discuss Do You Read Religion?

[Yama]

Reading religion is not just about Christians reading Bible and Muslim reading reading Quran. Reading religion means reading with your eyes and mind open, reading all sorts of religious books, reading books from various religions and trying to understand the actual essence of religion. Do you do it?
Well, if you did not understand what I am asking, here is a simplified version of the question. As a Christian do you read Quran, Vedas, etc. As a Muslim, do you read Bible, Bhagavata Gita, etc.

 

[abra10]

Honestly speaking , l do not read different religious books. But in future , l plan to start Reading

 

[eyes2c]

No, I just read the Bible and stay out of other religions because there is no reason why I should know more about other religions, just as they are mostly not interested in mine unless it's done for the purpose of having some kind of debate, and I'm not really interested in debating with other religions.

 

[ActionAce]

No, I just read the Bible and stay out of other religions because there is no reason why I should know more about other religions, just as they are mostly not interested in mine unless it's done for the purpose of having some kind of debate, and I'm not really interested in debating with other religions.

That's a fair perspective. When it comes to the spirituality of our faith and scripture, this can be a very good way to start on this journey. It is important to remember that not everyone is going to have the urge to seek other religions out and that is absolutely fine.

 

[King Belieal]

I am a very inquisitive person and in my bid to understand the essence of religion, I have read the Bible back to back, I have read the Quran and the hadiths too. I have also read several literature on Hinduism. I am a careful student of religious studies.

 

[theearner]

Yes, to gain insight into different perspectives and cultures.

 

[Apsara]

I sometimes read religious books, but I don't read religion. I have no interest in becoming expert in religious doctrine

 

[Lord Severus]

I never read them.

In the past, I usually do read all those. But later I stopped since I became more of a Science guy and decided to read non-fiction. Now, I think that religious books belong more to the category of fiction and hence I decided not to pursue it further.

Besides, its nothing like what people are doing. The church propagates the idea of sacrifice and plain living - and see what the bishops are doing travelling around in their cars.

 

[Alamson]

I am open to exploring other religious books in order to understand their beliefs and perspectives. It's not for the purpose of conversion though. I'm a christian but I have the Quaran. And I have discovered many similarities between Christianity and Islam.The core values are similar; the historical perspectives are pretty the same.

 

[Laurentta]

No, i do not read religion. As a christian, i read only the bible.

 

[Pete Griffin]

The Bible is touted as "The Greatest Story Ever Told." It's a wonderful work of fiction. I have read it. I'm an atheist and I believe it is important to know your enemy.

Enemy? Yes. If you spread the word of (one of the) god(s) you're an enemy of freedom and scientific progress.

 

[Jason]

I read the Bible but I disagree with the interpretation of mainstream fundamentalists. I don't believe hell is eternal. I don't believe in Christian Zionism.

 

[Yama]

I never read them.

In the past, I usually do read all those. But later I stopped since I became more of a Science guy and decided to read non-fiction. Now, I think that religious books belong more to the category of fiction and hence I decided not to pursue it further.

Besides, its nothing like what people are doing. The church propagates the idea of sacrifice and plain living - and see what the bishops are doing travelling around in their cars.

Have you read Bhahavata Gita, Vedas, and Upanishads?
I do not find anything fictional in these books. I found profound wisdom that early human beings were able to realize and see. I cannot say about other religions but in Hinduism and Buddhism, the religious books do not just talk about Gods and Devils, heaven and hell. There is more to it.

 

[Pete Griffin]

I read the Bible but I disagree with the interpretation of mainstream fundamentalists. I don't believe hell is eternal. I don't believe in Christian Zionism.

The Bible is fiction. It's a collection of ancient texts written, edited, and rewritten by humans over centuries—full of contradictions, historical inaccuracies, and recycled myths from older cultures. Its so-called divine authorship falls apart under scrutiny, with no archaeological evidence for key events, scientifically impossible claims, and stories that borrow heavily from earlier mythologies. The King James Version in particular is a politically shaped translation of flawed manuscripts, not a holy revelation. Far from being the word of a perfect god, the Bible reflects the moral, cultural, and political biases of the people who wrote it.

 

[Jason]

The Bible is fiction. It's a collection of ancient texts written, edited, and rewritten by humans over centuries—full of contradictions, historical inaccuracies, and recycled myths from older cultures. Its so-called divine authorship falls apart under scrutiny, with no archaeological evidence for key events, scientifically impossible claims, and stories that borrow heavily from earlier mythologies. The King James Version in particular is a politically shaped translation of flawed manuscripts, not a holy revelation. Far from being the word of a perfect god, the Bible reflects the moral, cultural, and political biases of the people who wrote it.

That's highly debatable but claiming to espouse a strictly traditional interpretation is not.

 

[Pete Griffin]

That's highly debatable but claiming to espouse a strictly traditional interpretation is not.

Which part is debatable?

 

[Jason]

Which part is debatable?

Plenty of it is. It would be easy to find debates on YouTube.

 

[Pete Griffin]

- And if I wanted to go on YouTube to watch someone else's opinions I would. I have to admit, you win with your convincing argument here. Don't say "its debateable" if you haven't the gumption to back up your assertation.

 

[Jason]

- And if I wanted to go on YouTube to watch someone else's opinions I would. I have to admit, you win with your convincing argument here. Don't say "its debateable" if you haven't the gumption to back up your assertation.

How Do We Know the Bible Is True?

Is the Bible really the Word of God, or is it simply a collection of ancient myths? Is the Bible inerrant? How can we really know that the Bible is true?

lifehopeandtruth.com

Fulfilled prophecy helps us know the Bible is true​

There is perhaps no more compelling evidence that the Bible is the true Word of God than fulfilled prophecy. When you consider how difficult it can be to predict what will happen tomorrow, let alone centuries from now, it becomes apparent that of all biblical content, prophecy would be the most likely category to contain false statements. And yet despite the fact that a large percentage of the Bible is prophecy, not a single prophetic statement has been proven wrong—and while many statements have a future fulfillment, a large number of detailed prophecies have already been fulfilled.

You would need to look at math probability to see how scientific the above statement is.

 

[Reelz]

I'm a Christian and firmly believe that faith is a personal thing. That is why I don't judge anybody. I appreciate the Bible because common sense tells me that all that is written there are for my own good. All the words in the bible are practical. Don't steal, don't lie, don't cheat; all these things are practical!

 

[Jason]

@Pete Griffin is wanting these deep answers on the spot. It's not so easy, but you can look to probability (as I said before) as one strategy.

 

[Lord Severus]

I have read it, infact I studied in a Hindu school for my entire childhood.

I dont want to pick up a fight, but as far as wisdom is concerned, I cant take words from a person who incites war, takes sides, wins through deceit and speaks of moral wisdom.

I will not follow up my arguments again, I rest my case.

 

[Kross]

For the religions that are around me, I have read their holy books from cover to cover. I read religious literature from several religions. I for so because I want to understand their perspective and get to know how best to relate with people in those religions.

 

[Jason]

In reply to @Pete Griffin's cynicism about the Bible:​

Applying the Science of Probability to the Scriptures

Do statistics prove the Bible’s supernatural origin?

christinprophecy.org

Peter Stoner’s Calculations Regarding Messianic Prophecy​

Peter Stoner calculated the probability of just 8 Messianic prophecies being fulfilled in the life of Jesus. As you read through these prophecies, you will see that all estimates were calculated as conservatively as possible.​

1. The Messiah will be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2).
   The average population of Bethlehem from the time of Micah to the present (1958) divided by the average population of the earth during the same period = 7,150/2,000,000,000 or 2.8×105.
2. A messenger will prepare the way for the Messiah (Malachi 3:1).
   One man in how many, the world over, has had a forerunner (in this case, John the Baptist) to prepare his way?
   Estimate: 1 in 1,000 or 1×103.
3. The Messiah will enter Jerusalem as a king riding on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9).
   One man in how many, who has entered Jerusalem as a ruler, has entered riding on a donkey?
   Estimate: 1 in 100 or 1×102.
4. The Messiah will be betrayed by a friend and suffer wounds in His hands (Zechariah 13:6).
   One man in how many, the world over, has been betrayed by a friend, resulting in wounds in his hands?
   Estimate: 1 in 1,000 or 1×103.
5. The Messiah will be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12).
   Of the people who have been betrayed, one in how many has been betrayed for exactly 30 pieces of silver?
   Estimate: 1 in 1,000 or 1×103.
6. The betrayal money will be used to purchase a potter’s field (Zechariah 11:13).
   One man in how many, after receiving a bribe for the betrayal of a friend, has returned the money, had it refused, and then experienced it being used to buy a potter’s field?
   Estimate: 1 in 100,000 or 1×105.
7. The Messiah will remain silent while He is afflicted (Isaiah 53:7).
   One man in how many, when he is oppressed and afflicted, though innocent, will make no defense of himself?
   Estimate: 1 in 1,000 or 1×103.
8. The Messiah will die by having His hands and feet pierced (Psalm 22:16).
   One man in how many, since the time of David, has been crucified?
   Estimate: 1 in 10,000 or 1×104.

Multiplying all these probabilities together produces a number (rounded off) of 1×1028. Dividing this number by an estimate of the number of people who have lived since the time of these prophecies (88 billion) produces a probability of all 8 prophecies being fulfilled accidently in the life of one person. That probability is 1in 1017 or 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000. That’s one in one hundred quadrillion!​

 

[Maina]

I like to read Hindu and Buddhist philosophy, not as someone who strictly follows religion but someone who likes to be enlightenment in ancient knowledge