How to start with religion?

Just_me_Mike · Oct 15, 2009

When a person begins to study religion for the first time, how should they start?

Should they start that there is no God, everything is suspect, and go from there?

Should they start that there is possibly a God, everything is suspect, and go from there?

Or some other way?

What do you think?

pensive · Oct 15, 2009

I'd say it depends on why they're studying religion. What's their purpose?

Depending on their purpose, perhaps studying religion isn't the correct approach at all. In my experience, some religions are meant to be lived out, not studied. Perhaps even all religions are like that.

Autodidact · Oct 15, 2009

itwillend said:
When a person begins to study religion for the first time, how should they start?

Should they start that there is no God, everything is suspect, and go from there?

Should they start that there is possibly a God, everything is suspect, and go from there?

Or some other way?

What do you think?

I guess a different answer for everyone. For me, I started with the question, "Is there a God?" My first step was to figure out how to go about looking for an answer. Worked for me.

MSizer · Oct 15, 2009

I like René Descartes idea of wiping off everything from the table and starting from scratch, and only trusting that which he could not consider to even possibly be false. Unfortunately that only got him to be sure he existed, and he couldn't be sure anything else was true. Therefore, in the end, I think it is subjective. Your brain is influenced by information, and makes unconcious decisions for you. I think your mind will work out the opinions it's predisposed to make no matter which position you start from.

ChristineES · Oct 15, 2009

People are individuals, so each person would go about starting in a different way. And, as stated by another in this thread, it also depends on which faith and/or religion you're pursuing.

gnomon · Oct 15, 2009

itwillend said:
When a person begins to study religion for the first time, how should they start?

Should they start that there is no God, everything is suspect, and go from there?

Should they start that there is possibly a God, everything is suspect, and go from there?

Or some other way?

What do you think?

I say start by not worrying about whether there is a God or not when you study a religion. For one, you already have some idea of your own beliefs. I find it best to set those beliefs aside and study religion from a historical and social perspective.

Forget about trying to discern "the truth" of what religions, both existing and non-existent ones, but the why and how of those religions as viewed by those cultures that held them. Thus one cannot just read religious texts alone and expect to actually get an accurate view of what people believed.

Also pay attention to the source.

Of course if you are actually talking about starting to "practice" a religion that's something else entirely.

ellenjanuary · Oct 15, 2009

With the tao te ching. Religions always try to direct, while the tao helps one avoid misdirection.

Commoner · Oct 15, 2009

itwillend said:
When a person begins to study religion for the first time, how should they start?

Should they start that there is no God, everything is suspect, and go from there?

Should they start that there is possibly a God, everything is suspect, and go from there?

Or some other way?

What do you think?

Maybe you should avoid the question all together and start with those religions that have nothing to do with god.

But my question is, what do you mean by "study religion"?

The Mercy · Oct 16, 2009

they must start that there is only one God controls this world and that everything in HIS hand ... here !! they should obey HIS orders that sent through God's Messengers

enchanted_one1975 · Oct 16, 2009

You should start by making sure that you have an open mind. If you go into researching other religions but are afraid of finding fault in what you believe to be true, don't bother researching. You won't learn anything because your mind is already set. That being said, start with what interests you most and work from there to opposite ends of the spectrum.

BruceDLimber · Oct 19, 2009

Greetings!

Someone investigating religion should proceed free of prejudice (aka "pre-judging") so that the mind is open to notice and evaluate what one discovers!

The rest follows naturally from this.

Peace,

Bruce

Autodidact · Oct 19, 2009

The Mercy said:
they must start that there is only one God controls this world and that everything in HIS hand ... here !! they should obey HIS orders that sent through God's Messengers

So start by assuming your conclusion then? Do you have much success figuring stuff out that way?

Twilight Hue · Oct 19, 2009

itwillend said:
When a person begins to study religion for the first time, how should they start?

I would start with exploring the definition of religion itself, and then go on to investigate the various causes which prompts the creation and manifestation of religions in the way of case studies that encompass ancient, and newly formed modern religions.

Should they start that there is no God, everything is suspect, and go from there?

Certainly not.

Should they start that there is possibly a God, everything is suspect, and go from there?

Certainly not.

Or some other way?

There you go. Nothing beats finding stuff out for yourself.

What do you think?

I think that you need to think for yourself. That's the absolute best way to go about it.

AlsoAnima · Oct 19, 2009

A person should start with the following questions.

"What do I think is the truth?"
"What do I feel is the truth?"

You know you've found the right religion, or philosophy, when your thoughts and feelings are the same.

How to start with religion?

Just_me_Mike

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pensive

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Autodidact

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MSizer

MSizer

ChristineES

Tiggerism

gnomon

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ellenjanuary

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Commoner

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The Mercy

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enchanted_one1975

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BruceDLimber

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Autodidact

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Twilight Hue

Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.

AlsoAnima

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