Can you be part of two religions?

[faithosaurus]

This thought came to me today during my Anthropology class. Is it possible to be truly part of two religions? Say, if you believe in certain concepts in one religion, but then also some in another. Would that mean you are not fully a part of either religion?

[EvoWarrior5]

When can one be considered to be "fully" part of a religion though? When you believe in every single one of the views? When you believe in it all and also carry it out? When you actively try to convert others to join you in your beliefs (possibly because your religion says / "advises" you should do so)? I'm not sure. I'd say that if you consider yourself part of that religion (and you are not, like, entirely wrong in what you think it is about) then that makes you part of said religion, whether it be a bit or more extreme.

I find it hard to define when somebody can be "fully" part of a religion, to what extent you would have to believe in it or carry it out. Two religions is a pretty tough question, and assuming that they are both monotheist religions, it would sound weird that you would believe in two gods at once. You could say that you believe in only one of the gods, but that you believe in some of the views of the other religion (or maybe even most!) to combine with your religion whose God you believe in. This, however, would still be a weird case, as you would be placing properties on the God you believe in which he is not supposed to have according to the religion he is from.

[cacian]

there is such a thing as personal religion is just it has taken shape yet. I believe in creating one's own for fun why not?
about what you are asking I think it is possible to take the best of both worlds from both religions and make it your own.
I see no problem of this concept taking up soon it just needs one person a VIP to make it public and it will become a fashion statement.
I have high hopes ;)

[YALASH]

This thought came to me today during my Anthropology class. Is it possible to be truly part of two religions? Say, if you believe in certain concepts in one religion, but then also some in another. Would that mean you are not fully a part of either religion?

Peace be on you.
That would mean you are not part of a certain religion. But it is between you and God.

According to Ahmadiyya Muslims, religion evolved and perfected at Islam [not of the terrorists, who actually have no religion]. The message was same but continued to grow i.e., Worship One God and pay dues to creation of God. And Holy Quran says that it has preserved the true basics of all teachings. One has to believe and practice fully.

[cafolini]

It is not a matter of you can or cannot. You are part of any genuine religion, be it one or infinite ones with different names for the same God. His Grace be with you.

[mal4mac]

"For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God" (Exodus 34:14)

“Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and His anger will burn against you, and He will destroy you from the face of the land.” (Deu 6:14-15)

[cacian]

"For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God" (Exodus 34:14)

“Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and His anger will burn against you, and He will destroy you from the face of the land.” (Deu 6:14-15)

hi mal4mac these are not real quotes I hope. haha. Jealousy is a sin right?

[Melanie]

"For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God" (Exodus 34:14)

“Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and His anger will burn against you, and He will destroy you from the face of the land.” (Deu 6:14-15)

The verses in the Old Testament that refer to a "jealous God" are always in the context of idol worship, unlike human jealousy. The original Hebrew word used for God's jealousy is "qanna"...and only used for God. A different Hebrew word is used for human jealousy...never "qanna". The different meanings between the Hebrew words and the English are huge. The reason God is jealous is because he doesn't want us to waste our time worshipping other gods that don't exist, nor idols. The 7th Commandment says, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all your heart, all your mind, and all your soul."

The English translation is just not right-on in this case. The true meaning of a translation can be determined by putting it in context. God is not jealous of humans. The Greek word for "jealous" is zēlos, which in English is "zealous," meaning zeal and ardor rather than jealousy. The Hebrew and Greek words for God's jealousy are not negative. There is no character assasinations of God in the Bible.

[cafolini]

The verses in the Old Testament that refer to a "jealous God" are always in the context of idol worship, unlike human jealousy. The original Hebrew word used for God's jealousy is "qanna"...and only used for God. A different Hebrew word is used for human jealousy...never "qanna". The different meanings between the Hebrew words and the English are huge. The reason God is jealous is because he doesn't want us to waste our time worshipping other gods that don't exist, nor idols. The 7th Commandment says, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all your heart, all your mind, and all your soul."

The English translation is just not right-on in this case. The true meaning of a translation can be determined by putting it in context. God is not jealous of humans. The Greek word for "jealous" is zēlos, which in English is "zealous," meaning zeal and ardor rather than jealousy. The Hebrew and Greek words for God's jealousy are not negative. There is no character assasinations of God in the Bible.

As usual, very good points, Melanie.

[Melanie]

Thank you. There is always a positive answer of truth for those who tend to take verses out of context so they appear negative. We just have to put things in context and check the translations from the original Hebrew to English.

[SentimentalSlop]

When people say they belong to a religion, and accept certain doctrines but reject others, they don't have faith in that religion, but merely in themselves.

[Eman Resu]

Thank you. There is always a positive answer of truth for those who tend to take verses out of context so they appear negative. We just have to put things in context and check the translations from the original Hebrew to English.


...and especially true in the example given above, in light of the variance seen in Exodus 20 and 34 in the fragments colloquially known as the "Dead Sea Scrolls." "קַנָּא" (qanna) and "קָנָא" (qana) both appear - the latter not as the root of the former - and, by connotation, describe the Lord's relationship with Mankind in a fashion similar to that of a "protective" or "zealous" Husband with his Wife. The implication seems more that of God as Mankind's guardian than as a "jealous God."

[Paulclem]

It seems to me that if a person adopts the views of two religions, then they are essentially forming their own version of a religion. It can't be either or both. It was common to see this in new age people who adopted ideas like reincarnation and Wiccan beliefs alongside some concept of an earth spirit or a God, or who claimed that all the Gods were the same God. I think it's probably part of the same process that's been going on for centuries where splinter groups have formed their own religious cliques. Just look at the multitude of protestant groups there are, for example. Perhaps it is also present in the various manifestations of high and low church as was found in England after the reformation.

[Nick Capozzoli]

I can imagine it would be very possible for Christians and Jews to have an equal affinity for Judaism and Christianity, especially since Jesus was a Jew (He was even a Rabbi), and he never "renounced" His Judaism. Christianity evolved from Judaism during the 300 or so years since the Christ's crucifixion. The Christian Church "Fathers" selected from various written documents believed to represent the life and teachings of Jesus from the point of view of persons who knew him, and from this selection they created the accepted dogma of the New Testament. On a simplistic level, one can view Christianity as a "form" of Judaism, and it does seem to be that.

[essayer37849]

I call myself spiritual, because I agree and disagree with different beliefs including the belief I was raised under. I believe you can be a part of more than one religion. I am, so I call myself, Spiritual.

[essayer37849]

I was raised Christian, but I do not fully believe the way I was raised.

[Paulclem]

I can imagine it would be very possible for Christians and Jews to have an equal affinity for Judaism and Christianity, especially since Jesus was a Jew (He was even a Rabbi), and he never "renounced" His Judaism. Christianity evolved from Judaism during the 300 or so years since the Christ's crucifixion. The Christian Church "Fathers" selected from various written documents believed to represent the life and teachings of Jesus from the point of view of persons who knew him, and from this selection they created the accepted dogma of the New Testament. On a simplistic level, one can view Christianity as a "form" of Judaism, and it does seem to be that.

I seems that way - though whether Jews and Christians consider it so is another matter. Islam claims a similar thing, recognising Christian and Jewish prophets, but claiming that it is a development from the previous two. There is another religion which claims to be the development on from Islam - but the name escapes me - apologies - but again each of the members of the religions would resist seeing it in that way.

At a mosque a few years ago we had an interesting talk from an Imam who explained Islam - or their branch of Islam's - attitudes to Jews and Christians. Apparently it is perfectly permissible for members of the three religions to intermarry because they are considered religions of the book. In practice it is probably a different story. it seems that religion is a factor of self identification which then develops rules and protocols to protect the community cohesion. it may be this tendency which causes many of the problems between communities and internationally.

[Nick Capozzoli]

I seems that way - though whether Jews and Christians consider it so is another matter. Islam claims a similar thing, recognising Christian and Jewish prophets, but claiming that it is a development from the previous two. There is another religion which claims to be the development on from Islam - but the name escapes me - apologies - but again each of the members of the religions would resist seeing it in that way.

At a mosque a few years ago we had an interesting talk from an Imam who explained Islam - or their branch of Islam's - attitudes to Jews and Christians. Apparently it is perfectly permissible for members of the three religions to intermarry because they are considered religions of the book. In practice it is probably a different story. it seems that religion is a factor of self identification which then develops rules and protocols to protect the community cohesion. it may be this tendency which causes many of the problems between communities and internationally.

Paulclem,

I think that the connection between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam is that all three trace their origin to Abraham of the Old Testament (Torah) and their lineages follow his descendants. Muslims think of themselves as descendants of Ishmael. The Judeo-Christian line descends from Isaac (and Abraham's other children).

The real sticking point between these three religions is the nature of Jesus. Muslims view Jesus as "one of the Prophets," like Moses, Isaiah, and, for them, the "last and greatest Prophet," Muhammad.

Jesus fits into Jewish tradition as the ultimate Prophet, "The Messiah." Jewish religious authorities (not to mention the Roman authorities) at the time did not accept Him as the Messiah. In fact they condemned Him for blasphemy and had Him executed by the Romans (for the crime of sedition rather than blasphemy). Jesus' followers, who all viewed themselves as born or converted Jews, viewed Him as the Jewish Messiah, and sought to convert other Jews and Gentiles to their (Jewish) belief in Jesus as the Messiah.

From what I understand, although Muslim's acknowledge Jesus as a Prophet of God, they do not accept His claim to be the Son of God, nor do they accept that he performed the miracles described in the New Testament. They certainly do not accept that He died on the cross, was resurrected, and ascended into heaven (and all the other stuff in the "Apostles' Creed"). Neither do modern Jews...

I have read a couple of English translations of the Koran to try to understand Islamic thinking, and specifically to see how Muhammad fits into the line of Jewish Prophets. One of the things that struck me is that Muhammad, unlike Moses and Jesus, is not reported to have performed any miracles (like parting the Red Sea, healing the sick, or raising the dead). If this is so, I wonder why Muslims consider Muhammad to be the "greatest" of God's Prophets.

In any case it seems that disagreement among the three religions about the nature of Jesus constitutes the greatest barrier to their believers' seeing eye to eye.

[mal4mac]

For Christians, Jesus Christ is God. For Jews he is not. How can you be both a Jew and a Christian? Maybe a "new age" person would say all gods are one god, but I doubt a Christian would agree with him! There is no good evidence for "God as the Christian views him" or "God as the Wiccan views him/her" or any other kind of god. So you can believe what you want. Me, I like the tooth fairy, Santa Claus, and the Easter Bunny. That's my holy trinity! Lots of presents, chocolates, and bowing down to funny, loveable, deities, forever! Please, Santa, put me down for elf duty at the chocolate factory, for starters.

[Nick Capozzoli]

For Christians, Jesus Christ is God. For Jews he is not. How can you be both a Jew and a Christian? Maybe a "new age" person would say all gods are one god, but I doubt a Christian would agree with him! There is no good evidence for "God as the Christian views him" or "God as the Wiccan views him/her" or any other kind of god. So you can believe what you want. Me, I like the tooth fairy, Santa Claus, and the Easter Bunny. That's my holy trinity! Lots of presents, chocolates, and bowing down to funny, loveable, deities, forever! Please, Santa, put me down for elf duty at the chocolate factory, for starters.

You are right...the divinity of Jesus is the main sticking point for a "reconciliation" of the three religions. I've wondered about another issue, which is the continuity of the Scriptures, and specifically the question about "ongoing" revelation. It seems that for Jews, divine revelation ends with the Torah. The Talmud contains scholarly exegesis of the divinely revealed Torah. Christians accept the New Testament, and especially the Gospels, as divinely revealed truth (revealed by Jesus to his followers). Muslims accept the Koran as divinely revealed truth to Muhammad. So far as I know, Christians and Muslims have not accepted any prophetic revelations after Jesus and Muhammad, respectively.

Of course both Christians and Muslims, like Jews, have a tradition that accepts scholarly exegetical discussion of what the Torah, the Old & New Testaments, and the Koran "mean." Christians also seem to believe that God continues to reveal Himself to modern folks, in the form of specific revelations to "Saints." Think of the Fatima revelations as a fairly recent example. I'm not sure if Jews or Muslims believe in such "post-scriptural" revelations.

As regards a modern devout Muslim or Jew "accepting" the divinity of Jesus, I agree that would seem extremely difficult, for the reason you state. But I do think it's impossible.

[Whosis]

I think it's been the case that it founds a new religion, especially if one of those two religions is mostly a new ideology. Jesus was Jewish, but then there's Christianity now. I've known people to marry who have different religions. Usually a comedian will bring this up about themselves or their parents as a situation of humor.