Why learn about other faiths?

[dianaiad]

Maybe the marginals are interested but we just do not have enough time.
Ever think of that?

(thinking)

No.

OK...that was harsh. Let me think about this again.

...................no.

"I don't have enough time for you" is saying 'I don't need to learn anything you tell me because I'm better than you."

There just isn't any way around that.

Besides, one can always find the time to do what one is truly interested in doing or learning. Even if it's a quick five minute visit to 'the holy Google."

("The Holy Google" is what my sister has termed this search engine, mostly in ironic irritation).

Y'know what? I think my reaction here is because I'm a teacher and a terminally curious "I NEED TO KNOW THAT!" sort of person.

Don't mind me.

 

[dianaiad]

Religion < > culture.

If someone really is keen to learn about other cultures, why would learning about other religions be the best use of their time as opposed to, say, learning a new language?

Edit: ... or what learning how to cook the cuisine from other cultures? Or traditional dance? I developed an appreciation of Japanese culture and history through martial arts.

How would it be possible to learn about other cultures if one does NOT address the religion that ties them together? Because...every single culture I know of has had a religious aspect to it, almost always a huge influence.

Even (or perhaps especially) Japan.

 

[iam1me]

Research? My family is heavily involved in creating that
skyline. WTF do you actually about "capitalism",
from the inside?
Nothing.

You some little rich girl who thinks she doesn't need to study? In any case, saying that capitalism doesn't endorse greed is like saying scientists don't use math. It's such an obvious farce that no one will take you seriously.

In the event, never mind, as you are unwilling / unable
to address any question, or even say what you actually
mean by "greed", preferring instead to make up faults in me.

I'd hope you'd be at least capable of using a dictionary. Here, let me get that for you: the definition of greed

 

[Trailblazer]

(thinking)

No.

One can always find the time to do what one is truly interested in doing. Even if it's a quick five minute visit to 'holy Google."

("Holy Google" is what my sister has termed this search engine, mostly in ironic irritation).

One can find a few minutes, yes, but when one is very busy they have to prioritize their time...
Everything is not about what one is "interested in." Some people have a lot responsibilities and no free time.

Besides that, nobody is obligated to be interested in religion. We all have free will and can make choices.

 

[dianaiad]

One can find a few minutes, yes, but when one is very busy they have to prioritize their time...
Everything is not about what one is "interested in." Some people have a lot responsibilities and no free time.

Besides that, nobody is obligated to be interested in religion. We all have free will and can make choices.

True, true.

I THINK, though, that I am reacting to the way the question was asked. "How valuable is it to learn of other faiths?"

For instance, I can think...and do think...that it would be extremely valuable to learn about the way the stock market works, or the way the old masters mixed tempura paints, or the different methods different cultures use to make pasta, or what modern medical science is doing with CAR T therapies for cancer.

I personally might not have time to learn all of these things, but by my choice I am saying that the things I choose not to learn are 'not valuable, ' at least to me.

..................and in terms of learning about the religions other people believe in, saying that learning about them is 'marginally' valuable, I'm saying that they don't matter as much as, say...mowing my lawn or washing the dishes or making a presentation to my colleagues about a proposed advertising campaign for dog food.

Now, those who do believe that learning about other people's religious beliefs is only marginally valuable are usually saying that they are too busy...

But people who post to religious debate forums that discuss other people's religious ideas probably shouldn't say they don't have the time to learn about them, or that it isn't valuable to them to learn about them.

Just sayin'.

 

[Audie]

You some little rich girl who thinks she doesn't need to study? In any case, saying that capitalism doesn't endorse greed is like saying scientists don't use math. It's such an obvious farce that no one will take you seriously.

I'd hope you'd be at least capable of using a dictionary. Here, let me get that for you: the definition of greed

Rich family? First thing you got right, after I fed it to you.

Do you need some money?
If you need some money, I can buy everything you own
and donate it to goodwill.

"little girl' You say so much about yourself with that.

"thins she does not need to study"

Anyone who grew up with a tiger mom knows a lot about
study. But you are just thrashing about like a foul-hooked
alligator, trying to bite something, anything.

Is there something wrong with you,that you need
to behave so? You cannot help yourself by
that way, and making things up just further
dishonours you.

So does equivocation.

With regard to your use of the word "greed' and
unwillingness to say what you actually mean by it,
your game has become tiresome, go play
somewhere else.

 

[Dawnofhope]

To those who voted 'not at all, ' 'marginally,' and 'waste of time,' I say....that's a bit egocentric, don't you think?

After all, by figuring that there is little to no value in learning about other faiths, you are saying:

a. YOUR beliefs and culture are not important and not worth examining.
b. MY beliefs are the only ones that count.
c. I am better than you, more intelligent than you, more....everything...than you.

And I have news. Nobody on this planet can say that to everybody else. Every belief system, every culture, has something important to teach to others....even you guys who don't think other belief systems are worth looking at.

Thank you. It’s worth mentioning how encouraging the poll is. 86% believe that learning about other faiths is either extremely valuable (56%) or moderately valuable (30%). That leaves me feeling more optimistic about RF participants as a group and humanity as a whole.

 

[Nakosis]

Cudos to your nephew- but a success story here and there doesn't negate the reality of the economy.

Which apparently is doing pretty good right now. But, it shows the possibility. He really had nothing going for him except a willingness to succeed.

Being born into wealth means you are born into success. In fact, the vast majority of wealth in the economy is not created, but inherited.

Not true, it's actually about 15%. So 85% of the wealth of the top 1% is created by those individuals.

Research Desk: Did the top 1 percent inherit its wealth?

Also more jobs does not mean more wealth to go around. Trickle down economics has been shown time and again to be false; a lie like the rest of conservative talking points.

Trickle down economics was never a conservative talking point. It was a liberal talking point criticizing the economics of the right. Anyway that's where self-interest comes in. If there are people out there in the labor force willing to do a job at less pay then they get what they ask for.

Finally, there is nothing wrong with working for someone else. It does promote capitalism: if everyone works for themselves, then businesses can't grow beyond your labor force of one.

The way I look at it is one is always working for themselves. You are exchanging your time and skills for money. You are providing a service. When you run a business that provides a service you have to negotiate a fair exchange rate for the service you supply. Unfortunately most employees see themselves as having to accept the wage that's offered in order to get the job. This view hands all of the power over to the employer. This view may be promoted by potential employers to their benefit but that's not capitalism.

 

[Audie]

Thank you. It’s worth mentioning how encouraging the poll is. 86% believe that learning about other faiths is either extremely valuable (56%) or moderately valuable (30%). That leaves me feeling more optimistic about RF participants as a group and humanity as a whole.

if I did not say so, I think it is valuable too, though
it is not a case of "other" faiths.

 

[Dawnofhope]

if I did not say so, I think it is valuable too, though
it is not a case of "other" faiths.

The value of educating ourselves extends well beyond religion of course. That should include secular worldviews such as humanism and atheism. Where do you see yourself on the spectrum of belief if you don’t mind me asking.

 

[Audie]

The value of educating ourselves extends well beyond religion of course. That should include secular worldviews such as humanism and atheism. Where do you see yourself on the spectrum of belief if you don’t mind me asking.

It is ok to ask.
Belief as in the supernatural, none.
Worldview wise, I am kind of a bicultural mishmash.

 

[Dawnofhope]

It is ok to ask.
Belief as in the supernatural, none.
Worldview wise, I am kind of a bicultural mishmash.

Which two cultures?

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Karma is produced via intentional moral action.. So if you actively say to yourself "I am or am not going to do X because that is/isn't good" then your actions are morally motivated to do what is good, and so produce wholesome karma. Such karma, as with unwholesome/bad karma, keeps one in Samsara - the very thing that following the Buddha's Dharma is supposed to free you from.

On the other hand, if you help or hurt people without such intentions - then it is neutral in terms of karma and thus OK.

If you help or harm, your intentions doesn't indicate whats right and wrong. Your ignorance affects your karma just as your intentions but as soon as the harm another person it's not neutral.

Whomever hurt the other whether or not he intended is still affected by the Action (ruled by his action and governed by it) not his belief nor his intention.

 

[Audie]

Which two cultures?

Hong Kong / NYC

 

[Dawnofhope]

There are many different forms of socialism - some of them (like communism) are very flawed, while others have led to much healthier, happier people who are educated and are not drowning in debt - as with America. At its heart though, socialism is about distributing the wealth of society so that everyone's needs are met - and there is nothing flawed with this.

With capitalism, however, the philosophy is fundamentally flawed and evil. Thus no implementation of it can address the core problem: greed.

The consensus with many Western countries including mine is that both capitalism and socialism in the extreme are harmful but both have principles and aspects that are essential to a modern economy, especially one the relies on trade with other countries as all do.

So while I agree that socialism has much to offer, communism has resulted in regimes that have committed atrocities that are unparalleled in human history.

I’m a pragmatist, not a theorist so like anyone who works in a complex economy I need to consider nuances of providing a social service, ethics, finance, law and sound business practices. Dichotomous thinking about capitalism and socialism is of limited practical value.

You may like to consider how helpful Wikipedia is when it comes to discussing capitalism, if there’s anything of value there at all or if it’s all really fundamentally evil as you say.

Capitalism - Wikipedia

Yes, we did get a bit off track. The teachings of Christ go hand-n-hand with socialism: if you are able, share what you have so that we can take care of those without. You cannot serve money and God. Greed is the root of many evils. etc.

Many Christians in America prefer capitalism - but these are the same "Christians" that blindly support Trump, and even treat him as a kind of holy man (ha!). This is nothing more than indoctrination, they are in complete contradiction with the scriptures.

Of course some Christians will take opposing aspects of the bible to justify their capitalism or socialism. So while I believe Jesus to be who He claimed to be and the Apostles guided by the Holy Spirit, it all took place nearly two thousand years ago. Slavery was the norm, the equality of men and women was rarely considered and democracy not established. Abolition of slavery, the full equality of men and women and the widespread establishment of democracy are essential social changes over the last 200 years that have been both supported and opposed by Christians, each with biblical verses to support their positions.

So it would be fair to argue that the bible does not provide clear guidance to many of the problems that challenge humanity in the twenty first century including economics nor should we expect it to.

 

[Dawnofhope]

Hong Kong / NYC

Two amazing places I’m yet to visit.

My wife is bicultural (Japanese and English) so we have spent time in Japan on a number of occasions. Having connections with both cultures is immensely enriching.

So what’s the interest in a forum that discusses religion.

 

[Audie]

Two amazing places I’m yet to visit.

My wife is bicultural (Japanese and English) so we have spent time in Japan on a number of occasions. Having connections with both cultures is immensely enriching.

So what’s the interest in a forum that discusses religion.

Cultural anthropology, I guess. Trying to understand
about what makes others tick.

I am actually 1/4th Japanese.

Where in Japan? Have you been to Matsushima?

I've only spent a few weeks there, but it is very nice.
Not so chaotic as NY or HK

 

[danieldemol]

Um with what are you disagreeing with?

With the view that conventional medicine can not benefit people with mental health problems.

 

[Dawnofhope]

Cultural anthropology, I guess. Trying to understand
about what makes others tick.

I am actually 1/4th Japanese.

Where in Japan? Have you been to Matsushima?

I've only spent a few weeks there, but it is very nice.
Not so chaotic as NY or HK

It’s certainly interesting to see people from all round the world with such disparate worldviews discussing religion of all things. I couldn’t have imagined it 25 years ago but here we all are having a great time of it.

My wife’s mother is from Nagoya but we’ve spent time in Tokyo, Hokkaido, Hiroshima and Kyoto. I haven’t been to Matsushima. It looks beautiful.

If you want chaotic try the Shinjuku railway station, one of the busiest in the world.

 

[Dawnofhope]

I learned about other religions because I was "Seeking the Truth". I assumed if there was Truth to be had about God, some religious ideology should possess it. What I found is a lot of experiential truth that could affect people in the spiritual/mental realm but not truths that had any external effect on reality. I ended up with a kind of eclectic mess of ideologies. I came across somewhere the idea that moving from one religion to another like I did can lead to insanity.

I suppose if one is looking for a "spiritual" experience, any ideology will do. However I don't think jumping from ideology to ideology "seeking the True faith" is that beneficial.

My experience during my 20s was considering and trying out different ideologies which I agree can be exhausting and even lead to a breakdown. A useful breakthrough for me came through reading a Buddhist monk who taught the goal when searching for truth is to initially glean just one spiritual truth that can be practically applied to life. Perhaps we should aim for just 1% wisdom! The value of this approach is working towards a better way of living is achievable today. Then as we come to recognise each day what works in our lives and what doesn’t the little steps become bigger steps.

If one religion helps you to become a better person then consider practicing that one religion. If not then why bother?

Religion should unite all hearts and cause wars and disputes to vanish from the face of the earth, give birth to spirituality, and bring life and light to each heart. If religion becomes a cause of dislike, hatred and division, it were better to be without it, and to withdraw from such a religion would be a truly religious act. For it is clear that the purpose of a remedy is to cure; but if the remedy should only aggravate the complaint it had better be left alone. Any religion which is not a cause of love and unity is no religion. All the holy prophets were as doctors to the soul; they gave prescriptions for the healing of mankind; thus any remedy that causes disease does not come from the great and supreme Physician.

Bahá'í Reference Library - Paris Talks, Pages 127-134