 Teens: How to Learn About Different Religions
By Linda Carlson
If you are 12-18 years old, maybe now, after reading the story of a day in the life of an American Muslim girl, you are curious about someone else’s religion. Maybe you want to grow in your own religious and spiritual beliefs through learning about people who have different beliefs than you. Maybe your dad and mom aren’t so sure they would like you to learn about other religions, but you still have questions and curiosity?
Learning about another culture and/or their religion, does not mean you give up your own beliefs; in my opinion, it simply means that GOD is giving you an opportunity to discover more about who you are today, so that you can grow into a more expansive you - tomorrow. Maybe learning about another’s religion will open up doors for new discussions with your own parents; discussions on topics that explore why your parents believe what they believe (in many areas of life), and give them an opportunity to hear what is important to you in this challenging and changing world.
3 Tips to Learn About Another Religion
1. Start with one religion. Read about it online (but check your sources to make certain
they are accurate). Go to the library and do your own research. Contact a family friend or local college or university who teaches classes on the religion you are interested in. Visit them as well as the temple, church, synagogue, etc. Ask questions. Be forthright. Do not be afraid of asking the “wrong questions.” There are no wrong questions.
2. Read the Book. Almost every religion has a book that is precious to them. (Like Christians have the Bible.) If is it too confusing or complicated to understand, ask a responsible, caring, and open minded adult to help you with it. Perusing another religions book is not going to take you away from your own religion. Ask your parent, an older brother or sister, or some other family member if they would like to go on this journey with you. Stick to 4-6 things you would really like to know about this religion. Perhaps you can each take a specific area of interest to research every week. Then make a point of having a special time each week when you sit together for half an hour (away from cell phones, TV, and internet) – maybe at a coffee shop or library, where you can review what you have both uncovered this week and share it with each other.
3. Keep to a time line. Just like school has a dead line for projects, let this ride through religion have one too. Learning about another religion is fun and interesting; it becomes a chore when it carries on for too long. Set a time table of 3-4 weeks at the most, for each religious exploration (you can always take detailed classes when you go to college). Then select another religion to investigate. Religions often have their roots in particular areas of the world, so a by product of investigating another religion is that it helps you to learn geography, history, and explore great food. Along the way, you might discover you have even made an intercultural friend or two.
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