Why Would a Skeptic Study World Religious Literature?

What do I expect to find when I explore sacred texts?

1.  I do not expect to find revelation. The text will not show me something which could otherwise not be known about the nature of reality or the intentions of G-d.
2. I do expect to find the results of religious experience, religious imagination.
3. I do expect to find wisdom, along with failed attempts at wisdom.
4. I expect to find important expressions of culture and language, root stories and social norms.
5.  I expect to find legal traditions and models of behavior – some of enduring relevance but some not worthy of perpetuation.
6. I expect to find superstitions – supposed links of cause and effect that do not bear up under examination.
7. I expect to find intolerance and hostility toward that which is unfamiliar or frightening.

Beyond all that, when I explore sacred texts, I hope to discover and generate value for myself and my growth as a moral / spiritual person:

1. I hope to find inspiration, and renewed dedication. I hope to find examples of people who transcended the smallness of petty concerns and made a great contribution with their lives. I hope to discover what inspired and moved them.
2. I hope to find conversation partners, companions for the journey. Through texts ancient and new, I hope to engage in the dialogue of the ages about the deep structures of life, and make my living more rich and intentional.
3. I hope to achieve peace of mind and focus, as my concerns shift from fleeting anxieties to more enduring matters.

I do not expect to find a perfect dialogue partner in the ancient text. I want to take what is of value and acknowledge where I see flaws. I also am a mixture of light and darkness and I hope that just as I critique the text, the text will critique parts of me, and out of the creative tension of our dialogue a better person will gently emerge.