Voices of Faith q & a

Voices of Faith q & a

The Kansas City Star (TNS)

Q. Should I study the sacred texts of faiths other than my own?

Arvind Khetia, Hindu:

A. Now more than ever before, we are living in an environment where we come across people of different faiths. Ignorance about that faith can result in fear, hatred, intolerance and even violence. It is essential that one learns about other faiths, to foster an environment of understanding and mutual respect.

Reading the sacred texts of other faiths can be a challenging endeavor. To make such an endeavor easier, one might begin with a book such as “The World’s Religions,” by Huston Smith or a similar compilation.

It is necessary to approach such a study with an open mind. This study should not be limited to the external aspects of religious doctrine and dogma only, as these vary and make every religion seem different. Despite those differences, when one understands the deeper spiritual aspects, one recognizes the point of union among religions and sees the inherent unity in diversity.

According to Hinduism, the study of a sacred text involves three steps: reading, reflecting on what is read, then meditating on that reading to grasp the deeper spiritual meaning.

The purpose of studying the sacred texts of any religion should be to help build one’s moral and ethical character.