Obligation to be open to other religions?

[Wulfgar]

Alright, a massive disclaimer before I post seems to be in order: I am NOT considering converting to a different religion. This is a purely hypothetical question that I am asking so that I can better understand my own faith. So before you guys all start jumping on the “damnation-risk bandwagon”, please know that I ask this question because I wish to come to a better understanding of the world and why I believe what I believe.

I’ve been haunted by a question with which I expect to be faced: How do I know that my religion is the correct one? Why not Islam? Why not Mormonism? I admittedly have not studied other religions as much as I should; I’ve read Catholic (and, in general, Christian) apologetics, but I haven’t read other apologetics of other faiths. Wouldn’t I have, in the worldview of another religion, the same obligation to study it and be open to it, as we Catholics claim that others have the obligation to be open to our own religion as well? How can I say that I am right, while not being open to something which I’ve barely studied? Isn’t that imposing an unreasonable standard on other people?

I’m not looking for Catholic apologetics here; I just feel like an ignoramus regarding other religions. I want to understand why people believe what they believe, yet I haven’t done the proper research. I guess my question is: what would your advice be for me, given my CURRENT situation, if approached with this question, without undermining my own faith? I don’t find much integrity in claiming that my views are correct while also saying that I know little about what others believe. But as a Catholic, I also find it uncomfortable saying that another religion could perhaps be the correct one instead, not because I have some inherent fear that I’m wrong, but because I would be lacking faith in my own beliefs.

Catholicism has worked out for me, no doubt (not because it is convenient or anything like that; it’s challenging but has made me a much better person). Other people have undoubtedly been made better people as they’ve followed other religions, though; why am I any different? How can Catholics say that, for instance, secular society often paints a terrible image of Catholicism, while many Catholics do a similar thing by painting Islam as a violent worldview?

Here’s an example: the Church teaches that we must never kill an unborn child directly, even to save a mother’s life; an innocent baby has done nothing wrong, by definition, so it cannot be punished with death. Many people believe this is a violent worldview that unjustly targets women, but nonetheless it is the moral outlook we hold to be true (and I have given a crudely brief explanation as to why that is). In comparison, many Catholics believe the majority of Muslims are out to spread Islam by force and violence, and they find this worldview barbaric and contrary to the nature of God; yet militant Muslims would say that it is in perfect correlation with God’s will, and is thus justified (undoubtedly, they would have their own theological arguments as to why it’s true). My point is that we tend to close ourselves to other religions because we find them violent or illogical (among other reasons), but people do just the same thing to us. And no, I am NOT saying that Christianity is violent in nature; I am simply saying that things in the past (witch burning, crusades, Inquisition, etc.), as well as (perceived) violence in the present (my abortion example above), are used by others to claim that Christianity is “bad” and should therefore be done away with.

So what do you say in this PARTICULAR situation? What can be believed? How can I be honest if I haven’t read a defense of each and every religion? I have no problem with Catholics who have honestly studied other faiths and reject them, but I’m uncomfortable with the notion that some Catholics (ha ha, yes, including myself) accept their faith as true even though they have had little to no exposure to other religions.

Once again, I am not having “personal issues” with my faith. So don’t take this hypothetical situation the wrong way. Por favor.

 

[Abbigaelann]

I think it’s great to explore. The more you learn of other faiths, the stronger you can be in your own. On the Islam/Muslim and a few other religions…there’s a cute little novel you might care to read that I only found one objection to myself (Jesus shouldn’t wink, Proverbs ), “Dinner with a Perfect Stranger: An Invitation Worth Considering” by David Gregory (and sorry, I am clueless what the church’s view is of this book).

Sometimes, you don’t have to be well versed in certain religions to know that it’s just not what you believe. You mentioned Mormon. Okay…1. There was one man interpreting this. Every book of the Bible has overlaps of other accounts of the same events. Also, there are set literary styles that permeate throughout the Bible…even old to new testament-not in the Book of Mormon. Then, we have in the book of Revelation, “nothing shall be added to or taken away from this”…See? Some apostolic and pentecostal churches are not trinitarian. Some protestant denominations don’t accept transsubstantiation (or whatever they call it these days). Some, their premises negate each other from the scripture they use to prove one point they will try to disprove your logic using it the opposite way for another.

Regardless, Catholic is a universal church. It should be one of the most open churches. Belief in Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit and the three must be intertwined-easy but erroneous analogy…our govmt…the united states of america…executive, judicial, legislative. (Where did they get those silly notions of how to do this government stuff?) Now if your faith as a Catholic is strong, you aren’t threatened by any other religion, nor should they be of yours. For if we believe it is a God of Love, where is there room for heated debate…where has the love gone? It became something quite different didn’t it. Can we instead look at other religions as a different part of the faith journey? Can they reach parts of the population that Catholics can’t? Can Catholics reach parts that others can’t? Shall we sit in judgment of those doing good, trying to live by the ten commandments, trying to help live the love…because of what semantics? I don’t think so. We’re not perfect, nor are they. I personally don’t see why the Jews can’t celebrate with us…they believe in a messiah, we believe in a messiah, mormons believe in a messiah…so regardless of when they think the messiah happened or will happen…can we not share that celebration together? We have the Word of God…let’s join in the commonalities, not the dissensions. Is that not love? faith? hope? And if love is the only thing that remains, and all things are possible only believe…can we bring it together that we are a house undivided that will not fall against the evils of the world?

As far as Nirvana hitting big in this country, honey, that was a teen con game use. Kiss met, nerve and a car ma? The west coast being made fun of by the east coast (altho there is a religion of Dao) about the newfound religion, the DOW?

The wisdom of wisdom…learn all that you can to know that you know nothing yet that is everything because otherwise there’d be no reason to do anything…except for LOVE. Love puts real value and reason to life and all that it has to offer.
oopsie went on a bit long here…sorry…

 

[Abbigaelann]

If two men were going over a translation and they disagreed on what the message said, yet neither were of the region nor the time that the events took place, and yet the majority then sided with the one, and it became accepted interpretation and practice. What if neither were right?

The Catholic Church has been closest to the history, had more of the documentation of the Christ era-they have not always been really open to sharing this with other denominations. The history of any organized religion has not been good. We go with the ideology and trying to uphold those beliefs, regardless of what others may do to it. And apathy or disregard is not an option…If people spent as much time studying their Bible as they did say, football stats (or most anything else)? There might be fewer theological arguments? LOL

Warning: the book might seem to change the more you read it over the years, especially if you have an open mind. It doesn’t change, you do. Perspectives, perceptions, etc…will you be prepared enough to answer your own questions about the changes?

 

[daler]

I come from the Yankton Sioux Reservation in South Dakota and the Lakota were very spiritual people, closely connected to the Great Sprit, Wakan Tanka. My mother taught at one of the Mission Schools there in Marty Mission.
Some striking resemblance here to the One Fold and One Shepherd.
This is the vision of Black Elk, where he saw forming the One Sacred Hoop of All Nations
"I looked ahead and saw the mountains there with rocks and forests upon them, and from the mountains flashed all colors upwards to the heavens. Then I was standing on the highest mountain of them all, and round about beneath me was the whole hoop of the world. And while I stood there I saw more than I can tell and I understood more than I saw, for I was seeing in a sacred manner the shapes of all things in the spirit and the shape of all shapes as they must live together in one being. And I saw the sacred hoop of my people was one of many sacred hoops that made one circle, wide as daylight and as starlight, and in the center grew one mighty and flowering tree to shelter all the children of one mother and one father. And I saw that it was holy."

 

[Abbigaelann]

That is beautiful. huic a tan qua - who is the only…belief in one God. And a communion of all believers in the vision of Black Elk. Thank you.

 

[daler]

That is beautiful. huic a tan qua - who is the only…belief in one God. And a communion of all believers in the vision of Black Elk. Thank you.

 

[daler]

It is my firm belief that God sent Prophetic Teachers, or Divine Educators to many peoples of the world, far and wide, and that the evidence of this is the high degree of spiritual and moral education found amongst so many noble people.
I have sat in the Sacred Sweat Lodges where the prayers were all in Lakota and God was present as much in any church. When properly conducted, these ancient ceremonies cleansed us of the defilements of the world and of ourselves, leaving behind that which was unholy in such a manner that when one exited the Sweat Ceremony it is as if one was indeed 'born again"

 

[Used2beSherryG]

Part of your education as a devout Catholic must encompass the study of the history of the world. By learning more about your faith, you will necessarily discover when and how other religions were formed and broken off from the vine through various heresies. Innate in every human being is the longing for God and the search for Him. this is how we were created in His image and likeness. By all means study your faith and you will uncover the truth of all other religions and be able to confidently and truthfully discuss faith questions with others regardless of where they are coming from.

 

[Spinster]

Jesus Christ is God he proved this when he rose from the dead

"Now if Christ be preached, that he arose again from the dead, how do some among you say, that there is no resurrection of the dead?

But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen again.

And if Christ be not risen again, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain."
1 Corinthians 15:12-14

He said
Jesus saith to him: I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father, but by me. John 14:6

Pilate therefore said to him, Thou art then a king? Jesus answered, Thou sayest it, that I am a king. I have been born for this, and for this I have come into the world, that I might bear witness to the truth. Every one that is of the truth hears my voice. John 18:37

Jesus is God and the truth he founded the one, true, catholic and apostolic church and promised he would remain with it forever, other religions do not have the truth and their gods are not gods, they do not have the truth.
It also does not matter how spiritual they may be, barring invincible ignorance, which would be hard to prove, especially in this day and age, their religions are false and have no salvific value.

If anyone should say that the true Church is not one body in itself, but consists of varied and diverse societies of Christian name, and is spread out among them, or that various societies disagreeing among themselves in profession of faith and separated by communion, constitute, as members or parts, the one and universal Church of Christ, let him be anathema.

• Vatican Council (1870), Canon IV

Pope Pius XI, Mortalium Animos said:
9. These pan-Christians who turn their minds to uniting the churches seem, indeed, to pursue the noblest of ideas in promoting charity among all Christians: nevertheless how does it happen that this charity tends to injure faith? Everyone knows that John himself, the Apostle of love, who seems to reveal in his Gospel the secrets of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and who never ceased to impress on the memories of his followers the new commandment “Love one another,” altogether forbade any intercourse with those who professed a mutilated and corrupt version of Christ’s teaching: “If any man come to you and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into the house nor say to him: God speed you.”

Better that only a few Catholics should be left, staunch and sincere in their religion, than that they should, remaining many, desire as it were, to be in collusion with the Church’s enemies and in conformity with the open foes of our faith.

• St. Peter Canisius (1521-1597)

To use the words of the fathers of the Council of Trent, it is certain that the Church “was instructed by Jesus Christ and His Apostles and that all truth was daily taught by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost.” Therefore, it is obviously absurd and injurious to propose a certain “restoration and regeneration” for her as though necessary for her safety and growth, as if she could be considered subject to defect or obscuration or other misfortune. Indeed these authors of novelties consider that a “foundation may be laid of a new human institution,” and what St. Cyprian detested may come to pass, that what was a divine thing “may become a human church.”

• Pope Gregory XVI (1831-1846), Mirari Vos, “On Liberalism and Religious Indifferentism,” August 15, 1832

As an aside note, some of the historical events mentioned in the OP should perhaps be studied from a Catholic perspective as they are usually not as bad as protestant or secular sources would have you believe, “Seven Lies About Catholic History” by Diane Moczar would be a good as a starting point as it is gives a brief overview of all the events you have listed.

 

[Polycarp1]

I come from the Yankton Sioux Reservation in South Dakota and the Lakota were very spiritual people, closely connected to the Great Sprit, Wakan Tanka. My mother taught at one of the Mission Schools there in Marty Mission.
Some striking resemblance here to the One Fold and One Shepherd.
This is the vision of Black Elk, where he saw forming the One Sacred Hoop of All Nations

"I looked ahead and saw the mountains there with rocks and forests upon them, and from the mountains flashed all colors upwards to the heavens.  Then I was standing on the highest mountain of them all, and round about beneath me was the whole hoop of the world.  And while I stood there I saw more than I can tell and I understood more than I saw, for I was seeing in a sacred manner the shapes of all things in the spirit and the shape of all shapes as they must live together in one being.  And I saw the sacred hoop of my people was one of many sacred hoops that made one circle, wide as daylight and as starlight, and in the center grew one mighty and flowering tree to shelter all the children of one mother and one father.  And I saw that it was holy."

I live in Canada, my Sioux ancestors came from South Dakota in the Pine Ridge area. I often imagine one of my ancestors standing on a hill top, his eyes and arms stretched to the heavens praying to the creator those primal questions that all men asks "Who are you? What am I?, What am I for?. I believe God blessed and heard these heart felt pleas and responded by sending his son into the world to answer these questions for all mankind. Sadly people sometimes think of Christianity as the “White man’s religion” and that it conflicts with Native spirituality when in reality it fulfils and completes it as it does many ancient natural religions. People sometimes see my braid and ask if I practive Native spirituality and I say of course I do…I am Roman Catholic!
Jesus instructed his disciples to spread the good news to all the peoples of the world (which includes us His Indians.) It is true that many of the messengers didn’t do this in a good way and used and abused this authority in a manner that has unfortunately turned many away from the Truth. But the Faith is perfect even if the faithful are not and we should not let the weakness of others become a stumbling block to our own jouney to God. IMHO

 

[Joe_5859]

If you regularly engage in conversations about religion with non-Catholics, then I can understand feeling like you haven’t done your due dilligence. But not every Catholic is called to learn lots and lots about every religion. Not everyone has the necessary demeanor for such study nor the time to study it all.

Of course, this does not mean that no Catholic ought to learn more about other religions. I’ve never regretted having more information about something. It is good to know where people are coming from if you deal with them on a personal, regular basis.

That said, the presupposition I would caution about accepting is that human beings are somehow pre-religious and that we can lay before us all the world religions, study them all, and then choose the one that makes the most sense to us. This is the same line of thinking that leads some well-meaning parents to not raise their children in any faith but leave it for them to decide for themselves when they grow older. On the surface, this sounds like a good idea, but it really necessitates implicitly accepting a relativistic point of view with regards to religion.

Truth is truth. We don’t need to know every single theory that any person in human history has ever come up with to be convicted that the faith before us is true. I don’t need to read through a Muslim apologetic defending acts of terrorism to know that terrorism is a grave evil that does not respect the dignity of the human person. Nor do I feel like I need to read such an apologetic in order to convincingly and credibly make the case that such acts are evil. I can argue such based on the natural moral law written on the human heart.

 

[daler]

I live in Canada, my Sioux ancestors came from South Dakota in the Pine Ridge area.

Hello,
I grew up about 200 miles east of Pine Ridge on the Yankton rez. I’m not Lakota, but many of my friends were. My grandparents homesteaded there in 1895.
It seems to me that God, Allah, Wakan Tanka are all names for the same God. Just like we have many names for the sun, but whatever word we use its the same sun. But since God is not physical, we can’t point to God and say; “Thats what I mean when I say this word.” So people get confused and think they are talking about different Gods.
Also, I think that God, the Great Spirit, sent Messengers to more than just the Jewish people. The Native people obviously were taught much about God prior to the Europeans coming to this land. From what I have heard about the White Buffalo Calf Woman, I think that she brought a Message from the Great Spirit.
We have a saying in the Baha’i teachings that “All the Prophets proclaim the same Faith.” For me, that means that if one of them is truly a “Prophet” from God, then they are like different pages in the same Book. Just different chapters given to different people at different times. They all the same “civilizing” effect, if that word can be used. It is misused sometimes to measure one group against another though and shouldn’t be used that way.
I have been to Wounded Knee many times. Have friends there. Quite a “feeling” one gets there where the people are buried. Kind of like 9-11, I imagine. People need to get over the illusion that we are different. Sure we are different in good ways, for cultural diversity. What is needed is unity in diversity so that all of us grow up and learn how to get along and really appreciate all of God’s children.
Thank you for your kind reply. May Wakan Tanka always bless you and your family.
Dale

 

[Polycarp1]

Polycarp1;10828835:

I live in Canada, my Sioux ancestors came from South Dakota in the Pine Ridge area.

Hello,
I grew up about 200 miles east of Pine Ridge on the Yankton rez. I’m not Lakota, but many of my friends were. My grandparents homesteaded there in 1895.
It seems to me that God, Allah, Wakan Tanka are all names for the same God. Just like we have many names for the sun, but whatever word we use its the same sun. But since God is not physical, we can’t point to God and say; “Thats what I mean when I say this word.” So people get confused and think they are talking about different Gods.
Also, I think that God, the Great Spirit, sent Messengers to more than just the Jewish people. The Native people obviously were taught much about God prior to the Europeans coming to this land. From what I have heard about the White Buffalo Calf Woman, I think that she brought a Message from the Great Spirit.
We have a saying in the Baha’i teachings that “All the Prophets proclaim the same Faith.” For me, that means that if one of them is truly a “Prophet” from God, then they are like different pages in the same Book. Just different chapters given to different people at different times. They all the same “civilizing” effect, if that word can be used. It is misused sometimes to measure one group against another though and shouldn’t be used that way.
I have been to Wounded Knee many times. Have friends there. Quite a “feeling” one gets there where the people are buried. Kind of like 9-11, I imagine. People need to get over the illusion that we are different. Sure we are different in good ways, for cultural diversity. What is needed is unity in diversity so that all of us grow up and learn how to get along and really appreciate all of God’s children.
Thank you for your kind reply. May Wakan Tanka always bless you and your family.
Dale

I can’t agree that all prophets proclaim the same faith. Not everything can be true especially if they conflict. For example the Baha’i faith teaches that the godhead passes on from one Prophet to another and includes Jesus as one in this chain. I believe that Jesus wasn’t just prophet but the one and only son of God. God become man. We can’t both be right.

 

[daler]

daler;10829256:

I can’t agree that all prophets proclaim the same faith. Not everything can be true especially if they conflict. For example the Baha’i faith teaches that the godhead passes on from one Prophet to another and includes Jesus as one in this chain. I believe that Jesus wasn’t just prophet but the one and only son of God. God become man. We can’t both be right.

Thanks for your thoughts. This is always where things get interesting, and trade thoughts. What I mean is that if a man is really, truly a “Prophet” of the one true God, then he is a prophet, otherwise he’s not. So the basic logic is that if he “is” a prophet of God, then all of the prophets are revealing something that God told them to reveal about His Faith. For Baha’is, there is a statement which Baha’u’llah says: “This is the changeless Faith of God, eternal in the past, eternal in the future.”
So Baha’is believe that there is only one God, known by many names, but still just One.
It follows that, in one sense, there is only one religion, cause its from that one God, but then it depends upon how we use the term religion, cause it can be used in more than one way. Also, than mankind is one, although we might “call” ourselves by different names according to our color, country, beliefs, etc. We’re all God’s creatures and, if I may use another quote from Baha’u’llah, “The earth is one country and mankind its citizens.”
I was raised Christian and taught that Jesus is the Son of God, and I believe that, but I don’t think it means His biological son. Rather, I think it means that His station (Jesus) is so close to God that that is the term we use for such a station. Abraham was called the Friend of God. Moses, His Lawgiver, etc Each of them brought us the Word of God and none of Them said that it came from themselves.
So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. … by saying, “My teaching does not belong to me, but comes from Him who sent me. … These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.”
and of course Moses brought the ten commandments down the mountain from God to us and Abraham taught us what God told Him to tell us, etc.
I don’t wanna talk too long here. Gotta go to work. But we can talk later if you like. I always enjoy these conversations. Thanks, Dale

 

[PJM]

=Wulfgar;
I’ve been haunted by a question with which I expect to be faced: How do I know that my religion is the correct one? Why not Islam? Why not Mormonism? I admittedly have not studied other religions as much as I should; I’ve read Catholic (and, in general, Christian) apologetics, but I haven’t read other apologetics of other faiths. Wouldn’t I have, in the worldview of another religion, the same obligation to study it and be open to it, as we Catholics claim that others have the obligation to be open to our own religion as well? How can I say that I am right, while not being open to something which I’ve barely studied? Isn’t that imposing an unreasonable standard on other people?

I’m not looking for Catholic apologetics here; I just feel like an ignoramus regarding other religions. I want to understand why people believe what they believe, yet I haven’t done the proper research. I guess my question is: what would your advice be for me, given my CURRENT situation, if approached with this question, without undermining my own faith? I don’t find much integrity in claiming that my views are correct while also saying that I know little about what others believe. But as a Catholic, I also find it uncomfortable saying that another religion could perhaps be the correct one instead, not because I have some inherent fear that I’m wrong, but because I would be lacking faith in my own beliefs.

Because space is limited I had to shorten your post.

I’m unsure personally if your concerns can be addressed W/O touching Ctholic Apoplgetics.

In your investigation i might suffest that several key thoughts MUST be kept in mind.

God IS One

God is “all good things Perfected”

One God who is “good and perfect” can: Theologically; Morally and Logically [at least in my opinion] cannot hold more than one position; one “faith-fact” on lond defined issues

This is both historically and biblically provable from th OT; for reasons only Gods fully understands; He choose just “one Chosen People”

Deuteronomy 7:6
Because thou art a holy people to the Lord thy God. The Lord thy God hath chosen thee, to be his peculiar people of all peoples that are upon the earth.

And in the NT: only one church = only one set of TRUE faith beliefs

Mt. 16:18-19 “And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, [singu;ar] and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to thee [singular] the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven.”

So if the goal is to understand other MAN-MADE faith beliefs inorder to explain; live and defend Christ One TRUE faith. “Truth” by defination being singular also. Then it is a good practice.

The example you gave needs to be understood in this light:

WHO"S in charge? Man or God?

Everything that happens is either caused by; or permitted by God for 2 REASONS

His POSSIBLE Glorification
Mans possibe sanctfication

Life is the womb is the SAME as life outside the womb. ONLY God can make that call. That is what the 5th Commandment says.

God Bless you,

Pat/PJM

 

[504Katrin]

Yosef once told me about a man who lives in Jerusalem. Yosef had a conversation with said man and he told him about a community in South America. The man from Jerusalem asked Yosef: “South America? Is this very far away? Is it even behind England?” Yosef then shook his head smiling while telling me: “He went to yeshiva all his life…knows more about the Torah than we could dream of…but he doesn’t know where South America is!”

I, personally, envied said man from Jerusalem terrrribly. Terribly! If someone could have died from envy I would have instantly died that minute.

Thing is, there’re different religions, and lots to know, but we are all different persons and differently gifted hence have different tasks in our lives to fulfill. If you can serve G-d best as a Catholic, try to be the best Catholic that you can be.

 

[happyme]

Thing is, there’re different religions, and lots to know, but we are all different persons and differently gifted hence have different tasks in our lives to fulfill. If you can serve G-d best as a Catholic, try to be the best Catholic that you can be.

Try to be the best Catholic that you can be.

I like what you said here, I would say for myself that you should be the best Christian you can be. Or Jew or Muslim whatever faith, to do ones best to live by the teachings of God surely is the straight path.

 

[chrisb]

Grace and Peace,

Is your faith journey without progress?

Have you not encountered the divine?

 

[daler]

QUOTE=Wulfgar;
I’ve been haunted by a question with which I expect to be faced: How do I know that my religion is the correct one? Why not Islam? Why not Mormonism? I admittedly have not studied other religions as much as I should; I’ve read Catholic (and, in general, Christian) apologetics, but I haven’t read other apologetics of other faiths. Wouldn’t I have, in the worldview of another religion, the same obligation to study it and be open to it, as we Catholics claim that others have the obligation to be open to our own religion as well? How can I say that I am right, while not being open to something which I’ve barely studied? Isn’t that imposing an unreasonable standard on other people?

Wulfgar, You hit the nail on the head here. If one is born in India to Hindu parents, thats what he’s gonna pick up on and express as his own, right? If you or I were born in Saudi Arabia to Muslim parents, our faith and worldview would be from that. Or maybe if I was born in Utah and my folks and the whole town were Mormon, thats all I would know and probably be riding around on a bicycle in a white shirt and black pants with my buddy, knocking on doors and telling people about Joe Smith.
Back up a couple of thousand years in Israel, somebody starts talking to me about this fellow Jesus, but I say “I’m Jewish”, the question becomes “Why?” And the answer is like in Fiddler on the Roof: “Tradition!”

So what do you say in this PARTICULAR situation? What can be believed? How can I be honest if I haven’t read a defense of each and every religion? I have no problem with Catholics who have honestly studied other faiths and reject them, but I’m uncomfortable with the notion that some Catholics (ha ha, yes, including myself) accept their faith as true even though they have had little to no exposure to other religions.

I grew up attending the Methodist church because it was only two blocks away. My immediate neighbors across the alley were Catholic. We all played together and got along fine. Be nice if the grownups would learn from their kids.
In 1980 I was introduced to the Baha’i Faith, which teaches that there is One God called by many names, but its the same God. What is important is the “independent investigation of truth”. God gave us a brain intending that we would use it to think for ourselves, and figure out what it is that we believe, rather than simply mimic the people around us. Otherwise, He would have made us parrots…

 

[daler]

“I like what you said here, I would say for myself that you should be the best Christian you can be. Or Jew or Muslim whatever faith, to do ones best to live by the teachings of God surely is the straight path.”

I compliment you on your healthy attitude here.
As he famously once said when asked if he was a Hindu, “Yes I am. I am also a Christian, a Muslim, a Buddhist and a Jew.” Mahatma Ghandi

This is the Baha’i view, that “All the Prophets proclaim the same Faith”