With all the ignorance written and spoken about different religions today, I wonder if anyone bothers to read about religions other than their own. What kind of books or periodicals do you base your knowledge on? What about those of your own religion? Are you as educated about it as you should be?
[question posted by Bee1955]
responses and comments:
I have read the Holy Bible, Mahabharath and Ramayana. The greatest contemporary religious book, that I have read again and again is AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A YOGI, by Paramhansa Yogananda. One can read this soul transformation book freely at anandaindia.org. [samson1967]
Read Koran after this bro... [taipingonline]
True .In fact I see hardly people reading about their own religion. Well I think religion is a profound subject and to learn that religion is the tool to discover yourself.I am certainly not well educated on that front. [TheApparition]
I myself do not practice any religion but I teach my children about all religions. So when their older they can choose religion if they like with knowledge about their chosen one. [design]
design... although you're not practicing any religion, it's ok.You've taught your children about all religion. Do you teach them about Islam too? [taipingonline]
i have read only bible fully. about the hindu mythology i have read about it in story books. [riyasam]
The Baghavad Gita, the Tao Teh Ching, The Analects of Confucius, The Koran, The Bible, The Gospel of Thomas, The Rig Veda, and a lot of philosophy. However- I'm a Celt. I read to learn and to be informed about people's beliefs, not necessarily to believe in them. The Celtic beliefs predate just about everyone, except Hinduism and perhaps Judaism. They're not written. This means that they're also pretty variable, and usually exist as forms of folk lore. The only way you can learn Celtic lore is to patiently wade through the endless debates about it, and the archaeological findings, and the general hearsay. But I like it. It's taken decades, but I now have a version of our traditions I can enjoy. [Wanderlaugh]
Hmmm... another Celt. I've read about the same books you have too. I believe in learning just about everything I can, and that includes learning about the beliefs of others. Most of what I know, when it comes to my own religion, was learned from my great-grandmother. Since she passed on, I have learned as well through history books and various discussions with other people in my religion. [lecanis]
I've read some steps of the Bible when was kid, now i'm very far from the religion and the religious books, of whichever religion feature. [nitrodona]
agreed. i hav read bhagavatam / bhagavat gita and many like purans vishnu puran etc. i would like to read bible and kuran . i did' find the same from my friends as the language is not suitable. i love to read all religious books thanks [runsgame]
I have read the Bhagvadgita, Ramayan and the Manusmruti. They teach u to live life truly and with satisfaction. [divineseva]
I have always been deeply interested in religion, and there came a time when I could study The Philosophy of religion at uni. This course included buddhism, hinduism, Islam, christianity and the Jewish tradition. It's probably the most rewarding thing I have done and I feel that all religions spring from the same place. I think its also a good thing to separate the religion and the people who interpret it: extremists of ANY faith are not the religion. [myslewis]
although im a roman catholic, i've never restricted myself to only reading the bible. i have the teaching of buddha and the qur'an (both english tranlated) and paganism. ive got other reference books as well. [azriel]
hi, azriel! I'm glad to know that you've read the Koran too. [muslims]
i have read Bibel as well as Holy Quran! [sunflowergirl]
Bible Holy Qur'an Bhagavad Gita Ramayana Gathas Tripataka Book of Mormon (both LDS and RLDS versiosn) Kitab-i-Iqan Kitab-i-Aqdas Tanakh Vedas & Upanishads Divine Providence [kiwimac]
hi bee, i am a hindu by birth. have read through our religious scriptures. have also read the bible, translations of the kuran, the torah, budhist literature, and maybe a few more. no matter how they say it, they all tell us that we need to be honest, caring, non violent and so on. guess i follow all the religions. [s_chadha2007]
the purpose driven life, by rick warren. The book tells us, what on earth are we here for. [bev_arch_20]
Bee, I'm interested in a book that gives an introduction to Islam and the Koran. Are there any you'd recommend? [Idlewild]
Thanks much, Muslimah and Bee! I'll check those sources out. [Idlewild]
As salamu alaikum I dont think any of us can say we know everything there is to know about our own religion if we did we would call to it and everyone around us would be upon what were upon. Its not good if your not grounded in your own religion to read the books of others it could confuse and mislead you about your religion. Classes and learning is a must for everyone who take there religion seriously. We can study for he rest of our lives and still not know all there is to know about the religion the best of us (muslims) will say to this day "im still a student" But it takes action and intentions thats the key to success. Take care Bee. [Muslimah]
i have read ramayana,the religious book of hindus and bhagavatham which is also a hindu religious book.but i slightly read bible but quranwas notyet read. [yrteja]
I have read only several parts of Holy Bible. [whitefox]
i read Quran and other islamic books much. [Ilyasgul]
My grandmother, who is Christian, thinks it's a subversive activity to read books from religions other than her own. It's very funny to me, as her mother was Celtic pagan, as am I. As a child when I would run around with my books from various religions talking about them, my grandmother would get the sourest look on her face. Her opinion was this: "I already know what I believe in. Anything that is not God's word is false, and the people that believe in it are following a lie. I don't have to read it to know that. And if I do read it, the devil might infect me and make the words sway me from my faith." *shakes her head* I can't imagine not being secure enough in my own faith not to feel threatened by learning about somoene else's. I love to talk to people of faiths other than mine. My husband (who is Christian) and I attend a Unitarian Universalist fellowhip, which is very neat because we learn about different religions all the time. It's especially neat around holidays because we learn about the meanings each one has to each religion, and the differences and similiarities between them. [lecanis]
Not to long ago I read a book by Rezar Aslan called No God but God-The origins, Evolution and Future of Islam. It was a very interesting and informative book. I would recommend it to anyone. Especially to those like myself who are not Muslim. It gave me a new understanding and respect for that religion. [ebfh2006]
I've read the holy bible. I woulk like to read the koran, too. They say that these two religions are like brother and sister; that it was the angel Gabriel that gave the Koran to the prophet Muhammad. [Gmens91]
God Delusion, is not a religious book, in the sense that it doesn't preach or talk positively about one religion. But it is a religious book because it is about religions and god. [jricbt]
I have read the left behind series. Which is a religious fiction series that starts at the rapture and ends with the glorious appearance. I loved these books, they made me realize that this time on earth is temporary and brought me closer to my heavenly father and is son jesus. [SK401001]
I born a hindu religion and read Geetha . i tjhing all lords one and with defferent language and name [shilpa28k]