a progression. The main explanation why then are all the religions teaching so many different things is... that people took the original teachings and added to them or misinterpreted them. So there is no reincarnation. There is no Christian Trinity and Jesus didn't rise from the dead and will not be casting any into the hell, not even Satan, because there is no Satan.

So what good is it to learn from other religions when Baha'is contradict the beliefs of those religions? But, I guess, it's better than evangelical Christians telling people in other religions that they are following a false god and need to turn to Jesus and get saved.

 

[CG Didymus]

I do not understand your position but I will leave it at that unless you want to tell me.

No, I'm giving you the meaning of saying "we'll just have to agree to disagree." Each person is set in their beliefs and nothing is going to get them to change. For a Baha'i to say that isn't understanding or respecting the other persons beliefs. It is saying that the Baha'i Faith is the truth and if the other person is too stubborn and ignorant to see that.