This is a common rejoinder to the exclusive claim of Christianity that faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to reconcile sinful man with a just and holy God. This contrary position assumes that all sincere faiths lead to God. But is that a reasonable position? Compare the basic beliefs of the following world religions in the attached chart to see just how different they really are, and how Christianity stands out among them.
A quick look at the chart shows that these belief systems differ greatly in their views of God, the universe, the human condition, the relationship between God and man, the afterlife, and the method for attaining peace with God. While many religions offer similar moral teachings at a surface level, the deeper motivation behind those teachings and the framework in which they are presented turns the idea of similarities between religions on its head. Simply put, none of the religions examined here, which account for the most widely practiced religions in the world, are basically the same.
Each of these religions makes certain truth claims about the
nature of the spiritual realm. That is,
they each say that certain things are true regarding God or gods, the human
soul, et cetera. They assume an
objective reality that they attempt to describe. If they are attempting to describe things as
they really are, then the fact that any two given disagreeing belief systems
say different things on a given topic leads us to a particular conclusion: either both of them are wrong, or one of
them is right, but both cannot be right.
Let’s take Christianity vs. Hinduism and their view of God. Christians say that there is only one God. Hindus say there are many gods (as many as 330 million!). Both claim this as an objective fact. Either there is only one God, or there are many (two or more) gods, or there are no gods. Now, both could conceivably be wrong, or one of them is right, but both cannot possibly be right.
As strange as it may seem, this simple logical statement is radically unpopular in our current climate of religious pluralism. Religious pluralism is the notion that all religions are equally true, which is only possible if truth itself is based on and determined by an individual’s personal opinion and not a statement of fact about the real world we live in.
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Christianity |
Judaism |
Islam |
Hinduism |
Buddhism |
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Who is God? |
God is one in nature or essence, uncreated and eternal, and subsists in three eternally distinct Persons who are equally God: Father, Son (Jesus), and Holy Spirit. |
God is one in nature and in person, eternal and uncreated. |
God is one in nature and in person, eternal and uncreated. |
Most Hindu sects are pantheistic (many gods). Bhakti, Hare Krishna do not believe in an impersonal God. Vendanta believes in one god, Brahman, who is infinite in form, immortal, imperishable, impersonal, all-pervading, supreme, changeless, absolute, indivisibly one, and, simultaneously, none of the above(!). (Geisler, 316) Vedanta holds to monism, the concept that all that exists is god. |
No supreme God exists, though an equivalent, in the
Nichiren |
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What is the nature of the universe? |
The universe is separate and distinct from God but is fully dependent upon him for its creation and existence. It was originally created without evil but was damaged through the entrance of sin at the Fall. |
The universe is separate and distinct from God but is fully dependent upon him for its creation and existence. |
The universe is separate and distinct from God but is fully dependent upon him for its creation and existence. |
The universe as we apprehend it is an illusion. In Vedanta Hindusim, the universe is identical to the god Brahman. |
The universe as we apprehend it is an illusion. |
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What is man? |
Man was created by God in his image with the capability to make moral choices between evil and good. Man was originally created without sin, but with the capability to sin. |
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Man, in his true essence and enlightenment, is one with the Buddha. |
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Why does evil exist? |
Two kinds of evil exist: natural evil and moral evil. Both are results of the sin committed by the first humans, Adam and Eve. Natural evil describes the death, destruction, and decay evident in the physical universe that was introduced with the Fall. Moral evil involves the human capability and natural propensity to do other than God’s will. |
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Evil is human ignorance. |
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What is an individual’s natural relationship with God? |
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What are the potential states of life after death? |
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What is the authoritative source of spiritual truth? |
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If a person does evil things, what are the consequences? |
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Is there any way a person can be forgiven for their evil acts? |
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Who is Jesus? |
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