What's your favorite religion beside your own?

[teresa_lamb]

For me, it’s Catholicism! I don’t want this to come across like some suck-up, patronizing reply, because I mean it sincerely (but it does seem somehow wrong that the faith hosting this site doesn’t even appear in the graph ).

In college I was a music major. If you study the history of classical music in all of Europe and Russia, you absolutely have to understand something of the traditions and faith of the Catholic Church, because so many of the most amazingly beautiful, complex, and inspiring musical compositions ever written were done so to accompany the different aspects of worship in the Church. Here’s a Mormon boy who at one time could pray the Rosary because he had to learn of the music associated with it (and I rather regret that I’ve since forgotten it all). And of course many of the greatest musical geniuses in history – from Machaut and Josquin to Beethoven and Berlioz – composed music to accompany the Mass. The Lutherans might claim Bach, but his religious compositions are definitely undergirded by Catholic worship forms.

And how do you describe the ethereal beauty of Gregorian Chant?

So then think it through – if this music is so deeply, spiritually moving in and of itself, what does that say about the worshipful texts that inspired the music in the first place? To me it says plenty – plenty that is good, ennobling, and uplifting.

And another danged thing while I’m on this rant (and hope my fellow Mormons listen up). When we LDS talk about apostasy we need to quit coming across as though all the lights went out in 100 A.D. and didn’t come on again until 1820. For pity sake, some of deepest thinking, greatest theological minds in human history come from this period. And with what religion were many (if not most) of them associated? Well, that would be the Catholic religion. Thomas Aquinas, Luis de Molina, Sir Thomas More, Origen, that light-weight (NOT!) St. Augustine of Hippo – the list is longer than a bad LDS Sunday School lesson!

If you love and can respect history, tradition, artistic excellence (both visual and aural), great thinkers, and much else that is “virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy,” ya gotta love Catholicism. So mark at least one ‘X’ in that box for me!

****** Loved this post…very uplifting…and informative. Thanks

 

[Wesley7]

I enjoy studying about all the different religions but choose to retain my Christian roots.

 

[Kouyate42]

Catholicism.I want to convert.

So do I. But I’m scared…

 

[Bendecida]

Judaism

 

[Jim_Dandy]

The subject of the poll is “What’s your favorite religion to learn about?”

The subject of this thread is “What’s your favorite religion beside (sic) your own?”

The poll subject is fine.

The thread subject is relativism to the max.

Jim Dandy

 

[jw2lds2catholic]

Hands down, Latter-day Saints. I enjoyed being a member of that faith and the values they profess. If it wasn’t for the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith I’d probably still be there. Wonderful people and fascinating theology.

 

[Young_Thinker]

For some weird reason, I think that Islam (especially Shi’a) is exciting.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

So do I. But I’m scared…

Nothin’ to be afraid of! You’ve got all the saints in heaven waiting to celebrate! What could give you trepidation???

If you get EWTN on cable, watch the show on Monday evenings called “The Journey Home.” It will inspire you!

I re-verted after 20+ years away, you can do it!

 

[Kelley_Green]

The fullness of truth and grace reside in the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, need I be interested in anything else? It would take me several lifetimes to learn about the Catholic Church. I think I’ll stay with the Church. I want all the truth and not just part of it. I am greedy when it comes to Truth and Grace.

Well, let me point at this subject from another view. Would you really only know the depth of your own personal experiences of Catholicism if you didn’t understand it’s roots in Judaism? For me it’s not a matter of choosing to consider adopting another religion as if this were a menu in a restaurant. I know beyond all doubt I am Catholic surely as I know my hair is naturally curly. Hairdressers can kill themselves trying to straighten my hair and the first sign of humidity- boing! Nothing walking past me has the power to rearrange my DNA to it’s preference. The sacrament of confirmation was a conscious choice but not long after that I had discovered that even if I willfully tried to drive another religion as if it were a new car I’d still be a Catholic doing so, and so I’d only be kidding myself. It’s in my bones and chinese food for dinner won’t make me chinese. Others travel/ speculate and find themselves unconsciously picking up other peoples accents/ habits appear to be lacking a muscle I have but can’t explain. I understand the need for some to guard themselves more from contrary or what is construed as harmful influences as advised by Vatican. Knowing myself I know what I can objectively observe at arms length in a state of suspended disbelief to consider another view and what I can never allow myself to partake.

From my originating point it’s interesting to me to ponder the missions of doubting Thomas and Mother Theresa in Vedic/ Krishnamurti country. Did the teachings of Jesus take root as a mangrove reaches a foreign shore? Did it never fully take root as some other current washed it away? Or did it evolve distinctly in another direction from where western culture took it? Officially Christians are a minority there, however, I can’t help but feel universal truth didn’t register with one another somehow surely as humankind before language to instruct/ sell anything figured out a campfire was necessary around the globe. I think theosophist good intentions meant to bridge that gap between east and west even if the Vatican has extensive disagreements with them. It’s difficult for me to understand Hindu culture, concomitantly hard for me to glean the answers to these questions, but I like to imagine the influences were positive despite any down side of British east india company & religious persecutions that took place in the past.

Would I never take time to understand Hindu at all, I wouldn’t begin to understand how difficult it must have been for Doubting Thomas to evangelize there, and therefore, would have a severely limited understanding of the Church history or my brothers in that corner of the world. Most of the east fascinates me, and the answer to this thread if it had to be single answer would be Tibetan Buddhism but Sufism, Quakers… there is much to admire in them.

As I ponder the old testament mentioning the tribes of Israel as original inhabitants of the earth, it tends to make me wonder how south americans, new guinea tribes, tibetans and native american indians fit into that picture of unknown continents. Were we separated by enormous chasms (the great floods mentioned in all cultures) that split the continents (continental drift theory)? Origins being one pair is a tacit claim we are all distant cousins somehow despite our divergent philosophical/ religious paths. We are all children of God (even those who disbelieve), and not the ‘superior’ chosen child by virtue of birth some portrayed Jews and Christians to be centuries ago. Even those who would loathe me, or those I may feel loathing toward, are family. Not to be construed as one big happy kumbaya family expected for dinner at your house tomorrow.

Science, religion, and everyday people agree this is one world. Comparative religions disagree that there is one God, and atheists disagree there is any God. But as family I think we kids, no matter how old we get or wise we think we are, eternally struggle to understand and articulate our concept of God. Even atheists only they don’t realize it, whereas agnostics are much more open minded and humble to admit the unknown. The trouble is the harder we try to put it into words, the more it comes out sounding grossly short of the mark, paltry, or downright goofy amongst ourselves, because God defies words. On the whole of things our core religious differences seem to lie there more than anywhere else.

I agree with lefty’s post but only wish the greater family could see from a higher mountaintop how many people throughout the world throughout recorded history have been reaching for God and doing their level best to keep the lights on in their respective corners of the globe that fell outside our format of white western culture.

 

[Little_One0307]

Well, let me point at this subject from another view. Would you really only know the depth of your own personal experiences of Catholicism if you didn’t understand it’s roots in Judaism? For me it’s not a matter of choosing to consider adopting another religion as if this were a menu in a restaurant. I know beyond all doubt I am Catholic surely as I know my hair is naturally curly. Hairdressers can kill themselves trying to straighten my hair and the first sign of humidity- boing! Nothing walking past me has the power to rearrange my DNA to it’s preference. The sacrament of confirmation was a conscious choice but not long after that I had discovered that even if I willfully tried to drive another religion as if it were a new car I’d still be a Catholic doing so, and so I’d only be kidding myself. It’s in my bones and chinese food for dinner won’t make me chinese. Others travel/ speculate and find themselves unconsciously picking up other peoples accents/ habits appear to be lacking a muscle I have but can’t explain. I understand the need for some to guard themselves more from contrary or what is construed as harmful influences as advised by Vatican. Knowing myself I know what I can objectively observe at arms length in a state of suspended disbelief to consider another view and what I can never allow myself to partake.

From my originating point it’s interesting to me to ponder the missions of doubting Thomas and Mother Theresa in Vedic/ Krishnamurti country. Did the teachings of Jesus take root as a mangrove reaches a foreign shore? Did it never fully take root as some other current washed it away? Or did it evolve distinctly in another direction from where western culture took it? Officially Christians are a minority there, however, I can’t help but feel universal truth didn’t register with one another somehow surely as humankind before language to instruct/ sell anything figured out a campfire was necessary around the globe. I think theosophist good intentions meant to bridge that gap between east and west even if the Vatican has extensive disagreements with them. It’s difficult for me to understand Hindu culture, concomitantly hard for me to glean the answers to these questions, but I like to imagine the influences were positive despite any down side of British east india company & religious persecutions that took place in the past.

Would I never take time to understand Hindu at all, I wouldn’t begin to understand how difficult it must have been for Doubting Thomas to evangelize there, and therefore, would have a severely limited understanding of the Church history or my brothers in that corner of the world. Most of the east fascinates me, and the answer to this thread if it had to be single answer would be Tibetan Buddhism but Sufism, Quakers… there is much to admire in them.

As I ponder the old testament mentioning the tribes of Israel as original inhabitants of the earth, it tends to make me wonder how south americans, new guinea tribes, tibetans and native american indians fit into that picture of unknown continents. Were we separated by enormous chasms (the great floods mentioned in all cultures) that split the continents (continental drift theory)? Origins being one pair is a tacit claim we are all distant cousins somehow despite our divergent philosophical/ religious paths. We are all children of God (even those who disbelieve), and not the ‘superior’ chosen child by virtue of birth some portrayed Jews and Christians to be centuries ago. Even those who would loathe me, or those I may feel loathing toward, are family. Not to be construed as one big happy kumbaya family expected for dinner at your house tomorrow.

Science, religion, and everyday people agree this is one world. Comparative religions disagree that there is one God, and atheists disagree there is any God. But as family I think we kids, no matter how old we get or wise we think we are, eternally struggle to understand and articulate our concept of God. Even atheists only they don’t realize it, whereas agnostics are much more open minded and humble to admit the unknown. The trouble is the harder we try to put it into words, the more it comes out sounding grossly short of the mark, paltry, or downright goofy amongst ourselves, because God defies words. On the whole of things our core religious differences seem to lie there more than anywhere else.

I agree with lefty’s post but only wish the greater family could see from a higher mountaintop how many people throughout the world throughout recorded history have been reaching for God and doing their level best to keep the lights on in their respective corners of the globe that fell outside our format of white western culture.

Kelly,

I have read this post and mean to respond to it when I can get the chance.

God bless.

 

[Quis_ut_Deus_3]

I agree with lefty’s post but only wish the greater family could see from a higher mountaintop how many people throughout the world throughout recorded history have been reaching for God and doing their level best to keep the lights on in their respective corners of the globe that fell outside our format of white western culture.

:bluelite:
The grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

What is the difference between a divinely revealed religion and a man-made religion?

My favorite religion is definitely a divinely revealed one!

God bless you,
Quis ut Deus 3 :bluelite:

 

[Little_One0307]

:bluelite:
The grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

What is the difference between a divinely revealed religion and a man-made religion?

My favorite religion is definitely a divinely revealed one!

God bless you,
Quis ut Deus 3 :bluelite:

Definitely Roman Catholic would fit the bill.

God bless.

 

[Little_One0307]

Well, let me point at this subject from another view. Would you really only know the depth of your own personal experiences of Catholicism if you didn’t understand it’s roots in Judaism?..

Kelly,

I don’t know where to begin to reply to this other than this. There is truth out there, but the fullness of the Truth resides in the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. There is no way of skirting the issue.

Yes I know some things were taken from Judaism, but within the Tradition, I can find out what it took. I don’t have to go outside of the Church to find out about the Church. What you said in your post really does not make any sense at all.

If I wanted to find something out about your life and get the fullest sense of truth that I could, I would go to the source [namely you or someone who knew you quite well and could speak in your behalf], wouldn’t you? Why would I go to someone who does not even know you except maybe errrgh through a medical record or something. This is synonmous to looking to other belief systems to provide the full truth, they cannot.

I think we are going to have to agree to disagree. I stand with the Magisterium of the Church by God’s grace and wish to stand no where else. And it is that Church, which is guided by the Holy Spirit, that I need to go to, to find out Truth.

God bless.

 

[1LtMatya]

There is no other religion that God will accept, other than Islam. RELIGION IS EXISTING, WHILE RELIGIONS IS NOT. And that religion is the religion of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, Joseph, John, Jesus, Isaac, Jacob and Muhammad (pbut).

 

[Quis_ut_Deus_3]

Kelly,

I don’t know where to begin to reply to this other than this. There is truth out there, but the fullness of the Truth resides in the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. There is no way of skirting the issue.

Yes I know some things were taken from Judaism, but within the Tradition, I can find out what it took. I don’t have to go outside of the Church to find out about the Church. What you said in your post really does not make any sense at all.

If I wanted to find something out about your life and get the fullest sense of truth that I could, I would go to the source [namely you or someone who knew you quite well and could speak in your behalf], wouldn’t you? Why would I go to someone who does not even know you except maybe errrgh through a medical record or something. This is synonmous to looking to other belief systems to provide the full truth, they cannot.

I think we are going to have to agree to disagree. I stand with the Magisterium of the Church by God’s grace and wish to stand no where else. And it is that Church, which is guided by the Holy Spirit, that I need to go to, to find out Truth.

God bless.

:bluelite:
May the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you,

Well said, Little One!

Let us keep praying that all of our brothers and sisters will embrace the divine Truth given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ through His One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. Nothing wrong with that…is there?

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
(John 14:6)

God bless you,
Quis ut Deus 3 :bluelite: