A serious question...

I ask it here, and to be honest, I'm surprised no one asked it before me. Could be interesting.

I'll have more to say on this next week...

Comments

[Rick Ianniello]

I have had to deal with this a little and my father, a military chaplain has dealt with it a lot.

Personally, as Christians, we must respect individuals but I have not seen any Biblical reason, nor do I have a logical reason to participate in or respect another religion.

Bolger and Gibbs were pro this kind of thing in their Emerging Churches but I completely missed the point. What would be the rationale for this? For each one I thought of there were negatives and a better alternative.

[Makeesha]

wouldn't that be similar to the "eating meat offered to idols" issue that Paul had to address?

[Makeesha]

Rick - that's because it's not really a relevant issue in America for the most part because we are still predominantly culturally Christian. But if you were in another locale where another religion was more pervasive, you'd face these dilemmas every day with family, friends and people all around you.

[Makeesha]

sorry - that the council had to address in Acts.

[Jason]

Rick -- What do you mean by, "...nor do I have a logical reason to participate in or respect another religion?" Are you equating those two things?

I recall a class in college where I was asked to build a Hindu altar as part of our class exercises. I dropped the class, explaining I wasn't comfortable doing that, and wouldn't want a Hindu believer to participate in communion in my Christian tradition, out of respect for both.

[Rick Ianniello]

Jason - I hadn't even thought of the angle you mention. I guess I had a situation like yours once at work and like you, I opted to not participate and it was ok.

When I said "logical reason" I was thinking that some have argued that they learn more about their own faith by participating in the practices of others, that they open doors of communication to people of other faiths, etc.. I think I can do all of that in a healthier way without moving to participating in the worship of other gods, etc..

[curtis]

Makeesha said:
"Rick - that's because it's not really a relevant issue in America for the most part because we are still predominantly culturally Christian. But if you were in another locale where another religion was more pervasive, you'd face these dilemmas every day with family, friends and people all around you."

GREAT point, thanks for that...