COEXIST
Can all religions and belief systems be true?
Not when you compare them.
There are clear differences in what they believe about God.
Some religions reject the existence of a god and eternity.
Moral Relativism
A belief that there is no absolute moral right and there is no absolute moral wrong. Therefore, there is no ultimate source of moral truth.
Religious Pluralism
We all worship the same god.
Perhaps you have heard: “All roads will get you there.” or "We all worship the same god." While many religions rightfully share views on basic human behavior and human decency, Religious Pluralism goes further by taking opposing ideas from different religions and accepting them as truth. The logical conclusion to Pluralism - to believe that the god of one religion is the same as the god of another religion, therefore all ways lead to Heaven.
A belief in either Pluralism or Relativism obscures our view of God. It affects morality, education, arts, and even historical science. It chips away and breaks down principles. It can affect government policies. It can affect personal behavior by shifting a person's moral standards. A person's worldview can become clouded, leaving them struggling to reason objective truth from falsehood. When Relativism or Pluralism takes over, the desire for absolute truth is abandoned. When truth is combined with untruth it becomes distorted.
It becomes error.
When you compare these main religions and beliefs of the world you can see that they are not the same. It is impossible to conclude that they all point to the same thing, but with only semantic or symbolic differences
Please note that Christianity is the only religion in which God provides the way to eternal life in Heaven.
It comes from His work. Salvation cannot be earned by the works of man. It is the gift of God.
Basic beliefs of the world's main religions
Atheism
A rejection of the existence of a god or gods. Atheism is listed as a religion because it requires faith in what it believes. Every belief takes faith. To believe in a deity takes faith, but to not believe in a deity also takes faith. Can Atheism, with all certainty, disprove the existence of God? Whether you worship a deity or whether you are an atheist, you are a person of faith.
Buddhism
Began in 6th century BC. A belief in a life/death cycle. Karma - How you behave in your current life will affect how you come back in the next life in this world - your rebirth. You may come back as an animal or person. Once you escape the cycle of coming back again and again (Samsara), you reach Nirvana or enlightenment based on your works; you cease to exist. Buddhism does not believe in a god and does not believe in an everlasting soul.
Buddhism (Zen)
A mixture of Indian Mahayana Buddhism and Taoism. Some Zen Buddhists believe in rebirth while others don't.
Christianity
Based on Old and New Testaments of the Bible - God's word. Begins 6,000 to 8,000 years ago at creation from the Genesis account and up through the 1st century with the birth of Jesus Christ followed by His life, death, burial and then the resurrection of Christ. The Bible gives the accounts of creation, history, the future and Jesus Christ. Salvation is a gift from God. Man cannot save himself. Salvation comes from grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Sin entered the world when Adam and Eve rebelled and ate the forbidden fruit in the garden. Jesus is the Son of God, the Messiah, sent by God to die for the sins of man. He was truly God and truly man. He was crucified in Jerusalem and was raised from the dead in 3 days. Jesus is the only way to get to heaven and live eternally. He will return as the conquering king and judge of the world. We physically die once, then after that comes the judgment - Heaven or Hell.
Hinduism
Began between 2300 and 1500 BC. There are variations in beliefs regarding Hindu gods. A belief in Karma as in Buddhism. Karma - How you behave in your current life will affect how you come back in the next life in this world. Various publications differ, however as in Buddhism there is a belief in reincarnation. The total number of Hindu gods and goddesses varies by Hindu traditions and sects. According to Britannica.com there are 42 deities in Hinduism. A belief in many paths to get to Brahman (the ultimate reality in the universe). Once you are good enough, based on your works then you reach enlightenment – Moksha is a concept of fulfillment where the soul breaks from the cycles of reincarnations (samsara) to union with Brahman. People can reach moksha by three paths: Karma (deeds) , Bhakti (devotion) , and Jhana (wisdom).
"But when does a person reach Brahman? Only when he exits the body can he reach Brahman. Once he has served out the effects of his karma, his soul leaves his body." thehindu.com
Humanism or Secular Humanism
A belief system that originates from ancient Greek philosophers, mainly Protagoras. Protagoras lived in the 5th century BC. His statement: "Man is the measure of all things." Modern humanism believes that there is no need for God. A belief that man can solve all problems and achieve utopia without God. Mankind creates and defines truth and morality rather than a god or an unchanging moral law. Mankind is the ultimate source of value. Humanism extended to the current culture is such that people's behavior and lifestyles are lived out by how each person thinks it should be without regard to absolute truth or God. Many refer to it as "defining their own truth."
Islam
Began in 7th century AD. Founded by Muhammad. There is one god, Allah. Muhammad is the prophet. Muhammad flew to heaven on a winged horse. A belief in Heaven (Jannah) and a belief in Hell (Jahannam). Getting to Heaven is based on good works. The Quran is the Islamic holy book. It is in partial agreement with the Bible. Allah will come to judge creation. The Jesus (Isa) of the Quran is different from the Jesus of the Bible (Old and New Testaments). The Quran says Jesus was a messenger of Allah. He was not crucified and therefore did not rise from the dead, instead Allah took him to heaven without him being crucified. (Quran Surah An-Nisa 4, Verses 157-158). The Quran says Jesus was not God and Jesus was not the Son of God. There is no Trinity (Quran Surah An-Nisa 4, Verse 171). Two main Islamic groups are Shiites and Sunnis. The difference being that Shiites want Muslim leaders to come directly from the line of Muhammad while Sunnis do not require that.
Jehovah's Witnesses (JW)
An unbiblical “Christian” group. Founded in 1879 by Charles Taze Russell.
Marked by many failed predictions by its early leaders.
These failed predictions are:
1914 – Zion would be raised up in the Holy Land. When that did not come to pass it was then extended to 1918. When that failed to happen, the prediction was then extended to 1925.
1975- Predicted to mark the end of the 6,000 years of human history. Armageddon would happen then.
JW’s have their own version of the Christian Bible, the New World Translation (NWT). The Christian Bible was taken and modified to fit the beliefs of the Jehovah's Witnesses. The NWT deviates from the Bible.
JW’s beliefs that go against the Bible:
Belief that salvation comes through faith in Christ and being a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses religion and following its rules. This goes against the Biblical teaching that salvation comes by grace through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone- Through His death, burial, and resurrection.
Belief that Jesus did not die on a cross, but on a stake. A view that the cross is a pagan symbol. A rejection in the literal place of Hell. A belief that the unrighteous will be annihilated and not suffer eternal punishment.
Rejection of the doctrine of the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). Rejection of the omnipresence of God.
Belief that Jesus Christ was a created being. Belief that Jesus was previously Michael the archangel. Belief that Jesus Christ is a god, but not Almighty God. Rejection that Jesus died as a ransom for all, that He only died as a ransom for Adam’s sin. Belief that Jesus was only human, and not God when He walked the earth. Rejection that Jesus was resurrected into a physical body. Regarding the end times, a belief that the JW theocratic government will be the only controlling entity.
Judaism
Began around 4000 years ago with the patriarch Abraham. Based on the ancient Hebrew people and the Bible's Old Testament. The Torah is the five books of Moses. Moses delivered the children of Israel out of bondage, out of Egypt and led them to the promised land of Canaan which is present day Israel.
There is one God. There is a heaven. The Jewish lineage, prayer, repentance and following the law are enough to go to heaven. Judaism rejects Jesus as the Messiah. Jews are waiting for their Messiah to come. Judaism and Christianity both believe in the Bible's Old Testament.
From https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zm2tb9q/revision/3
Later teachings about life after death included the idea that judgement would happen after the coming of the Mashiach. At this point some taught that the soul and body would be reunited, sometimes called resurrection of the body, while others believed that it would be the soul that would be eternal, a belief known as immortality of the soul. There would then be punishment or reward for the way they had lived, but there was no clear teaching on the exact nature of Heaven or Hell.
Mormonism – Latter Day Saints
Though it claims ties to Christianity as a religion, Mormonism is not a Christian religion.
The unbiblical beliefs of Mormonism:
The Jesus of Mormonism is one of millions of gods. He had to earn the right to become God.
Mormons believe that Jesus was conceived from God the Father having a sexual relationship with a Heavenly mother. Jesus was not always God. He had to achieve godhood.
The goal of Mormonism for every man and woman, is to achieve Godhood, that is to be gods, to be equal with God. God Himself also had to become God. He was once a man who lived a normal physical life and he had a father, but eventually He achieved godhood by right living. They believe that God the Father remains to have a body of flesh and blood.
Mormons believe there are many worlds with many gods. These gods have children who populate their worlds and can progress toward deification. One of their quotes: “As man is now, God once was; as God is now man may be.”
The Christian Bible says this: “Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me (Isaiah. 43:10). Isaiah 45:5 “I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God.”
The Mormon founder, Joseph Smith, claimed to have a revelation from God and Jesus Christ in the 1820s. They told him that all churches, up to that moment, were wrong. Smith believed that the Bible was insufficient and could not stand on its own. The book of Morman was published in 1830 and is believed, by the Mormons, to be the word of God over the Bible. Mormonism believes that the Book of Morman is the clearest way to get close to God.
Taoism or Daoism
Started in China in 500 B.C. Founded by philosopher Lao Tzu. Main teachings emphasize simplicity, patience, and compassion. Belief in inaction, nothing needs to be done. Living in harmony with nature. From the BBC.UK - Taoism does not have a God in the way that the Abrahamic religions do. There is no omnipotent being beyond the cosmos, who created and controls the universe. In Taoism the universe springs from the Tao, and the Tao impersonally guides things on their way. And they conventionally revere Lao Tzu both as the first god of Taoism and as the personification of the Tao.
Yinyang - two forces that make up all of life.
Yin = earth, of female, passivity and darkness.
Yang = heaven, of male, activity and light.
Belief in spiritual immortality, where the spirit of the body joins the universe after death.
Satanism
In the Garden of Eden, Satan told Eve "...you will be like God."
Next to Christianity, satanism is the oldest religion in the world.
Satanism is the worship of God's enemy. It is the worship of our enemy, that is the devil, Satan or Lucifer. A real spiritual being. Satan, once the most glorious angel in Heaven, rebelled against God and was cast down.
He deceives and leads people to physical and spiritual destruction. He tempts, lies and condemns. He is the enemy of mankind. Satan rules this world, as far as God lets him, but only for a short time. His end will come.
...and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Revelation 20:10
One day Satan, and all who follow him, will be thrown into the lake of fire for all eternity.
Satanism is the worship, directly or indirectly, of Satan. And in a more subtle way it is the worship of self.
Satanic Practices- All occultic related activities: witchcraft, black magic, white magic, demon worship, fortune telling, tarot card reading, palm reading, sorcery, divination, any attempted contact with ghosts or spirits-seances, New Ageism, Astrology, Voodoo, hallucinogens, orgies, idol worship.
This is not an exhaustive list.
Wicca - The worship of creation. Considered pantheistic, belief that nature is divine in itself.
World Religion of Self
Satan told Eve that she would be like God, that she would be elevated to be equal with God. That was a lie then and it is a lie now, believed by many to this present day. People are lovers of themselves and not lovers of God. This is the most common form of idolatry. It is a disregard for God and His precepts, it is rebellion against God. Rejecting the truth of the Bible for man-made and self-made worldly philosophies.
A moral and ethical self:
To be a good citizen. To be kind to your neighbor. To be a person of ethics. To say "I do my best in this world why do I need God?" We should all live with ethics and morality, however one can live an ethical and moral life but be indifferent towards God, by not understanding His holiness and not understanding our sinfulness. This is the most dangerous state to be in. You may believe that Jesus died on the cross, but that has no impact on your life. You are trusting solely in your "goodness."
A debased self:
Letting sin reign and rule the heart. Man's will over God's will thru sexual immorality, passions, lusts, greed and all types of worldly pleasures. Whatever feels good, is good. To make our own "truth" regardless of God's truth. To be happy, eager and willing to live a life of rebellion. As stated previously, people are lovers of themselves and not lovers of God. They are their own gods.
We present this with all humility and compassion. With love for our neighbor.
There is only one way.
For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
1 Timothy 2:6
Please consider the words of Jesus Christ regarding the way to eternal life.
In this metaphor he describes himself as the small gate and narrow road,
simply saying that He is the only way.
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.