Attending Places of Worship of Other Faiths

[Grace Seeker]

I will first speak to my own experience, and then perhaps try to draw some general principles from it.



I am a Christian, for those to whom it matters, I am a United Methodist, a type of protestant, not a Catholic.

I have attended worship services in many different protestant church, not just my own, in Catholic churches, at a Mormon stake (a group I consider non-Christian) and a Christian Scientist service (another non-Christian group) and in Muslim mosques, and I have visited Greek Orthodox churches, Jewish synagogues and Bahai temples.

I felt I was able to worship in all of these places, not because they were necessarily worshiping the one true God (I certainly don't think they were at the Christian Science service or Bahai temple), but because I knew who it was that I worship and that there is no place that God is not.

Psalm 139
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?

8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, [a] you are there.

9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,

10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.

11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"

12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

So, there is no place that if that is where I happen to be, that I cannot worship God while there.

On the other hand, having been to some of these places, I can also testify that there was nothing offered to me in some of them that helped me to worship God, I was totally dependent on the faith that was within me. The service at the Mormon stake and Christian Science service were the least God glorifying experiences of my life. I wondered how it was that those who attended were able to maintain any sort of spiritual life based on them at all? So, I would probably decline, unless there were extenuating circumstances that caused me to go to be supportive to some significant individual in my life, having nothing to do with the practice of my own faith.

What should others do? I'm not going to say. But I would think that the following are questions to ask one's self:

1) Do you believe that God can still be present in that place and time, even if no one else there knows God as you know God?

2) Will attending there actually do you any spiritual harm? Or another way to put that same question-- If you did attend, is God big enough and providential enough to protect you from any spiritual stumbling, and are you strong enough in your own faith to sustain it?

3) If you expect to receive no spiritual nourishment in this other environment, are you able to either subsequent to visiting or prior to visiting worship in a way that will be meaningful to you?

4) Are you attending out of respect for important and valued family/personal relationships that will either benefit from your attendance or might be harmed by your lack of attendance?

5) If going for the purpose of simply learning or satifying a curiousity, can one attend as a respectful observer without having to actually be a participant?


The answers to these questions help me to determine whether and at what level I can attend another faith's place of worship. Perhaps others will find them helpful as well.

 

[Woodrow]

Peace Gene,

Very good 5 questions. Those are very wise questions we should ask ourselves before we answer yes or no about attending another faiths place of worship.


My wife was Native American, and she followed the Native Cherokee religion. There was no identified place of worship for her, every place she happened to be was a place of worship for her. So in that sense every one of us is now in a Cherokee place of worship. It is impossible for a non-Cherokee not to be in a Cherokee place of worship. So all of us except for the Cherokees are now in a place of worship of another faith.

 

[MustafaMc]

I felt I was able to worship in all of these places, not because they were necessarily worshiping the one true God (I certainly don't think they were at the Christian Science service or Bahai temple), but because I knew who it was that I worship and that there is no place that God is not.

So, there is no place that if that is where I happen to be, that I cannot worship God while there.

This is a difference in our faith. We Muslims don't believe that Allah is in all places at the same time (omnipresent). We believe that Allah is aware of everything, but not that He is in all places and beings. Christians believe that God (the Holy Spirit) dwells within them, but to my knowledge we Muslims don't share this belief. Allah is separate from us, human beings being subordinate to the Master and Lord of the universe (Rabbi-Al'amin).

On the other hand, having been to some of these places, I can also testify that there was nothing offered to me in some of them that helped me to worship God, I was totally dependent on the faith that was within me. The service at the Mormon stake and Christian Science service were the least God glorifying experiences of my life. I wondered how it was that those who attended were able to maintain any sort of spiritual life based on them at all?

We Muslims have very well defined modes of worship that trace back to Prophet Muhammad (saaws). Christian worship services do not trace back to Jesus (as) and would probably not be recognized as such by him if he were to return today. We would not join in a Christian service as we believe they are blasphemous to the Unity of Allah.

But I would think that the following are questions to ask one's self:

Perhaps, these questions were not to be answered here, but I will put forth my point of view anyway.

1) Do you believe that God can still be present in that place and time, even if no one else there knows God as you know God?

No, see above. We believe that Allah does not exist within the confines of the universe as we know it and certainly that He does not exist in the most disgusting places imaginable as has been put forth by adherents of other non-Abrahamic religions.

2) Will attending there actually do you any spiritual harm? Or another way to put that same question-- If you did attend, is God big enough and providential enough to protect you from any spiritual stumbling, and are you strong enough in your own faith to sustain it?

Yes, I believe that participating in the Christian service would do me spiritual harm as I would be ascribing partners to Allah. Within our confines, we have free will to chose to obey or to disobey Allah. Allah does not prevent us from disobeying or from sinning - we are personally accountable for our choices. It would be hypocritical for me to attend Christian worship services listening to things that I don't believe to be true and for me to not raise a voice in opposition.

3) If you expect to receive no spiritual nourishment in this other environment, are you able to either subsequent to visiting or prior to visiting worship in a way that will be meaningful to you?

I have not attended a Christian worship service since deciding to practice Islam in 2001. If I did happen to attend a service (with my sister for example), that would not stop me from my 5 daily prayers. I attend Jumm'ah (Friday) prayer not so much for "spiritual nourishment", but rather as an act of worship as prescribed by Prophet Muhammad (saaws).

4) Are you attending out of respect for important and valued family/personal relationships that will either benefit from your attendance or might be harmed by your lack of attendance?

If I went, that would be the reason why I would.

5) If going for the purpose of simply learning or satifying a curiousity, can one attend as a respectful observer without having to actually be a participant?

If one had the interest in doing so, I personally see no harm. As an observer, I believe that he would serve as a witness either for or against those participants on the Day of Judgment.

 

[Grace Seeker]

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.

I missed this earlier and I can understand how it is that you might feel at a loss as to which to do. Let me assure you that there is nothing wrong with simply passing the plate to the next person. We have church members who are unable to give, or who give only once a month, so many within the body itself will pass the plate without putting anything in it on any given Sunday. Beyond that, even if you were a Christian I would not expect a visitor from another congregation to contribute to the support of our congregation rather than his/her own. Similarly, I do not expect a non-Christian to do so either. You should always feel free to simply pass the plate.

And there is another very good reason why you may wish to take a pass on putting anything in the offering plate. Although not everyone thinks of this at the time, the real significance of receiving the offering is NOT to support the church. Rather it is a presentation of one's self, an offering of one's self to God. If you don't believe in God, the whole concept of offering one's self to a being that doesn't exist, would seem to be something that you might not want to participate in. But, if you do decide to make an offering, I would hope that no one would reject it either. It is a generous thing to do, and the monies received by most churches go toward a whole host of different things, some of which I am sure you would support. So, I suppose, in your mind you can think of yourself as supporting those things rather than that which you do not agree with.

 

[Grace Seeker]

Peace Gene,
My wife was Native American, and she followed the Native Cherokee religion. There was no identified place of worship for her, every place she happened to be was a place of worship for her. So in that sense every one of us is now in a Cherokee place of worship. It is impossible for a non-Cherokee not to be in a Cherokee place of worship. So all of us except for the Cherokees are now in a place of worship of another faith.

And not to be insulting to your wife, or any other Cherokee for that matter, but some would consider any Native American faiths to be a pagan religion. So if, as some here have suggested, that one should not enter a place where other gods are worshipped:

Exactly - why would a Muslim enter a polytheistic place where partners are constantly being ascribed to Allah the Most High??

I think a person who believed thusly might find it a hard time living in this world where every place is a place of worship for some other individual who believes differently than them. I think they make life too hard for themselves. I am not saying that I would enter another faiths place of worship with the intention of worshipping. But on the other hand, in my opinion the true God is too big to be confined in any building or other place of worship, and he is also to big to be kept out of any building or other place of worship. Surely those who know God, can worship God in any location on the earth (though not copying just any other faith's methods) for he created the whole of it and there is not one part of it absent of his presence.

 

[MustafaMc]

Surely those who know God, can worship God in any location on the earth (though not copying just any other faith's methods) for he created the whole of it and there is not one part of it absent of his presence.

Yes, Muslims can perform salah (ritual prayer) in most places on earth. I have prayed in many different places: airport lobby, airport chapel, hotels, my office, empty room in convention center, beside the road, forest, cotton field, homes of family, behind churches, under highway bridges, non-denominational building for travelers, etc.

 

[Woodrow]

And not to be insulting to your wife, or any other Cherokee for that matter, but some would consider any Native American faiths to be a pagan religion.

True, however I found that the Native American religions were/are very monotheistic. From what I seen of them they are much closer to judaism thean they were /are to animistic pagan beliefs. I didn't worship as she did but it was an interesting study.

So if, as some here have suggested, that one should not enter a place where other gods are worshipped: I think a person who believed thusly might find it a hard time living in this world where every place is a place of worship for some other individual who believes differently than them. I think they make life too hard for themselves. I am not saying that I would enter another faiths place of worship with the intention of worshipping. But on the other hand, in my opinion the true God is too big to be confined in any building or other place of worship, and he is also to big to be kept out of any building or other place of worship. Surely those who know God, can worship God in any location on the earth (though not copying just any other faith's methods) for he created the whole of it and there is not one part of it absent of his presence.

That is the point I was attempting to make. Much of it depends on the intent and reason a person enters a place of worship thean there own. I don't think a blanket yes or no answer could suffice. There can be valid reasons to enter other than for the purpose of worship, if if others were worshiping in accordance with their belief. It is what we do not what they are doing.

 

[Grace Seeker]

Yes, Muslims can perform salah (ritual prayer) in most places on earth. I have prayed in many different places: airport lobby, airport chapel, hotels, my office, empty room in convention center, beside the road, forest, cotton field, homes of family, behind churches, under highway bridges, non-denominational building for travelers, etc.

And the NW corner bedroom in my house as well.

 

[MustafaMc]

And the NW corner bedroom in my house as well.

Yes, how could I forget, you were a most gracious host. :happy: I also appreciated the tour of the church where you minister. I believe that the non-denominational prayer building was on a road between your home and Indianapolis.

One more knowledgeable may correct me, but I believe that I heard or read that places where we have performed salah will testify on our behalf on that fateful Day.

 

[Jayda]

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

hola Sarada,

no but with a few exceptions. weddings or funerals are such an exception but i would pray according to my beliefs and not theirs. i think most people would understand that weddings and funerals are not appropriate places to push their religion on their friends, and that the purpose of inviting them is to show their support of the people and not the beliefs involved. outside of that, i have visited a synagogue and an ensuing dinner with the rabbi and his prominent congregation members as an invitation to ask questions about Judaism... i didn't join in though.

i think that kind of thing is okay just for academic understanding... i would never do anything to compromise my Catholic faith.

que Dios te bendiga

 

[Esther462]

My family are Christian and I still help at the kids church I did help out at before I converted to Islam. I know this wrong but I can't give this up as the church is ok with me helping. I pray in the churches quiet room away from the kids. I will enter a church building if there was a family specile occations like weddings. I love be a Muslim and it is away of life for me. I still want to be counted as part of my family and I have respect there faith or the Majorty of family and extended family, even though I total agree with what they believe in.

 

[wilberhum]

That is so wonderful I don't know what to say.

You are a bright spot in this world. :thumbs_up :thumbs_up :thumbs_up

 

[smile]

i would go

 

[nevesirth]

used to attend but not anymore

 

[AntiKarateKid]

I would attend for the purpose of knowing where they are coming from. I feel that I don't have to sit and ponder about these other ways of worship when God has perfected it for us. But as a sign of brotherhood I would attend if a friend asked me to.

 

[Jayda]

hola,

i don't agree with the term 'abrahamic faith' it's an external label that assumes the validity of a theological connection rejected by the Church.

all the same... i would attend depending upon the circumstances and what is intended to occur there. i would not pray to any false gods or join anyone in worshipping God in a way against how He intended.

i've been invited to a jewish service and dinner with the rabbi and people from his congregation. i attended and it was very interesting... i've never been invited to a mosque but i would probably not take the invitation without first reading a little bit more about islamic manners since i know the issue of women in mosques around men is contentious.

que Dios te bendiga

 

[cat eyes]

i wouldnt because shayytan is always hiding out in those places waiting for some curious muslim to come along so he can make him do shirk

 

[Esther462]

Things have change for me now. I will only go into another faith place of worship for weddings, furnals and when I need to see my family and friends.

 

[KAding]

I like going to religious services. It is always so fascinating. Gonna go to a protestant one soon in Amsterdam, see how it differs from the couple Catholic ones I've been to in Belgium a while ago!

 

[Amadeus85]

Creating one religion which is a mix for all people is an eternal goal of freemasonry. I believe that interfaith dialogue plays important role in their attempts.