Stock Markets Exposed

Does religion deserve the same type of consideration as stock investing does?

Before I invest in a stock, I will do as much research as possible before diving in. I read the company's prospectus, but I will also gather information from various third parties to gain an objective point of view. I will study its performance history, and also ask around to see if there is anyone I know who has invested in the stock, or knows someone who has to learn their experience with it. To blindly invest my money into any stock -- regardless of what others say about it -- would be foolish to me. Doesn't religion deserve the same sort of scrutiny before one "invests" in it?

Public Comments

1. Some religions do. But generally not the ones trolling for converts. :-D
2. Proverbs 14:15 - A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps.
3. Isn't it a bit early for blasphemy? Jesus said we are to have child-like trust. (Hiya!)
4. absolutely. what most religious groups call religious education is little more than indoctrination. imagine if before you bought some stock you just told yourself how good it was and how right your decision was and you got together with a bunch of people who parroted the same patter. and then if the stock turn out to be mediocre you blamed all the other stocks.
5. It does in the capitalist driven word faith movement Churches thats for sure! All those corporate brand named Churches with excellent marketing strategies!!! Seriously though, perhaps you should read history, history of the Church you are looking at. A good question is 'when was it founded?' Most will be say 1800-1900's, although some old Protestant Churches like Lutheran are 500 years old. But Jesus lived 2000 years ago...What Church did he found? The universal apostolic Orthodox Church, read its history and scrutinize it, I did, and that's why I joined...
6. Of course you're right, but I know people who jump into the stock market based solely upon what someone else has told them...just like people jump into religion. Usually those who fail to look before they leap in the stock market are not successful and come out with great losses. The same can be said of religion IMHO.
7. Yes, it does. I applied the same principles when I decided to practice Buddhism and I am encouraged to keep asking the same rigorous questions of everything that is taught. Blind faith leads to spiritual ruin.
8. Yes. But just consider it a mortgage backed security: someone else supposedly did the due diligence and you buy it assuming they're right. And then you lose your shirt, but that's not the sellers problem. It's the Bear-Stearns approach to spirituality.
9. I thought you were just supposed to wait for something to reveal itself. You know, smoke a little something, go on a vision quest... But when I tried it, all I did was eat a whole bag of peanut M&Ms. Research made more sense. .
10. Ah friend, the choice to believe is free. Doesn't cost you a dime. Also, religion for me, has been a personal experience. The evidence came from my personal experience, things I cannot explain. No advice in the world could change that., Great stocks by themselves have been known to crash. What comes up, comes down. Stick with a mutual fund....with a nice balance of bonds. (Don't you think it all comes down to having different personal experiences?) Peace to you.