What’s your thoughts on studying other religion’s as a Christian ?
Discussion
51 comments
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One of the best books on this subject is by Ravi Zacharias Jesus among other gods if you haven’t read it it’s a must-read for every Christian
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I think it’s helpful to study denominations,especially false ones. That way you can minister to them the truth
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If we are going to witness to people in other religions we should also understand their worldview.
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To be able to effectively witness. Knowing what a Mormon or JW or Muslim believes helps us to be able to more effectively apply the Word of God
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It’s a powerful position to be in when you can anticipate your opponents moves.
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Know your enemy, but know the Truth better.
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Why..
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I took world religions in seminary. The prof was a missionary to Indonesia, head hunters and Muslims. He had a PhD in anthropology and was the best teacher I had. We learned so much about the religions, and how to understand them for the purposing of witnessing about Jesus. Certainly you can witness and testify without that, but I just found it helps build bridges when you understand where they are coming from, and why Jesus is the way the truth and the life.
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If you know what they believe,you would be a better witness to them.
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Why?
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Don’t bother wasting your time. Study God’s Word and the Truth then you will recognize the lies not the other way around.
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Polemics. No prob at all.
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Why bother, unless you’re sent to bring them to Christ.
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Sufficient to be well informed and able to give a reasoned response, but not as a substitute for studying the truth – the best way to detect error is knowing the truth and the best weapon in spiritual warfare is the Scriptures empowered by the Holy Spirit through prayer
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Why? It takes a lifetime of study to understand the depth of the Bible and fully appreciate the love of God for us as sinners.
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Be fearless. Pray daily and reaffirm your settled commitment to Christ our Lord and Savior. Acknowledge that there may be some truth in the false religions you investigate. Use the knowledge you gain for the Glory of the One True God to evangelize the lost. Never stop praying for protection against false teaching. Discuss everything confusing with solid Christian brothers and sisters.
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Do it if you want and can.
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For cross-cultural evangelism
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Agreed but be well grounded in the Word first
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I think it helps understand what they believe in order to evangelise more effectively
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Great question. Studying other religions helps to reach them by understanding their spiritual background, their religious strongholds, and/or their view on our faith.
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I enjoy studying other religions. I have read the Quran and the Bagahavad Gita. I think it’s important to study other religions and other cultures to learn how to teach people for Christ..
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It’s good to be equipped and have an insight into other religions to know where they are coming from. Although the best equipping is being so full of the Truth of Gods word and walking in the Spirit of Truth that the second deception / error pops up you can identify it and reject it -Personally I would guard against reading other religious books unless God calls you to it
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It’s acadenic ; hence theirs nothing wrong with doing it . Education can never hurt u .
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Very important and makes you to be a good apologist
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I believe it’s vital for witnessing. The understanding of what others believe, and how what they believe differs from one’s own belief.
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I think it is important. So when you talk to people who believe differently you can understand and know what they believe, instead of not knowing anything. Also allows you to understand why you are a Christian. World religions is always a very interesting topic. its quite fascinating and I think it is important to understand each of them.
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To show them Jesus is the only way? Sure!
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I think it’s a must for all Christians who’s blessing is to spread the word and convert people. Studying world’s religions and especially Islam opened my eyes for so many things!
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He who know one religion knows none at all
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Glad to see so many positive comments. Paul knew other religions well (Athens, Acts 17), and it made him a better evangelist.
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I briefly study them to understand them, it helps to be prepared when preaching the gospel to religious people
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We must reach people with the Gospel where they are. Studying their worldview only helps us to understand the relevancy of their questions and their presuppositions. I have been able to reach some of my Indian friends by understanding the Vedas and discussing them in contrast to the Scriptures. I have found it absolutely critical when trying to reach Muslims.
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I find it to be helpful in understanding a person’s standpoint in order to have an intelligent conversation. We must know what we believe and why we believe it first and foremost. The Apostle Paul, before preaching in Athens, looked around and saw the many religious artifacts and used their own beliefs to launch into the Gospel.
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I have studied all worldviews so I can be ready as a Christian to answer the difficult questions.
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I took a comparative religions class in college. It strengthened my Christian faith. All other ‘religions’ are man doing things to impress their god(s), in true Christianity God rescued sinful man.
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It’s a good idea. The apostle Paul was well versed with the contemporaries of his day. At least from glancing at Romans it seems to indicate that. It helps to know where others are operating from. Sometimes you can find an inroad to give the gospel.
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Hi, Barry. Nice to hear from you. I was a strong atheist and evolutionist until about 50 years ago. I look forward to your posts and comments. Thanks!
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Can’t reason with what you don’t understand.
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It’s absolutely essential, at least to some degree, if you plan on obeying Christ by fulfilling the great commission. Also, it was exemplified in scripture (Paul at Mars Hill, the whole book of Hebrews, etc.). It’s very important to meaningful evangelism. I like how Tim Keller puts it: before you engage in debate with someone, you should be able to phrase their arguments in such a way as they would agree with. You can’t do that unless you have some clue of exactly what they believe.
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Dirty D’s and the thunderchief — ACDC
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I taught Teen Church and comparative religions was what many of the teens asked for. So many of them found that their friends in high school and university were exploring other religions, and they found that this foundation helped them better understand what they believed as well as engage more meaningfully with other faiths. I would strongly recommend this.
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Knowing what others believe is not bad idea. Don’t argue, offend and make enemies but “Defend” your Faith in humble and convincing way.
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Becareful and be lead by the Holy Spirit, if God want you to do it then do it but it can be dangerous and shake your faith, especially if your not with God.
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It helps you be a better witness
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For In Defense of the Gospel Only!!!
You got to be very careful and asking God to be with you always through it.
There are “a lot” of very false doctrines and doctrines full of some real live devil’s. You really have to feel a calling in this area. I wouldn’t recommend it without knowing and have a total understanding of the Words Of God. That you were firmly grounded on The Only Rock Of Jesus Christ Our Lord!! A baby Christian or one who is new I would not recommend it at all. -
Yes -it is good to know what else is out there so you can be certain of how to respond with your defense of the reason for your hope. Sometimes we sound so scripted, saying the same things over and over again, and it’s because we don’t know how to genuinely engage with the people of other beliefs. Instead of planting seeds we ignite arguments, and that is not what sharing the gospel is about.
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Before you study other religions a person should fully understand the Bible and the doctrines that it teaches. Also, pray that God will guide you and keep you from being deceived. However, I wouldn’t recommend embarking on the study of other religions, until you are a fully grounded and knowledgeable Christian. Sadly, the vast majority of Christian people today don’t know/understand Scripture much at all.. ?
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