I am Christian, a member of the LDS Church, and although I feel very strongly about the religion I profess, I have a deep desire to learn about the beliefs and cultures of other faiths. I do not wish to make fun of them, debate over doctrine, or try to prove with words who's right and who's in error. My intent in creating this blog is to help increase understanding, even if only in a small way.
I cannot stand religious intolerance. I do not want to hear that "all members of this faith are terrorists," "all of the leaders in that faith are pedophiles," "those people are cultists," and other such bigoted statements. Sure, terrorists, pedophiles, and cultists exist, but that doesn't mean that everyone in any given faith acts the same way.
I'm determined to do some serious research. I plan on attending services for the other religions here in Utah Valley, to gain a better idea of what others believe.
"When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things." - 1 Corinthians 13:11When I was a child, I was pretty close-minded when it came to spirituality. Not having my own conviction, I borrowed from my parents. I didn't seek to understand other religions, and was a little nervous when I interacted with those who believed differently than I did. Things are different now. I know what I believe, and stand strong in my own personal testimony - and yet, I feel stronger than ever that I need to understand my brothers and sisters more.
With that said, this is the start of my journey, the beginning of a serious look into the beliefs and traditions of believers from all walks of life. Here goes!
