Resources to Study World (Monotheistic) Faiths

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I would prefer objective resources with no bias(promotion of faith or preaching hellfire and damnation), and Catchecism citations. I have already studied atheism, but I now am looking towards studying the other monotheistic belief systems. I am not quite ready to study pan- or poly- theism. I will report anyone who links satanist resources.
 
The best place to learn about someone’s beliefs is from them. If you have a friend of that faith, just ask them. If you don’t have a friend of that belief, I’d recommend that faith’s official website (or a church which is a member of that faith).
 
I agree with the above.

If you try and learn something from an outsider, you are sure to pack away incorrectness.

Like how people think Catholics worship Mary.
 
ffg said:
If you try and learn something from an outsider, you are sure to pack away incorrectness.

Like how people think Catholics worship Mary.
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Well, that can be good or it can be problematic. Think about all the different ways to be Catholic (or Anglican). One person can often have a very different perspective or experience of being a member of the faith. I think a good way to start learning other faiths is to read a good scholarly book on Comparative Religions to get the broad picture and THEN ask people how they practice their faith.
 
ComplineSanFran said:
Well, that can be good or it can be problematic. Think about all the different ways to be Catholic (or Anglican). One person can often have a very different perspective or experience of being a member of the faith. I think a good way to start learning other faiths is to read a good scholarly book on Comparative Religions to get the broad picture and THEN ask people how they practice their faith.
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Most certainly experiences define one’s outlook.

Comparative religion books are good.

In the same way as a discussion, just have to be sure to consider the source and knock details up against official teaching.

Take care,

Mike
 
Karen Armstrong has a good book called ‘A prophet for our time’. It has a few minor historical errors, but otherwise, it’s a solid choice.
 
Karen Armstrong
Joan Chittister
Bruce Chilton
Eboo Patel
Rami Shapiro
Marcus Borg
Hans Kung
Matthew Fox
John Dominic Crossan
John Shelby Spong
Gary Dorrien
Forrest Church
Mircea Eliade
Wendel Berry
Zalman Schachter Shalomi
James Cone
Walter Rauschenbusch
Walter Bruegemann
Rosemary Radford Ruether
Jann Aldredge Clanton
Paul Knitter

These are great authors and I recommend them greatly. I also suggest going to the Unification World Scriptures site and looking up interfaith readings. Jung is essential, in understanding archetypes, too.
 
jschwartz said:
Karen Armstrong

These are great authors and I recommend them greatly. I also suggest going to the Unification World Scriptures site and looking up interfaith readings. Jung is essential, in understanding archetypes, too.
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Huston Smith has a tried and true book called ‘The World Religions’. I also like Karen Armstrong’s ‘The History of God.’
 
ComplineSanFran said:
Well, that can be good or it can be problematic. Think about all the different ways to be Catholic (or Anglican). One person can often have a very different perspective or experience of being a member of the faith. I think a good way to start learning other faiths is to read a good scholarly book on Comparative Religions to get the broad picture and THEN ask people how they practice their faith.
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This points out two subtly different goals:

OP, do you want to know about a faith as it is on the books, or do you want to learn about what members of that faith believe and how they live it?

These goals aren’t exactly mutually exclusive, but do differ. For example, if you want to know how someone lives and loves their faith, you’re going to need a someone to ask (or read their writings). Naturally, that person’s experiences are going to be a core part of their story. On the other hand, if you just want faith-on-the-books, an impersonal theology summary by the church might due.
 
Scholars are a worthy resource. Many scholars of religious studies and comparative religion know more about a particular religion than many of that religions own adherents, even when the scholar is not an adherent. In some cases, “outsiders” are more knowledgeable than lay members.
 
This site has a very good reputation: jewfaq.org/index.shtml

It often presents things from the Orthodox Jewish point of view, but discusses the various movements as well. You’ll see right on the homepage, it’s extremely clear as to what it’s all about.
 
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