However, those days of pervasive cultural influence are now long gone. I believe that the only way to get to Heaven is through Jesus Christ. On the contrary – religious education is more important now than it has probably ever been. It also helps to be prepared to respond to the objections or disagreements the other person is likely to have. He also runs The Examined Life. Yet, when the question of non-western religious traditions has been raised, the reaction has often been a rather hostile one, implying that it is neither profitable nor necessary to study other religions. Importance of studying other religions. Studying world religions enables the student to integrate the accumulated knowledge of the centuries into a holistic understanding of human societies. March 2, 2015 March 3, 2015 heyitshannahlynn. Related Questions. Otherwise, they are likely to misinterpret the gospel message on their worldview terms, which leads to syncretism—a dangerous blending of biblical Christianity with nonbiblical elements. Religion Addresses Social Issues. It has emerged as the single most important means of communication for those interested in critical approaches to the study of religion. David Evers/Flickr . Religious studies, also known as the study of religion, is an academic field devoted to research into religious beliefs, behaviors, and institutions.It describes, compares, interprets, and explains religion, emphasizing systematic, historically based, and cross-cultural perspectives. Ironically, the Greek philosophical traditions which the church fathers took seriously and which we … Let's now consider some additional pleasures and rewards of studying religions. I have evangelized done a few times before and… If I am concerned about others, I will be interested in their lives. If I want to be a benefit to others, I need to understand their world view. The Study of Other Religions: Its Necessity and Problems however, a much more important issue in our openness and response to other religious traditions. Comparative religion studies can be an important way to understand the values and beliefs of different religious movements, but is it okay or even beneficial for Christians to study what other religions believe and practice? Chapter 1 in the student book notes the importance of empathy in the study of world religions. I can't give you four of my own reasons but I've studied other religions simply for my own knowledge. Because of the complexity and importance of religious phenomena, the scholarly study of religion in the modern research university is inherently interdisciplinary. Let's now consider some additional pleasures and rewards of studying religions. Something similar is at work within Islam. Religious Studies is intellectually exciting because it provides access to the mystery of the other. Anonymous. But I suppose, in no particular order: 1. In other words, we study what is going on in the minds of our non-Christian neighbors so we can communicate the gospel in a way that, hopefully, makes sense to them. Because of the complexity and importance of religious phenomena, the scholarly study of religion in the modern research university is inherently interdisciplinary. Ronald W. Neufeldt. This includes 64% of Muslims, 58% of Catholics and 53% of mainline Protestants. Smaller majorities of most other religious groups say religion plays a very important role in their lives. In a different vein, I am a Christian. Gain an understanding of another culture. The believer imbibes these ideals and values in his life. Green, religion has three universal functions. Religion is a strong belief in power or powers that control human destiny. For starters, it’s good to study religions so you know more about them, even if you don’t agree with them. Hinduism has the concept of being born again, yet a Hindu thinks of that word in terms of reincarnation, not regeneration. (6) Religion controls economic life. What Christians Can Learn from Other Religions by J. Philip Wogaman. All the major world religions developed such a message from 2,500 to 1,500 years ago, but few live it. Paul walked around the city and observed the expressions of pagan religion that filled it. Yet, on studying other religions, I find that they have different focuses on life and have come to. Why Study the Major Religions of the World? I do not believe in Islam, macro-evolution, or all man-made religions. Rather, we study it to be good evangelists and good disciple makers. The dilemma of whether Christians should study other religions is a question as old as the early days of the church, and it has come up again and again over the centuries. 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