Should people learn about other religions?

[sandallw03]

I have been asked to write an essay on whether theists should learn about religions other than their own. This includes both in school and in one’s general life. I wanted to give an atheists perspective on this question, and I would be grateful to get your opinion on it.

On the one hand I think learning about other religions is a good thing because it means you’re not blindly accepting what you’re told and you are at least are questioning your faith. If learning about other faiths leads people to renounce religion altogether, from an atheists point of view that is surely a good thing?
On the other hand, shouldn’t your faith be purely based on your personal view, and studying other faiths would simply show you don’t really believe in your own.
Or maybe studying religions is just a complete waste of time in the first place, and there are better things to be doing…

What are your views?

[leo-rcc]

I think that if another person shows curiosity about different religions they should be given a chance to learn about them. But I don't think it should be made mandatory. Specially not in schools. There are so many different religions out there and studying them all would leave no more time for other curriculum's necessary to prepare you for later life.

[tavarish]

I think if you're making a claim about religion, you should learn about contrasting theories in the matter.

[fr0d0]

I think if you're making a claim about religion, you should learn about contrasting theories in the matter.

!





I actually think it seems a bit of a waste. To me it was deadly boring and a complete waste of time. But I've seen school classes where it's a lively discussion more than anything on some interesting topics. But even so moral guidance by a state school just makes alarm bells ring. With the breakdown of family I guess sometimes a moral framework is neglected. Tough one. i'm on the fence.

[tackattack]

Actually I disagree with Fr0d0 on this one. I wholehardly deplore people to look at as many angles as achievalbe. I teach comparitive studies in my sunday school class to kids, so why hsouldn't adults. I've found it vastly rewarding. Without having comparitive discussions with my Jewish friends I would still believe God hates homosexuals.

[Dotard]

The character of God found in the bible does hate homos.

Where do you get otherwise?

[theVOID]

Actually I disagree with Fr0d0 on this one. I wholehardly deplore people to look at as many angles as achievalbe. I teach comparitive studies in my sunday school class to kids, so why hsouldn't adults. I've found it vastly rewarding. Without having comparitive discussions with my Jewish friends I would still believe God hates homosexuals.

The God in your book definitely hates them.

[chatpilot]

When I was a fundie I used to study other religions and other Christian sects to be able to refute their claims when confronted by them on the street while I was out witnessing. On the other hand comparative religion can be instructive regarding the origins of religion itself.

[fr0d0]

Actually I disagree with Fr0d0 on this one. I wholehardly deplore people to look at as many angles as achievalbe. I teach comparitive studies in my sunday school class to kids, so why hsouldn't adults. I've found it vastly rewarding. Without having comparitive discussions with my Jewish friends I would still believe God hates homosexuals.

I agree with learning as much as you can about any subject. I'm majorly interested in beliefs/ religion/ faiths.. I can't get enough. In school tho' I hated it. Maybe if it was presented as moral dilemmas/ discussions like I see going on now then maybe I'd have liked that. Maybe it's something you have to find out for yourself. I've done some teaching of kids in church.. best thing we did was some book on other beliefs/ faiths, ranging from basic animism, and how those were valuable.

Yep God doesn't hate homosexuals. The bible never says that he does. The best you can get is that promiscuity of any persuasion is discouraged.

[tackattack]

Actually the best you could get is that Mosaic law forbids male prostitues from servicing males in a ritualistic way

The other thread is about that http://atheistforums.org/thread-3054.html

(edited to remove moral obligation) Anyways.. yes discussion amongst religions would benefit greatlyreligion as a whole.