Are All Religions the Same?

Recently, I've been doing what I call a "Compartive Religions" study here on the blog where I focus on one small aspect of a particular religion and compare it to the Bible to see how it measures up. Therefore, I wanted to share the idea behind that by quoting a portion of an article by Greg Laurie which brings out the point quite well. This particular article is from 2006, but it is still very relevant to today's belief that all religions are the same...

The great world religions do not all teach the same thing. And I say that with respect for all people to believe what they choose to believe. We don't need to vilify, threaten or attack one another. We need a civil discourse, and we need to agree to disagree. But on the other hand, let's not foolishly say every religion is teaching the same thing, because they are not. For instance, take these three truths into consideration:

Concerning the existence of a personal God. Buddhists deny it altogether. Hindus believe that God is formless and abstract, taking the form of a trinity as well as millions of lesser gods. In direct contrast, the Bible teaches that God is a personal deity, who created man in His own image, loves us and wants to have a relationship with us.

Concerning salvation. Buddhists believe salvation comes by self-effort alone – with no personal God to help or guide you. Hindus believe you achieve salvation by devotion, works and self-control. Muslims insist that man earns his own salvation, pays for his own sins, and that you can never be certain if you have achieved salvation or not. In stark contrast, the Bible teaches that Jesus Christ died for our sins, and if we will turn from our own way and follow Him, we can be forgiven and have the hope of heaven.

Concerning Jesus Christ. Buddhists believe Jesus was a good teacher, but less important than Buddha. Hindus believe Jesus was just one of many incarnations, or sons of God. They teach that Christ was not the one-and-only Son of God. He was no more divine than any other man, and He did not die for man's sins. Muslims will tell you that Jesus Christ was only a man, a prophet equal to Adam, Noah or Abraham, all of whom are below Muhammad in importance.

Do you see my point? It doesn't work to believe in all of the above. The tenets of these religions directly contradict one another. They cannot all be true. These belief systems are diverse and contradictory. In reality, they have little to nothing in common.

Comments

  1. ALThursday, July 28, 2011 at 5:24:00 PM EDT

    And only one of them can be true. I would say that it's the one that is different from all the rest. All religions teach that you must do something to earn your way into God's good graces, only Christianity teaches that there is nothing that you can do to earn your way, and that it's already been done for you. Repent and believe.

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  2. Don and ShellyThursday, July 28, 2011 at 5:24:00 PM EDT

    Miss S, I heard another story yesterday about a story featured on our blog: www.hlministries.blogspot.com. If you want to read about something that will really leave your reeling, do a search on the word "Chrislam." You'll flip out...

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  3. Christiana SzymanskiThursday, July 28, 2011 at 5:24:00 PM EDT

    @Don&Shelly - Wow! That is strange! Scripturally speaking, it seems to me that "Chrislam" would be a form of "another gospel," and the Bible specifically says that those who propagate such are "anathema" (accursed)! I don't think that trying to appease everyone -- as it seems this religion is doing -- is the best policy. Speaking the truth as it is taught in the Bible is going to make people mad, but that doesn't mean we mix-and-match belief systems; truth and false-hood can't co-exist! Thanks for pointing me to that article!

    @AL - "And only one of them can be true" - Exactly! And that is the point of my Comparative Religions study -- to show that there is only one Way, Only one Name by which we are saved. Since all religions contradict, they can't all be right at the same time; there must be one, objective truth. Jesus said, " I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life." I hope that people will see that through this study. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

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