Attending Places of Worship of Other Faiths

I wonder how many people would attend a service at a place of worship outside their faith, if invited to do so?

I think a lot depends on the context.
Some example:
*My sister is getting married in a church.
*A man walking on the street invites me to join a ceremony
*In an attempt to bridge communities there's an inter religious evening.
*Simply out of curiosity, or to learn
*I'm going in an attempt to preach my own faith
...

It all depends on the purpose, different purposes will get different answers. Some other things to consider, will I be expected to join in certain ceremonies (even singing along or standing up and so on)? For example, when in church the priest calls to stand up in honorance of the communion, and I remain seated, will that be interpreted as disrespectful? Maybe it's better not to go in the first place then.

I am none of the above, and I WOULD ATTEND

It all depends on the purpose and the place of worship. Some churches, such as Methodist ones, in which there are no statues etc.

Lots of factors to consider, so a blanket no is not valid. It depends on the church, the purpose of the service and what is expected of me.

Abdul Fattah said:

I think a lot depends on the context.
Some example:
*My sister is getting married in a church.
*A man walking on the street invites me to join a ceremony
*In an attempt to bridge communities there's an inter religious evening.
*Simply out of curiosity, or to learn
*I'm going in an attempt to preach my own faith
...

It all depends on the purpose, different purposes will get different answers. Some other things to consider, will I be expected to join in certain ceremonies (even singing along or standing up and so on)? For example, when in church the priest calls to stand up in honorance of the communion, and I remain seated, will that be interpreted as disrespectful? Maybe it's better not to go in the first place then.

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Salaam Abdul Fattah,

I understand what you are saying. Where people would not attend at a relgious function not of their own faith, on general principle, other might depending on the circumstances.

Polls have their limitations. Here are my answers to your scenarios:

My sister is getting married in a church.
Definitely Yes

*A man walking on the street invites me to join a ceremony
Probably not, I am against prosletysing

*In an attempt to bridge communities there's an inter religious evening.
Definitely yes

*Simply out of curiosity, or to learn
Definitely yes, but with respect

*I'm going in an attempt to preach my own faith
Definitely not, I am against prosletysing

With regard to you other concerns, if there was a certain ritual that I felt uncomfortable with, or knew that according to that faith, unbelievers should not participate in(such as communion in a Lutheran church), I would refrain from participating.

But standing up, sitting down, kneeling, singing (if I knew the words and the tune),even bowing, I personally would have no problem with.

Since I have become a Hindu, my husband (also a Hindu) and I have attended at various Christian churches (funerals, special services), and we have attended Islamic "readings" to which we were invited by a Muslim friend.

My brother, on the other hand, who is a fundamenatalist Christian, would not attend any religious function not of his faith out of general principle, (not even memorial services for our mother that I had arranged at our Hindu temple).

So, you see, I am well acquainted with both extremes.

Woodrow said:

It all depends on the purpose and the place of worship. Some churches, such as Methodist ones, in which there are no statues etc.

Lots of factors to consider, so a blanket no is not valid. It depends on the church, the purpose of the service and what is expected of me.

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As I understand it, you would not attend any place of worship that has aspects forbidden by your faith. I respect your point of view.

Sarada said:

As I understand it, you would not attend any place of worship that has aspects forbidden by your faith. I respect your point of view.

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Thank you. Your views are also respected.

I voted i wouldnt attend, but remembered a few times i attended for different reasons:
1. i was dared when i was younger (silly childish thing)
2. to attend an appointment that was held in a church (its true!)
3. to prove ( at the time) that i am open to other peoples relious beliefs

So after reading other peoples posts, ive changed my opinion on the poll.

Like others have said, I can think of reasons when I would attend a ceremony of another religion/faith, such as a wedding, a funeral, or to give my support to a friend.

Actually participating in the worship of a religion/faith different to mine is different though, and I don't think I would ever do it.

So my answer would be 'yes' or 'no', depending on what is meant by 'attending a service'.

I don't see anything wrong with going. It's our duty to learn and to respect other religions. As long as your there for the right reasons then I don't see anything wrong with it.

I am atheist. I would attend so long as I am not expected to participate and may sit and silently observe. I have attended at churches, mosques, synagoges (sp?), temples of buddhists and hindus and a collection place for wiccans. I enjoyed observing each of them.

this is a good question/poll. I had the oppertunity after converting to attend a wedding at a christain church and I was told that they almost did not invite me because they were not sure with my faith and all if I would attend.

Abdulah

i cant help but feel i will be promoting the other religion if i attend.


this is a personaly feeling i have, i am not saying if its correct or not as i dont have enough knowledge to deduce as such.

Mpls_Muslim said:

this is a good question/poll. I had the oppertunity after converting to attend a wedding at a christain church and I was told that they almost did not invite me because they were not sure with my faith and all if I would attend.

Abdulah

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What did you think of the experience? How did you feel afterwards?

One of the reasons I asked this question is because, in Guyana, and Trinidad, perhaps elsewhere in the West Indies, Muslims, Christians and Hindus routinely get together and celebrate Eid, Christmas, Diwali, and others.

IbnAbdulHakim said:

i cant help but feel i will be promoting the other religion if i attend.


this is a personaly feeling i have, i am not saying if its correct or not as i dont have enough knowledge to deduce as such.

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Salaam IbnAbdulHakim,

Did you ever think that you might be promoting a better understanding amongst people of different faiths, and reducing the tension that often exists out of ignorance of one another's beliefs and practices?

Sarada said:

Salaam IbnAbdulHakim,

Did you ever think that you might be promoting a better understanding amongst people of different faiths, and reducing the tension that often exists out of ignorance of one another's beliefs and practices?

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lol nice way to look at it, im not sure at the moment. I'll have to research and ask some scholars if attending a service in the place of worship of another religion is even permitted in islam.



im not sure, but i do know i would feel uncomfrtable...

IbnAbdulHakim said:

lol nice way to look at it, im not sure at the moment. I'll have to research and ask some scholars if attending a service in the place of worship of another religion is even permitted in islam.



im not sure, but i do know i would feel uncomfrtable...

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Good idea.
I would be very interested to know if there are actually Islamic rules whether in the Qur'an or Hadith which prohibit attending.

Speaking of concern over promoting the other religion...

I often find myself wondering what to do when I go to a church as a non-believer (to observe/study or with a friend - I dont go often) and the collection plate comes around.

I don't support the religion on the one hand so it feels wrong to fund it. But on the other hand the people have put on quite a show and it feels wrong not to give them something for it.

When I was Catholic, I did on several ocasions.
Now as an agnostic, I still do.