Why should we be interested in the wisdom of other religions?

[Sophie111]

Now insight is slowly coming…we are often born into situations we cannot fully control. Keep walking that path and you will come into the full wisdom about others the Church possesses. Good luck.

 

[BoomBoomMancini]

Yeah, not sure that’s a great analogy.

Maybe this one: imagine you’re looking at a painting of someone you know. It’s beautifully done. The technique and materials are clearly of high quality, and there are parts you really appreciate on an aesthetic level. The only problem is there are parts that seem inaccurate or incomplete. Having seen the person it’s trying to depict, you know that some of their features are actually different than they appear in the painting.

Now, you can recognize the flaws and inaccuracies in the painting, but that doesn’t mean you can’t appreciate certain elements of it. You just don’t appreciate it as much as you would if it were more accurate.

 

[Feanor2]

Thomas Merton and Keating have written about the praiseworthy aspects of eastern (Buddhist) thought.

 

[abucs]

I think wisdom comes from God and is an attribute of God.

I would say the fullness of the Catholic church teaches this idea and for the Christian wisdom is to be embraced as part of who we are as we get closer to God.

So I see recognizing wisdom in other religions as recognizing God and recognizing more fully ourselves as we journey towards God.

When I talk about recognizing wisdom in other religions it is always from the perspective of a Christian. It should be wise in the tradition of Christianity, not something new and external to Christianity.

So for example if another religion expresses insights about respecting your parents, being responsible or looking to improve oneself then because this falls within the Catholic tradition we can recognize it as wise from a Christian perspective, and therefore Godly.

My 2c.

 

[Eric_Hyom]

The Jews are God’s chosen people, Christians are chosen by Christ, and in Islam, Allah chooses whom he wills.

Maybe we should learn something from each other.

 

[chevalier]

Indifferentism should be avoided, and is, of course, incorrect. However, the insights of people of other religions aren’t necessarily all made up tales, especially if we look past mythological cosmogonies. They may be metaphors and imperfect ways of referring to and reflecting on the same God. It would be unwise to think that, let’s say, a monotheist following a natural religion, serving God as best he can in accordance with his conscience can’t teach us anything about God. But, of course, this doesn’t in any way give us the licence to relativize the revelation we have received.

 

[shazirah]

I think it’s unjust to hate other religions. That’s a dark road to go down, because it can easily slip into hating and dehumanizing the people who follow them. It’s fine to think that another religion is false, but it’s good to learn about them so that you can understand your fellow humans and where they’re coming from. And all religions have beauty in them that can be appreciated for its own sake. God reveals himself even to people who can’t or don’t want to accept the truth.