Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Catholic
Education and Religion
My Engagements With World Religions: Mutual Respect

My Engagements With World Religions: Mutual Respect

Last updated on: March 18, 2026 at 2:00 am by Henry Karlson

0 Comments

My Engagements With World Religions: Mutual Respect 2026-03-18T02:00:06-05:00 Henry Karlson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Ehsanul Siddiq Aranya: Cultural Harmony in Motion / Wikimedia Commons

Studying other faiths, listening to people of other faiths, learning to interpret their Scriptures and dogmatic teachings based upon how they understand them (instead of how they are presented in polemical treatises by their critics), has helped me appreciate those faiths better. It has led me to see why people believe in them, and the good which has come out of such beliefs. I have seen that interfaith dialogue is better than apologetics, because apologetics looks at judging and condemning others, creating propaganda which misrepresents the belief of others. With apologetics, the goal is not to understand what others believe, but to try to show others that they are wrong. Apologists tend to want people to think poorly of other faiths because then it becomes easier to convince their audience to believe what they have to say.

Obviously, I do not agree with everything taught and believed by members of other religions, but one thing I have found out through my studies, the more I understand them, the more I see them as having much in common with my beliefs. I have also seen the more I understand them, the less antagonistic I view them (which is a common result of interfaith dialogues). And, of course, overcoming hostilities and coming to see how much they have in common allows people of different religions to work together to deal with the problems of the present age.

I have found much wisdom, much insight, from all the religious traditions I have engaged. Indeed, my studies have truly helped me to appreciate and show the positive contributions religion has given to the world. To be sure, some of the insight I have gained makes sense only in light of the religious faith from which it came, but most of what I have learned is something I find is adaptable and capable of enriching my own faith. Knowing the differences, and what needs to be done to properly adapt that wisdom, is what makes sure what I do does not end up becoming an erroneous syncretism. I am not trying to join religions together. I am trying to take the insight found in other faiths and see how it can apply in my own Christian theological and spiritual development. If it is not applicable, then I leave it aside. But, what I have seen is that what I am doing is something which is common in religious history because such adaptations have always had its part in the history and development of any religion. Certainly, I’ve seen it happen with Christianity, first, with its engagement with Hellenism, especially Platonism, and later, in the scholastic era, where the schoolmen engaged Jewish and Muslim theologians, taking insights from them and bringing them into Christian theology (such as seen in St. Thomas Aquinas’ proofs for God).

It is vital for the future of humanity for people of various faiths, and of no faith, to talk and listen to each other. They need to understand each other better. They must do what they can to encourage everyone to move beyond apologetical polemics, and all the biases and prejudices those polemics have generated. This means, they need to stop promoting and reusing all the dark legends and myths found in their own tradition that demonize other faiths. For Christians, this means they must stop and refute all forms of blood libel used to promote antisemitism, or all the false claims about Islam used to justify Islamophobia. This is why studying and interacting with people of other religions should be the norm, because it is a way to overcome the ignorance of the past which led to such hateful attitudes; it is especially important for Christians, as Christians should seek to follow Christ in loving their neighbor, including those of other faiths (like Jesus did with Samaritans and Romans).

Misinformation and lies, when not confronted and rejected, only lead to the spread of hate and fear. It is worse, of course, when such misinformation is purposeful, for then, there is always an ungodly objective behind such misinformation, such as encouraging people to embrace a militant or aggressive response to the other (which we see is happening with contemporary Christian nationalism, where it uses hateful polemics, especially against Muslims, hoping to promote a modern “crusade” aimed at the total eradication of Muslims in the world).

There are extremists in all religious traditions. There are also ideologues who want to use religion as a mean of controlling the world (sometimes without having any actual belief themselves). We must acknowledge this, and the more I studied religion, the more I have seen examples of such people in all religious faiths. We must accept that there are good and bad people in every faith tradition. I find it important we do not judge the best of one faith with the worst of another, but the best with the best. I certainly do not want Christianity judged based upon what Donald Trump and his administration says and does when it claims to represent Christianity. Similarly, I do not look to other religions (or atheism) on the basis of its worst examples. So long as we look at each other in that way, looking for the worst, instead of the best, we will not only talk past each other, we will only produce more hostility and fear in the world.

Studying other faiths, therefore, has confirmed in me the truth of Nostra Aetate (and of course, theologians and philosophers like Nicholas of Cusa and Marsilio Ficino who had a more positive approach to non-Christian religious traditions). Christians should not believe other faiths, and what they teach, are completely wrong. They are not. The more I studied other faiths, the more I realized how bad it is to look to other religious traditions as beliefs and practices which must be absolutely and completely refuted. Instead, we should believe other faiths have had elements of truth inspiring them; that is, we should really believe that the ray of truth, coming from God truly shines throughout world history. Studying other faiths should help Christians see this. It certainly has helped me do so. It has also helped me to conclude the diversity of faiths should not be seen as a problem. Different faiths do not need to fight each other to prove who is superior. Instead, they should find a way to come together, to work together, with mutual love and respect. And I believe, the more people come together, listen to each other, learn about what everyone believes, the more this is possible, which is why it is important we all find ways to engage other religions and religious beliefs in our lives.

Stay in touch! Like A Little Bit of Nothing on Facebook.
If you liked what you read, please consider sharing it with your friends and family!

N.B.: While I read comments to moderate them, I rarely respond to them. If I don’t respond to your comment directly, don’t assume I am unthankful for it. I appreciate it. But I want readers to feel free to ask questions, and hopefully, dialogue with each other. I have shared what I wanted to say, though some responses will get a brief reply by me, or, if I find it interesting and something I can engage fully, as the foundation for another post. I have had many posts inspired or improved upon thanks to my readers.

General Christian

Education and Religion

Previous Post

March 16, 2026

The Call For Peace Amidst Unjust Warfare In Iran

Next Post

March 19, 2026 Fanaticism Versus True Christian Conviction

Recent Comments

0 | Leave a Comment

"Gosh, did that hit the spot. I have been having great anxiety lately. And I ..."

Mark Wilson

Rejecting Doom: Christian Hope And Human ..."

"Justice and peace are two sides of the same coin. Where there is justice, there ..."

Dr.Cajetan Coelho

Justice First, Charity Beyond It: Serving ..."

"Thank you for your very, very powerful and very, very insightful analysis of the relationship ..."

alwayspuzzled

Justice First, Charity Beyond It: Serving ..."

"Given the amount of lethal malevolence that has prevailed in human history for the past ..."

alwayspuzzled

We Must Value Our Health

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Abortion Abraham abuse Aesthetics AI Aliens Ambrose Ancestors and Everything Andrew Angels Animals Anne Anthony Antisemitism apologetics Apophatic Apostle John Aquinas Artificial Intelligence Asanga Ascension Asceticism Assumption Atheism Attachment Augustine Authority Avarice Balthasar Baptism Beauty Biden birthright citizenship Bishops Black History Books Buddhism Bulgakov Byzantine Calendar C.S. Lewis Calcidius Catholic Catholicism Catholicism Celibacy Charity Chastity children Chrismation Christ Christmas Christology Church Climate Change Common Good Communion Confession Confirmation Conscience Constantine conventions conversion councils Covid Creation Cross Dead Death Death Penalty Debate Deception Demagogues Demons Desert Monks Desert Mothers Desire destruction development Dialogue Dignity Dionsyius Dionysius Discipline Diversity Division Doctor Who doctrine dogma Dormition Dualism Easter Easter Series Ecumenical Councils Ecumenism Education Election Empathy Environment Error Eschatology eschaton Eternity Ethics Eucharist Evangelism Eve Evil evolution Faeries Faith Fear femininity Ficino Florence Florensky Folktale Fools Forgiveness Freedom Future gender Gentile Gentiles Glory Gnostic God gods Good Samaritan Goodness Gospel Government Grace Great Fast Guns Hate healing Health Heaven Hell Hellenism Heresy Hierarchy Hildegard Hinduism History Holiness Holy Spirit Holy Week Hope Horror Human rights humanity Humility hypocrisy ICE icon icons Identification Identity Idol II Nicea Immigration incarnation Individualism Informal Reflections Inklings Intention Inter-Religious Interfaith Internet Interpretation Intrinsic evil Irenaeus Islam Israel Jacob Jerome Jesus Jews John Chrysostom John of Damascus John the Baptist Joseph Judaism justice Justification kenosis Kindnesss Kingdom of God Kingdom of Heaven Law Law of Moses Lazarus Leaf by Niggle Lent Lenten Reflection Liberation Theology Lies Life Listen Literature Liturgy locutions Logic Logos Love Marriage Martyrs Mary Mass Maximos The Confessor Meanness Meditation Mercy Middle Path Migrants Mind Miracles Miriam Morals Moses Movies Music Muslims Myths Names Nationalism Native Americans New Year Nicea Nicholas Nothing Novatian Obedience Occam's Razor Ordination Origen Original Sin Orthodox orthopraxis Pagans Palamas Palm Sunday Paradise Paschaltide Paul Peace Pentecost person Peter piety PKD Plato pluralism Plurality Poem Poetry Poiltics Politics Poor Pope Pope Francis Pope Leo XIV Post Office Prayer Pride Pro-life Prodigal Son propaganda Prophecy Prophets Providence Putin Racism Reading Reason Reflection Refugees Relationships Religion Religion Series Religious Liberty Repent Republicans Rest Resurrection Rich Rites Russia Sacraments Saints Salvation Salvian Santa Science Scripture Self-Giving Sexuality Sibyl Sick Silence Sin Singlehood Social Justice Society Sodom Solovyov Speculations Spiritual Reflection St. Cyril of Alexandria St. Justin Martyr Suffering Sunday of the Paralytic Man Sunday of the Samaritan Woman Superhero Supreme Court Teaching Technology Thanksgiving The Father the Universe Theological Reflection Theology Theosis Theotokos Thomas Timaeus Time Tolerenace Tolkien Tradition Transfiguration Trinity Trump Truth Uncategorized Unity Universities USCCB Value Vatican II Vegetarian Vices Violence Virtue Vocations War Water Welcome Wisdom Womanhood Women Work World View Worship Writing Zacchaeus

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz