Some Of The Different Religions
Let me say that there are many religions in the world, but only one salvation.
eph 4:4There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6One God and Father of all, who is above all, listen as I read today’s text;
Jeremiah 2:11-13
11Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit. 12Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD.
13For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.
I read that one of the major denominations met in Columbus to debate, of all things, whether or not Jesus Christ is the one true Savior of the world. Is he the universal Savior or might there be several they said?
What about the other world religions and their claims? Some people wonder if perhaps there are not many paths to God? If you asked the average American today what the difference was between the major world religions, they would probably mumble something about all religions being pretty much the same.
People assume that all religions have nearly the same moral teachings and ideals. They might have different names for God they’ll say, but it is the same God.
These religions, many people believe, may travel different roads, but they all lead to God. As long as you believe in something, as long as you believe in God, it really doesn’t matter what form your belief takes.
Well dear heart the truth is that these religions are all very different and even contradict each other at crucial points. What this means is that we are left with two options: either none of them are true, or one of them is true and the others are not.
Please understand, I’m not here to pick on any individual as I’m not sure who may be listening or what country you may be from, but I do believe you would not be listening if you wasn’t interested in finding out the truth, because if what you believe is not satisfying your heart, then just maybe the ONE and ONLY TRUE GOD would have you listening in today.
So today I want to talk just a little on the belief systems of the five major world religions: Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Christianity.
1st of all:
I. BUDDHISM
Most Buddhists oppose the concept of an ultimate God. Buddhism is not about finding God or even finding his will. Buddha himself did not claim to be divine, nor did he claim that his teachings were derived from a divine source.
There are about 355 million Buddhists worldwide, and one of them is Dr. Marian Caldron, professor of Eastern religion at Northwestern University. She said in one interview, “God is not the focus or ultimate concern of the Buddhist tradition. Instead, the Buddhist tradition focuses on the teachings of the historic Buddha.” Buddha simply means “Enlightened One.” His original name was Siddhartha Gautama. He lived about 483 B.C. and was born on the border between Nepal and India.
He was born a prince and had a lavish palace and everything he could want, but he was troubled about the meaning of life. ‘If I have it all, why am I not happy?’ he asked himself.
And so as a young man he left his family, and he went seeking the truth. as he sat under a Bo Tree he discovered that the problem of life was craving. Craving leads to dissatisfaction. You want something, and even when you get it you are dissatisfied with it or you want more. Buddhism teaches that enlightenment is the path to bring an end to craving.
Buddhism’s central teaching is how to arrive at the ideal state where there is no longer any craving, in fact, any kind of desire or feeling. That state is called Nirvana.
It is the state of disinterest toward all that is around you. In short, the way to avoid unhappiness and suffering is not to care or feel anything at all. You form no earthly attachments.
Contrast this with Jesus’ words that he came to give us life and give it more abundantly.to (John 10:10). He said he came that his joy might be in us and that our joy might be complete (John 15:11).
Instead of withdrawing from life and any emotional attachment to it, Jesus taught John 16:3333These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world..
If I lose all attachments I form no attachment of love for others.
But Jesus said Mark 12:3131And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
There are many people who are practical Buddhists. They withdraw and shield themselves from emotion and protect themselves from emotional attachments to others so they will not be hurt.
But Jesus taught us to even love our enemies, and do good to those who despitefully use us — the very people who have the power to hurt us most. Buddhism teaches that life and the created world are like an illusion, and to enter Nirvana is to escape the illusion. Therefore Salvation for the Buddhist is not salvation from sin, but salvation from suffering.
II. HINDUISM
Buddhism’s roots are in Hinduism. Certain branches of Hinduism are atheistic, and certain other branches of it can have thousands of gods. And, in fact, if you follow certain rules and practice meditation, you can become a god. Here is where new age religion finds such a close tie with Hinduism. Rather than a belief in one transcendent God whose creation is separate from himself, everything is a god; we can all be a god.
So New-Agers are into meditation and getting in touch with their own divinity.
Hindu gods like Krishna and Shiva are depicted as violent and erotic. Shiva, usually represented with several arms and legs, his fierce image wears a necklace of skulls, displays sexual imagery, and is surrounded by demons. Hardly the same kind of deity as Jesus Christ.
According to Hinduism, we just keep repeating exactly what has taken place before over and over. We are caught in this endless and wearisome cycle. History has no point and it is not headed toward any conclusion. Human lives are a part of this cycle and thus go through endless reincarnations.
Salvation for the Hindu is to be delivered from this cycle. Suffering is seen as a necessary and unavoidable part of the cycle of life. A person’s karma is the accumulation of deeds done in the past.
All Suffering is repayment for the evil done in a former life. Therefore what happens to a person in life is deserved, and humanitarian concern and compassion are not a part of traditional Hinduism.
Hinduism promoted the system which said that people were predetermined to live in either luxury or poverty according to their karma, and nothing can change it. In fact, it would be detrimental to ease their suffering. This belief system has held India in poverty and bondage for hundreds of years.
III. ISLAM
Islam is the religion practiced largely in the Arab world, along with large portions of Africa. It has its roots in Judaism, since they see their patriarch as Abraham, as do the Jews.
The Arab world traces its lineage to the firstborn son of Abraham, Ishmael. The Jews trace their lineage to Isaac, the son of Abraham and Sarah who had been promised by God.
The war in the Middle East today can be traced back to this Biblical story of who really is the rightful son of Abraham.
The word Islam, meaning submission, says much about the attitude of the followers of Islam. They submit unquestioningly to the teachings of the Koran, the Islamic Bible.
The Koran contains divine messages said to be given by the angel Gabriel to Mohammed, a self-proclaimed prophet who lived in the seventh century. There is no room for questions or doubt, only submission.
An interesting note about Mohammed is that he was completely illiterate. He could neither read nor write. He supposedly dictated what Gabriel told him and his followers wrote it down.
Also, Mohammed was given special permission by Allah to have 13 wives. His last wife was six-years-old when she was betrothed to him, and the marriage was consummated when she was nine.
Muslims generally are among the most serious and devout people on the earth. Many of them have completely memorized the Koran. They pray at least five times a day. They fast for one month every year. But salvation is something which must be earned. It is not graciously given by Allah. Islam does have a high standard of morality called the “straight path,” which must be strictly maintained.
Women are regarded as possible temptations which would lead men away from the path, so women must be modest to the point of being veiled and wearing clothing that completely covers them.
One sure way of earning salvation is to die as a martyr for the faith. They believe that just as Mohammed was whisked immediately to heaven and given several maidens, so will it be done for those who die for the cause of Islam.
Those who attacked the Word Trade Center and engaged in other acts of terrorism were acting in full accord with the tenets of Islam and the teachings of the Koran.
The West, the United States in particular, is seen as corrupting the entire world and worthy of death.
The U. S. policy of befriending Israel is particularly seen as harmful to the Muslim people and their cause. The principle of Jihad, or “holy war” is taught in the Koran as a viable tool for the cause of Islam.
Evangelism is not so much by the word as it is with the sword. The followers of Mohammed have been the most violent people in the history of the world, and continue to be so to this day — a fact well attested to in history. Jesus taught that we are to love the sinner. Mohammed taught that the infidel must be killed if he refuses to convert.
IV. JUDAISM
Judaism is, of course, the mother of Christianity. Our God is the same God. Our history is the same history. The Jewish Scriptures are part of our Bible. We have the same moral code and commandments. We see history and the world through the same eyes. The only difference is that whereas the orthodox Jews anticipate the Messiah’s coming, we believe that he has already come in the person of Jesus Christ. Our New Testament is added to the Scriptures of the Jews and contain the story of Jesus and the significance of his presence in the world.
The Jews read the prophets, and we see Jesus as the fulfillment of the prophecies of the Old Testament.
V. CHRISTIANITY
How are the beliefs of Christians different from the ones we have discussed?
We believe in a God who is the author of life and created a good world, but who is separate from his creation. There are not many gods, there is one who has revealed himself in love to his creation in the person of Jesus Christ.
He gave us the law knowing that we could not keep his law, even though it was the way to life in the fullest sense
Because of our failure, he provided a way of forgiveness. We deserved to die, but Jesus Christ died in our place that we could be forgiven. He also overcame death through his resurrection so that we would know that we do not have to fear death. We remember that he said, John 14:19 19Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
It is interesting that in the Koran there are no miracles performed by Mohammed or anyone else.
But Christians understand that Christianity is not about moral laws or religious practices — it is about a relationship with a living Savior, Jesus Christ.
The apostle Paul wrote: Philippians 3:8-11 8Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
. It is this relationship with Christ that is the center of our faith. We are not trying to appease an angry God; we are learning how to love our Creator, Redeemer and Friend.
Your life and eternity are at stake. You need to make a careful decision.
