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 Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 7:18 pm
I love to study and learn about various religions. I find all religions intriguing and unique. The one I'm studying now is Satanism. My Christian friend tells me that I'm sinning, though I'm only studying the religion, not believing it. Is it bad that I'm learning about the religion?
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Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 10:13 pm
No. I think that's a good idea because then you know more about it and you can use that to ur advantage to evangalize. Besides like your said your just studying it I mean, if that's a sin, then studying about evolution is a sin even though you don't believe it.
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faithful quenga Vice Captain
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Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 11:09 pm
I am a sinner... "1 John 1:8"
Why exactly are you studying other religions? It's not the so much the act of what your doing but what your motives are.
if you're doing it to find answers to things, then you're looking in the wrong place and in my opinion, yes that is a sin. If you're looking because you doubt God and are exploring other things, then yes that is a sin. doubt and confusion do not come from the Lord and therefore if you are looking else where as a means to over come those things then it's a sin in my opinion.
We shouldn't focus on other religions or what other people's beliefs teach so much, in my opinion. What we should be focusing on is our relationship with Jesus. We should be focusing on His Word. If we chose to read something to learn, shouldn't we chose to read the book that has all the answers? Shouldn't we stay in close contact with God so that we can guard our hearts against the enemy trying to confuse us, make us doubt, or over think our relationship with God?
...Saved by God's grace "Acts 15:11"
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Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 11:09 pm
It depends how far you go it would be ok to learn about but make sure you don't start to follow any of it's teachings
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Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 11:30 pm
The issue with most Christians who argue against studying other religions is that they are not aware that where overall the religion itself might not be true, there are things within the religion that might show some truth in the world, especially in correspondence with the Gospels. Paul even uses the poets of the Greeks to preach to the Greeks worshiping at their temples "For as one of your own poets have said, 'in him we move and live and have our being,' "
But Faithful does have good points in that the reason one studies is quite different than the studying itself.
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Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 9:15 am
Very good question! I don't believe it's wrong, as long as you're firm in your faith. If you're not a particularly strong Christian, then studying other religions could confuse you. But it is important for Christians to understand other people's beliefs! To try to convert people without understanding their perspective is hypocrisy and ignorance, and that's why so many people hate Christians. Someone once walked up to me and said "I'm not going to listen to you, but I need to correct your opinion." Obviously, my thought was "Why should I listen to you if you won't listen to me?" If we try to convert people without understanding their beliefs, we're saying the same thing. We tell people that they should listen to us, but we don't have to listen to them. So no, studying other religions, even Satanism, is not a sin.
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Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 2:21 pm
I'm studying it because I enjoy learning about other religions. I think they're interesting. Sometimes the things I learn make me think or catch my attention, but never do I want to change my religious views. I study various religions, though spend awhile studying one in particular for awhile. The one now, obviously, is Satanism, though it's not the only one I've studied. So it's not just Satanism in particular.
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Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 8:17 am
You must be very careful when studying other religions. It can lead to a crisis of your own faith. If your belief in God is solid then there is no point to be studying other religions. They should hold no real interest to you. You should be in the world but have no part of the world.
In everything you do, you should be doing it to the glory of God. The work you do every day should be done giving thanks and glory to God. How can studying another religion give thanks and glory to God?
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iamlost4ever Vice Captain
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Le Pale to the Chief Captain
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Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 11:41 pm
Dangerous. You either follow Satan or God. There is no in between. This is a red flag.
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Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2011 3:44 am
Cappeh Sensai Dangerous. You either follow Satan or God. There is no in between. This is a red flag. Not to mention her other thread about her losing faith.
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Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2011 9:59 pm
iamlost4ever You must be very careful when studying other religions. It can lead to a crisis of your own faith. If your belief in God is solid then there is no point to be studying other religions. They should hold no real interest to you. You should be in the world but have no part of the world. In everything you do, you should be doing it to the glory of God. The work you do every day should be done giving thanks and glory to God. How can studying another religion give thanks and glory to God? A way that studying other religions, as stated in an earlier post, can glorify God is if you were trying to convert someone of that religion. You can't just tell someone "Oh hay my religion is right yours is wrong" if you have no idea what the religion is about. That is ignorance and hypocrisy, and the reason no one wants to convert. We will be able to convert more people, thus glorifying God.
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Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2011 7:32 am
From my own personal thoughts, studying other religions is good, but there is a danger. I believe that the time to not study other religions is not being solid in the Word. But when you are solid in the Word, then it would be time that you can study on the other religions. But another question arises: Are you studying for knowledge sake or to study for Christ sake? What do I mean by this? Studying for knowledge sake means that you just want to gain knowledge that you might not ever use it. You just want to know, know, and know about this, that, and the other thing. I have been on that road so many times that it became a bondage in my life that I could not get out by myself. I call it the bondage of knowledge, because Christ was not the center focus of my reasoning or purpose for me wanting to know more.
Now if you do it for Christ's sake, that is completely opposite. I am studying Atheism so I can gain more knowledge in my witnessing and in my preaching. It is not that hard because I used to be an Atheist before I was a Christian. But still, I want to know their questions and concerns against the Bible and about God and I will answer to my best ability from experiences or from the Bible.
But like I said, as long as you are strong in the Word and in the Lord, you should have no problem handling with studying other religions if you do it for Christ's sake. Here is a small encouragement for you.
1 John 2:13 & 14: I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
As long as you know the Father, and is strong in Him, and the Word of God abides in you, you shall and will overcome the Wicked one. That is His dear promise for you, today, and you shall not be deceive by his lies and temptations as you stay strong in the Lord.
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iamlost4ever Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 11:57 am
HetaliaRomano iamlost4ever You must be very careful when studying other religions. It can lead to a crisis of your own faith. If your belief in God is solid then there is no point to be studying other religions. They should hold no real interest to you. You should be in the world but have no part of the world. In everything you do, you should be doing it to the glory of God. The work you do every day should be done giving thanks and glory to God. How can studying another religion give thanks and glory to God? A way that studying other religions, as stated in an earlier post, can glorify God is if you were trying to convert someone of that religion. You can't just tell someone "Oh hay my religion is right yours is wrong" if you have no idea what the religion is about. That is ignorance and hypocrisy, and the reason no one wants to convert. We will be able to convert more people, thus glorifying God. There is no reason to study other religions. If a person is seriously seeking God there is only one real question they need to answer: What do you think of Jesus and what are you going to do about him? A person wanting proof that the word of God is true and real is really just seeking an argument. The proof is in a person's heart. That is where the real proof that Jesus is real is found also. It is based on your personal relationship with Jesus and not something that can be seen. If that were the case then only people way evidence and seek proof and logic would come to God. You don't need to know what another person believes to show him God. That is an excuse to go searching other religions. Our soul must be cultivated like a garden pulling out all unnecessary weeds (like other beliefs that do not fit our own) and our will must be sanctified so that we are a christian through and through. Think on this thought every day "What can I do or should I do today that I may receive the benefits of the Lord Jesus Christ into my life." Your life must be like this in order to be a fulfilled christian. It should be: I must hear, I must listen, I must identify, I must admit, I must follow, I must devote and I must dedicate my life fully to follow Jesus where ever He goes and He leads me until the day I die and I join him in heaven. He will give you the words to speak when you witness so that you do not have to waste your time studying other religions, instead you can spend the time with Jesus.
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Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 2:08 pm
iamlost4ever HetaliaRomano iamlost4ever You must be very careful when studying other religions. It can lead to a crisis of your own faith. If your belief in God is solid then there is no point to be studying other religions. They should hold no real interest to you. You should be in the world but have no part of the world. In everything you do, you should be doing it to the glory of God. The work you do every day should be done giving thanks and glory to God. How can studying another religion give thanks and glory to God? A way that studying other religions, as stated in an earlier post, can glorify God is if you were trying to convert someone of that religion. You can't just tell someone "Oh hay my religion is right yours is wrong" if you have no idea what the religion is about. That is ignorance and hypocrisy, and the reason no one wants to convert. We will be able to convert more people, thus glorifying God. There is no reason to study other religions. If a person is seriously seeking God there is only one real question they need to answer: What do you think of Jesus and what are you going to do about him? A person wanting proof that the word of God is true and real is really just seeking an argument. The proof is in a person's heart. That is where the real proof that Jesus is real is found also. It is based on your personal relationship with Jesus and not something that can be seen. If that were the case then only people way evidence and seek proof and logic would come to God. You don't need to know what another person believes to show him God. That is an excuse to go searching other religions. Our soul must be cultivated like a garden pulling out all unnecessary weeds (like other beliefs that do not fit our own) and our will must be sanctified so that we are a christian through and through. Think on this thought every day "What can I do or should I do today that I may receive the benefits of the Lord Jesus Christ into my life." Your life must be like this in order to be a fulfilled christian. It should be: I must hear, I must listen, I must identify, I must admit, I must follow, I must devote and I must dedicate my life fully to follow Jesus where ever He goes and He leads me until the day I die and I join him in heaven. He will give you the words to speak when you witness so that you do not have to waste your time studying other religions, instead you can spend the time with Jesus. I agree with you.
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faithful quenga Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 2:30 pm
iamlost4ever There is no reason to study other religions. If a person is seriously seeking God there is only one real question they need to answer: What do you think of Jesus and what are you going to do about him? A person wanting proof that the word of God is true and real is really just seeking an argument. The proof is in a person's heart. That is where the real proof that Jesus is real is found also. It is based on your personal relationship with Jesus and not something that can be seen. If that were the case then only people way evidence and seek proof and logic would come to God. You don't need to know what another person believes to show him God. That is an excuse to go searching other religions. Our soul must be cultivated like a garden pulling out all unnecessary weeds (like other beliefs that do not fit our own) and our will must be sanctified so that we are a christian through and through. Think on this thought every day "What can I do or should I do today that I may receive the benefits of the Lord Jesus Christ into my life." Your life must be like this in order to be a fulfilled christian. It should be: I must hear, I must listen, I must identify, I must admit, I must follow, I must devote and I must dedicate my life fully to follow Jesus where ever He goes and He leads me until the day I die and I join him in heaven. He will give you the words to speak when you witness so that you do not have to waste your time studying other religions, instead you can spend the time with Jesus. I am a sinner... "1 John 1:8"
Absolutely this... through and through.
...Saved by God's grace "Acts 15:11"
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