Plot your Thought:
1 We all have a religions of some sort. We believe in something. We need to respect each other and each others idea's. This would make the world a better place.
2 You have your religion and I have mine. We both will end up at the same place. You your way and I mine.
3 Religion is like the four blind-folded guys trying to figure out what an elephant is. They all come up with totally different ideas, but they are all talking about the same thing.
4 True religion is the search for the truth. The truth about - where we came from? Why we are here? Is there/Are there higher beings? and do they care? If we find the truth it determines our view on everything.
Does any of these match your thoughts?
My thoughts on Religions:
Problem 1 Not all Religions are "basically the same". Even a superficial look at religions show great differences:
Hindu's claim there are 300 million gods. That "Brahma" is
the universal force of the universe and "Nirvana", their heaven is being re-united with the Brahma. As a "drop returning in the ocean." The way to reach it is by a cause-effect through reincarnation of the current sensory life. The current sensory life, they believe is an illusion.
Bhudda was so confused by Hinduism, that after searching his conclusions: Suffering is caused by desires. Therefore killing desires (meditation) ends suffering. Karma = cause-effect through reincarnation to come to a higher/enlightend stage. The current life is an illusion and Nirvana is self-annihilation into nothingness (All desires snuffed out). There really isn't a God in Bhudism.
Islam claims there is only one God/Judge/Creator, who existed forever. Heaven is paradise and you reach that by keeping and following the commands of Islam and if your good deeds outway your bad. (Video)
Mormons claim that God was a man once on a distant planet and due to his righteous walk was made into God. If we follow and keep the Mormon commands, one day we also will be gods. (Video)
Christians believe in God, one-being-three-persons, who existed forever. Heaven is being in the presence of God. God offers you the free gift of forgiveness, as His Son Jesus paid for the sins you deserve. All you do is have to accept His free gift of forgiveness.
Problem 2 Almost all mainstream religions claim they have the only correct way. They say, they are exclusive: The only ones that have the truth.
Problem 3 Many religions have truth-claims that are not compatible with each other. Examples:
EITHER there are 300 million gods (Truth Claim of Hinduism) OR there is one God (Truth Claim of Islam, Jews, Christians)
EITHER reincarnation brings you to a higher level (Truth Claim of Hindu/Budhist) OR once you die, you have eternal judgement (Truth Claim of Islam, Jews, Christians)
EITHER Jesus is the Messiah (Truth Claim of Christians) OR he was not (Truth Claim of many Jews)
EITHER God had a beginning (Truth Claim of Mormons) OR he is eternal (Truth claim of Christians, Islam and Jews).
EITHER there is one God (Truth Claim of Islam) OR there is One being - Three Persons (Truth Claim of Christians).
What it means? Either one of these religions or none of these is correct. But they can not all be TRUE at the same time.
Did Jesus claim to be exclusive?
Luke quotes Peter, as he is filled with the Spirit: Acts 4:12
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by whom we must be saved.
John writes: John 1:18
No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.
Jesus said John 14:6
I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.
Why believe in Jesus?
The BIBLE and JESUS are extremly UNIQUE among the religions
Reason 1: The Bible is not just book of mysticism or spirituality, it contains real geographical and historical events (truths) that can be verified. See the web-page: The Bible why believe it
Reason 2: Jesus did not come into this world to make bad people good. He did not come to give us rules or teachings to live by, so we can reach Heaven or be enlightened. He came to redeem us from our sins. Jesus was the only one who came and “solved the problem”.
Reason 3: Jesus is the only one that claimed to be God. Buddha was a person who searched and claimed to have found something. Mohammed was a person who claimed to have received something. Jesus said He was God. (ReadJohn 1, John 8:58-59 with Ex.3:14 , Hebr 1:7)
Reason 4: Jesus is the only one that was raised from the dead. An event hard to explain, if He wasn't telling the truth. History tells us that shortly after 33 A.D. thousands of people became followers of Jesus and that 11 of his 12 disciples died for claiming that Jesus rose from the dead. These facts are hard to explain, if He was not really resurrected. 1 Corinthians 15
Do you want to believe in Jesus? Go to our Go2Heaven web-page.
Do you have more questions/comments?
Email us at FBCPAZ@Cableone.net.
Digging Deeper:
Main Stream Church of Brigham City - Answers for Mormons
Journey of a seekers: Hana and Kristen
The story of Khalil
Dr Homoz shares his story with a Muslim background searching through Science:
Also watch: The story of Pedina in Iran
