Is it right to "try" other religions?

poolking said:
Oh no, not him again! I hear you cry.

As the title says, is it right to "try" other religions until you find one that bests suits your person beliefs and lifestyle?

This is sort of a follow on from the religion/social thread I posted.
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In these times with the internet age, we can pretty much google any religion we wish to explore. I am a devout Christian/Anglican but have found wisdom in the Shamanistic belief. My wife being Aboriginal First Nation in Canada we decided that we should learn about each others beliefs. I personally don't like the phrase ( trying other religions) I prefer researching and exploring other faith and belief systems. That being said, I see nothing at all wrong with doing so. In a world dominated by different religions as well as political standings, the more diverse we all are in "understanding" alone will better prepare us for what is to come..
 
Senthil said:
I grew up around the United Church. I never went but it was the main Church in the rural community I lived in, so most neighbours went. Yes it was quite tolerant. Still, individuals married, and they had several splinters over the gay issues some 20 years back. I only know this because of relatives.
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I now live in the Trenton area, My wife though she is aboriginal First Nation was baptized in the United Church. One thing I have researched of the Church is it has changed it's doctrine several times it seems to continue to "go with the flow" as it were. Personally I think that hard on it's members. Several United Churches have closed in our area because when the United Church was born it was the Methodist and Presbyterian churches ( Most) which melded into it so it absorbed their churches. Now with lowering membership so many are closing... It's a shame really.
 
Richard Pickett said:
I personally don't like the phrase ( trying other religions) I prefer researching and exploring other faith and belief systems.
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I think there is a chasm between those two... some folks do try on religions..I know one guy who has been Hindu, Jew, Satanist, Christian, Bible thumpin evangelical Christian... he tried them on lock stock and barrel and proselytized each time that the latest and greatest was the latest and greatest and the real thing...interesting to watch.

My mother changed denominations every time we moved...she was not concerned about the nuances between them...she is just a Christian, she prays, she goes to church on Sunday, she participates in the church community....but each place she lived, she picked the denomination by the people she met and feeling she got. We were Baptist, Presbyterian, Lutheran and Methodist as I recall..
 
Richard Pickett said:
I now live in the Trenton area, My wife though she is aboriginal First Nation was baptized in the United Church. One thing I have researched of the Church is it has changed it's doctrine several times it seems to continue to "go with the flow" as it were. Personally I think that hard on it's members. Several United Churches have closed in our area because when the United Church was born it was the Methodist and Presbyterian churches ( Most) which melded into it so it absorbed their churches. Now with lowering membership so many are closing... It's a shame really.
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I think it's more the rural to urban migration than anything else. Smaller communities lose schools, businesses as well. But most religions are on the decline too. There are few exceptions.
 
Senthil said:
I think it's more the rural to urban migration than anything else. Smaller communities lose schools, businesses as well. But most religions are on the decline too. There are few exceptions.
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This is something I did not see in the States, however that is because of the difference in population and density.
 
wil said:
I think there is a chasm between those two... some folks do try on religions..I know one guy who has been Hindu, Jew, Satanist, Christian, Bible thumpin evangelical Christian... he tried them on lock stock and barrel and proselytized each time that the latest and greatest was the latest and greatest and the real thing...interesting to watch.

My mother changed denominations every time we moved...she was not concerned about the nuances between them...she is just a Christian, she prays, she goes to church on Sunday, she participates in the church community....but each place she lived, she picked the denomination by the people she met and feeling she got. We were Baptist, Presbyterian, Lutheran and Methodist as I recall..
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I belong to a Ministers network on-line and we have one person on our site that is exactly like this fellow you described. His latest was Muslim until I think being albino white and very headstrong may have rubbed the Muslims the wrong way. Personally I like the fellow. He in the last few weeks has seemed to come back to Christianity. I hope he finds what he is looking for. However, Changing denominations in Christianity is pardon the reference, like changing blue underwear for green. Still underwear, just different color. Changing religious beliefs is something altogether different. To become solid in the Faith of a belief system does not come over night. In my case, my solidity in my Christianity has taken my whole life, because it grows within my soul daily..In my opinion, it is not something one can change like underwear.. Again Please pardon my example...
 
Could be changing underwear....but that would be from red union suit with a trap door to boxers to a thong.... They may all be called underwear but the don't all fit and they all aren't for everybody.... The variation from southern Baptist to Evangelical, Mormon or religious science is quite large.
 
Richard Pickett said:
Changing religious beliefs is something altogether different. To become solid in the Faith of a belief system does not come over night... it grows within my soul daily... In my opinion, it is not something one can change like underwear.. Again Please pardon my example...
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Example pardoned, and good point made.

The change required at this order is, in the Christian terms, metanoia, a change of heart, which signifies a change of being. This is the authentic change that Christ, the Buddha, Mohammed (pbuh) and all prophets speak of. It's this change of heart that is seen in the complementarity of the mystics and poets ... it is not a change of mind, nor is it intellectual pursuit or stimulation, it's way beyond that ... there's a world of difference between 'doing' and 'dabbling'.

If you're looking for answers 'in the head' it's quite possible to hold complimentary and contradictory positions simultaneously – to 'sit on the fence', 'serve two masters', 'ride two horses', etc., etc ... but as the Fathers say, it's a bit like a young horse bucking at the sight of the halter. At some point, if I'm to continue labouring the metaphors, one has to buckle down, put one's shoulder too the plough, carry one's cross...

A wise Christian said: A monk is toil, that's what a monk is.
A wise Buddhist said: Less talk. Zazen!
 
I would say, for example, the changes from Southern Baptist, to Methodist, and then to Roman Catholic are huge indeed. All three of these denominations have very, very different belief systems.
 
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Nick the Pilot said:
I would say, for example, the changes from Southern Baptist, to Methodist, and then to Roman Catholic are huge indeed. All three of these denominations have very, very different belief systems.
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but primarily in practice, not in creed. And a vast Majority see each others views as valid and acceptable. Their main difference comes from practice. some minor changes to some specifics, but rather small in the overall scheme.
 
Thomas said:
Example pardoned, and good point made.

The change required at this order is, in the Christian terms, metanoia, a change of heart, which signifies a change of being. This is the authentic change that Christ, the Buddha, Mohammed (pbuh) and all prophets speak of. It's this change of heart that is seen in the complementarity of the mystics and poets ... it is not a change of mind, nor is it intellectual pursuit or stimulation, it's way beyond that ... there's a world of difference between 'doing' and 'dabbling'.

If you're looking for answers 'in the head' it's quite possible to hold complimentary and contradictory positions simultaneously – to 'sit on the fence', 'serve two masters', 'ride two horses', etc., etc ... but as the Fathers say, it's a bit like a young horse bucking at the sight of the halter. At some point, if I'm to continue labouring the metaphors, one has to buckle down, put one's shoulder too the plough, carry one's cross...

A wise Christian said: A monk is toil, that's what a monk is.
A wise Buddhist said: Less talk. Zazen!
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A very good point indeed, I personally know a fellow who in the past year alone has sworn to be a 1) Satanist, 2) Christian, 3) Hindu and a Muslim ( at Present) This person swears his wholeness each time. I have had numerous conversations with this fellow, which usually end up Volatile (on his end not mine). I explained to him that even Scholars of all belief systems do not have wholeness in their fields. That even myself as an example who has been a Christian all my life (longer than I wish to admit sometimes) believe that I have not attained it. Those of us with devout beliefs are always searching for the divine answers. To proclaim sudden whole heart changes of faith is I suppose beyond my ability to understand the possibility.
 
Lol Richard.... My buddy hasn't changed religions that fast but easily that often in the past 20 years...it has been amazing...I was concerned for his home schooled kids...but when I've sat at the dinner table with them as he pontificates on his latest absolutely certain belief...they rill their eyes at each other...
 
Nick the Pilot said:
I would say, for example, the changes from Southern Baptist, to Methodist, and then to Roman Catholic are huge indeed. All three of these denominations have very, very different belief systems.
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I was baptized and confirmed Missouri Synod Lutheran as a child and teen. I converted (I really dislike that word for some reason) to Anglicanism, Episcopalian to be exact. And they are two different worlds. I have visited a Southern Baptist church, (with friends) and that was like another Universe..
 
wil said:
Lol Richard.... My buddy hasn't changed religions that fast but easily that often in the past 20 years...it has been amazing...I was concerned for his home schooled kids...but when I've sat at the dinner table with them as he pontificates on his latest absolutely certain belief...they rill their eyes at each other...
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Did you roll your eyes? I am certain I would find it hard not to. lol
 
I think "try" is not going to be useful, as it likely means you want to engage the rituals and other practices.

I do think, however, that each one of us is completely obligated to look at every tradition we can find for the insight it provides. It is absolutely invaluable to understand these different aspects of the same truth as it will give a far more complete understanding thereof.

Some traditions say you absolutely shouldn't, but I don't think it is useful to cling to any particular tradition if you genuinely desire truth.
 
SatyamAbhidi said:
I think "try" is not going to be useful, as it likely means you want to engage the rituals and other practices.

I do think, however, that each one of us is completely obligated to look at every tradition we can find for the insight it provides. It is absolutely invaluable to understand these different aspects of the same truth as it will give a far more complete understanding thereof.

Some traditions say you absolutely shouldn't, but I don't think it is useful to cling to any particular tradition if you genuinely desire truth.
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I think we must define truth. Your truth may not be my truth especially when faith and belief come to play. Since both tend to have a certain amount of mystery that cannot be seen, touched or heard. However observation leads to understanding, which leads to either tolerance and/or acceptance.
 
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