"accpeting" other religions?

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Sir_Knight

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What does the bible, specifically the NT, say about “accepting” or not “accepting” other religions – specifically, does the bible instruct us to accept or reject those of other faiths?

Thanks in advance for any scripture verses provided.
 
my ideal (even though i don’t follow it sometimes):

always accept PEOPLE no matter what their religon

pray for the lost

its alright to hate their RELIGION but not them but never express hatred outwardly toward their religion for fear of driving them away from the truth
 
Follow the Golden Rule. As my father always said, if you expect respect, you must first show respect.
The Golden Rule is taught by the major religions of the world.
The link that I have provided has the passages that you are looking for. There are other sites as well that show how the Golden Rule is worded by the various world religions.

When discussing my own faith with those who believe differently, I begin with what we hold in common. I can appreciate the peaceful sound of the Muslim call for prayer from the nearby mosque. I currently work in a Muslim country. Most of the parishioners at the only Catholic Church in the country are from India.

As a child I lived in Japan where the major religion is Shintoism. Those whom my parents sponsored into the Church converted not because of the words they used, but because of the love they observed in our family life.

When my brother chose to marry a Buddhist, my parents response to her refusal to convert was “She has the strength of her convictions.” She is now a devout Catholic of her own accord, not for the sake of my brother.
 
Sir_Knight said:
What does the bible, specifically the NT, say about “accepting” or not “accepting” other religions – specifically, does the bible instruct us to accept or reject those of other faiths?

Thanks in advance for any scripture verses provided.
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I acknowledge that other religions are ‘there’ but I personally don’t accept them. As for the individual, I struggle between wanting to accept them and the principle that the following verses set below.

2 Corinthians 6:14-17
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

(I don’t think these verses have just to do with marriage but with all our relationships)
 
Mark 9:39
38* John said to him, “Teacher, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, * and we forbade him, because he was not following us.” 39 But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him; for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon after to speak evil of me. 40 For he that is not against us is for us.
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John7 said:
I acknowledge that other religions are ‘there’ but I personally don’t accept them. As for the individual, I struggle between wanting to accept them and the principle that the following verses set below.

2 Corinthians 6:14-17Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,(I don’t think these verses have just to do with marriage but with all our relationships)
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Yep. That would fit the bill. Thanks.
 
I accept only the reality that there are many religions existing in the world.

I do not respect the teachings of those religions. I do respect the people… but not the religion to which they espouse.

I accept the teaching of only the one, true, holy, and apostolic Church – the Catholic Church. I respect and obey only the Magisterium.
 
VeronicaAnne said:
I accept only the reality that there are many religions existing in the world.

I do not respect the teachings of those religions. I do respect the people… but not the religion to which they espouse.

I accept the teaching of only the one, true, holy, and apostolic Church – the Catholic Church. I respect and obey only the Magisterium.
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How would one address the following comment …Is your truth my truth? Do you believe that God is so limited that there is only one expression of his/her/it’s truth?
 
The more accepting I am of other religions, the stronger my own faith becomes.
En Shallah is a common expression around here. It means “God willing” or “if God allows,” or as most commonly used, “Don’t worry” and “if I get around to it.” There is little conception of time and sticking to a schedule as in western cultures.
The other day as the taxi driver philosophized about en shallah, my thoughts went first to a story I heard out of Nazi Germany. A Jewish man upon being stopped by the Gestapo just before crossing the street was asked where he was going. He replied, “Only God knows.” He was promptly arrested to which he responded, “I did not know I would be going to jail today.”
The story from the taxi driver’s own life led me to the story Jesus told of the man who was going to build new silos to store his grain not knowing his life would end that night. The taxi driver’s father died before the family was able to move into the new house he built.

One of my college courses talked about how we each have our own truth. I responded with the Indian story of the blind men and the elephant. Each man had part of the truth as he described a rope, a tree trunk, or a wall. No man had the whole truth, as none was able to identify the elephant.

Muslims fast during the month of Ramadan from dawn to dusk. Eid follows celebrating God’s abundance. Should we not all thank God for His abundant graces.
It is from reading about Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, that I first saw Atonement described as “at one with.” When we atone for our sins, we are able to be “at one with” God.
 
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
856 The [Church’s] missionary task implies a respectful dialogue with those who do not yet accept the Gospel. Believers can profit from this dialogue by learning to appreciate better “those elements of truth and grace which are found among peoples, and which are, as it were, a secret presence of God.” They proclaim the Good News to those who do not know it, in order to consolidate, complete, and raise up the truth and the goodness that God has distributed among men and nations, and to purify them from error and evil "for the glory of God, the confusion of the demon, and the happiness of man.
This seems consistent with the example of St. Paul who, when he spoke to the pagans of Athens, first praised them for their religiosity and then proclaimed the Good News to them. (Acts 17:22-31)

If by accepting other religions you mean to acknowledge and appreciate those elements of truth and grace and goodness found in other religions, then, yes, we are to accept other religions.
 
Sir_Knight said:
What does the bible, specifically the NT, say about “accepting” or not “accepting” other religions – specifically, does the bible instruct us to accept or reject those of other faiths?

Thanks in advance for any scripture verses provided.
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In John Ch.4 Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman. He made it clear to her that " salvation is of the Jews " also that He Himself was the promised Messiah .

In Matt. 28V18 his final words to his followers before ascending into heaven were " Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit "

I believe, in John’s gospel He says " other sheep I have that are not of this fold "
“and there shall be one fold and one Shepherd "
🙂
Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ”
Saint Jerome :shamrock2::bible1:
 
Honest question: how can one respect someone who they believe to be clearly misguided in their beliefs? Clearly these people are not reasoning properly, as they have chosen a religion which you believe to be an outright fallacy. I don’t understand how you can respect this. I certainly couldn’t respect a chemistry student who rejected such a basic principle as, say, atomic theory. Or is this another difference between faith and reason?
 
Sir_Knight said:
How would one address the following comment …Is your truth my truth? Do you believe that God is so limited that there is only one expression of his/her/it’s truth?
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Answers: (1) I don’t know; what do you believe? (2) Yes.
 
pzona said:
Honest question: how can one respect someone who they believe to be clearly misguided in their beliefs? Clearly these people are not reasoning properly, as they have chosen a religion which you believe to be an outright fallacy. I don’t understand how you can respect this. I certainly couldn’t respect a chemistry student who rejected such a basic principle as, say, atomic theory. Or is this another difference between faith and reason?
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We are all the product of our background. Some have a rich faith heritage, some are born into atheist family, or Hindu or Sikh or other.
We are obliged to respect all human beings since all are created in the image and likeness of God .
Saint Paul addresses this in Romans Ch.2 V.12-16 that the judgement of the Gentiles will be different from the judgement of believers.
:knight1::bible1:
 
matahari said:
We are all the product of our background. Some have a rich faith heritage, some are born into atheist family, or Hindu or Sikh or other.
We are obliged to respect all human beings since all are created in the image and likeness of God .
Saint Paul addresses this in Romans Ch.2 V.12-16 that the judgement of the Gentiles will be different from the judgement of believers.
:knight1::bible1:
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Respecting a person has nothing to do with respecting their beliefs. We know God gave us freewill and people can choose what to belief in. We know Chistianity is the only true religion. By default all other religions are false. Its therefore ludicrous for anyone to suggest that we should respect false religions. I have many friends of different religions. I respect them as individuals and their right to sincerely believe in something I know to be false but I certainly do not respect their false beliefs.
 
thistle said:
Respecting a person has nothing to do with respecting their beliefs. We know God gave us freewill and people can choose what to belief in. We know Chistianity is the only true religion. By default all other religions are false. Its therefore ludicrous for anyone to suggest that we should respect false religions. I have many friends of different religions. I respect them as individuals and their right to sincerely believe in something I know to be false but I certainly do not respect their false beliefs.
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Very true. Respect me, I respect you. Respect my belief, I respect yours. Otherwise you should not object to the following:

Respecting a person has nothing to do with respecting their beliefs. We know God gave us freewill and people can choose what to belief in. We know Hinduism is the only true religion. By default all other religions are false. Its therefore ludicrous for anyone to suggest that we should respect false religions. I have many friends of different religions. I respect them as individuals and their right to sincerely believe in something I know to be false but I certainly do not respect their false beliefs.

BUT, I will not insult your beliefs.
 
Sir_Knight said:
How would one address the following comment …Is your truth my truth? Do you believe that God is so limited that there is only one expression of his/her/it’s truth?
Click to expand...
There is no “your truth and my truth.” There is only THE truth, Jesus Christ, eternal living God.

By the nature of creation, every person has a built-in relationship with God, whether they acknowledge it or not. Mankind is *homo religioso *-- religious man. God is the origin and ultimate destination of all mankind. Existence itself is the proof of God and the proof of our ultimate destiny.
 
thistle said:
Respecting a person has nothing to do with respecting their beliefs. We know God gave us freewill and people can choose what to belief in. We know Chistianity is the only true religion. By default all other religions are false. Its therefore ludicrous for anyone to suggest that we should respect false religions. I have many friends of different religions. I respect them as individuals and their right to sincerely believe in something I know to be false but I certainly do not respect their false beliefs.
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Bully for You ! If you read my post again you will notice that I didn’t say we are to respect false beliefs. I said we must respect all human beings as all are created in the image of God. 🤷
 
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