I’ve been teaching the High School class on Wednesday nights for the past couple of months. We’ve been playing “stump the preacher.” On the first night, they wrote down their questions that they’d love to see me tackle and I promised to give some straight answers. The questions ranged from make-me-proud smart alecky to dead serious.
“Are nudists closer to God than normal people (ala Adam and Eve)?” (My answer: no, but they are more easily irritated.)
“Why is smoking weed so bad?”
“What happens to the good people who die without hearing about Jesus?”
“What separates Christianity from all the other religions?”
So far I’ve been happy with the way I’ve answered these questions. Some of my answers have generated even more questions even when I wasn’t trying to do so.
I answered the question about what separates Christianity from all the other world religions by focusing primarily on the identity of Jesus and the implications of the resurrection. Afterwards I got to thinking about how little I know about the other religions of the world. I know the stereotypical basics: Hindus believe in karma, Buddhists don’t believe in a personal God, Muslims think Jesus was a prophet but not the Son of God, and so on. Beyond that I’m not nearly as informed as I’d like to be.
Which got me to thinking . . .As Christians, how can we really know that our religion is superior to all others if we’ve never studied or explored the other religions beyond their stereotypes to see what they actually teach? I’ve always been told that Christianity is the only religion that teaches the concept of grace. Is that really true? Are you sure? How do you know?
How much of the other religions do we need to understand in order to be intellectually honest about our assessment that Christianity is the best way to go?
All of these questions motivated me to pick up Huston Smith’s The World’s Religions, which has probably been the most popular textbook used in comparative religion courses and studies for several decades. It’s a well-written, fascinating read. I’ll say more about it later.
For now, chime in with your answer this question: how much of the other religions do we need to understand in order to be intellectually honest about our assessment that Christianity is the best way to go?
Telling Stories, Asking Questions, Learning Lessons
As a teacher, it is very important. I know if I met a Hindu or a Muslim on a plane, I would likely know far less about their religions than they would about mine. About a year and a half ago I did a whole youth retreat themed “One Way” about that exact topic, we discussed several prominent world religions, and I tried to do my homework by studying them. Some of the major differences I came up with include (besides resurrection, which is singularly unique to Christianity):
Positive rather than negative commands (do this instead of don’t do that)
A God willing to be humble and self-sacrificing, yet still absolute and powerful (so, Love, grace, hope)
No imposed religious hierarchy (sorry Catholics) everyone is equal regardless of sex, race, or financial standing
My point was to help my teens see that Jesus is the one way, because they are so often told that everything, especially religion is ambiguous and relative.
I taught an “Intro to World Religions” course for the first time last semester. I was in way over my head and barely survived.
Huston Smith isn’t the text used in the course (it’s Warren Matthews). But I had a copy of Smith and was reading it a lot as I got ready for each class session. It IS a really fine book.
This study. Kinda humbling, isn’t it? Tell us how it goes.
I get stump the dad all the time. “Where did God come from?” “What keeps the sun from falling out of the sky?” “Why can’t I see Jesus?” I find the best answer always lies with, “That’s easy, go ask your mother.” 🙂
First of all – If I ever left Christianity – I’d probably become a very very liberal Jew.
which other religions are you speaking of…
epistimology is just stinkin’ endless. It’s a never ending trap.
My sense of intellectual honesty is affirmed regularly right about the time that I get a huge headache and begin to lack any peace in my soul about life and human morality.
There is NO religion that intellectually answers all of the emotional and moral issues and questions that I’m capable of coming up with … and then I still begin to wonder about epistimology and how it is that I come/came to know what ever it is that I think I know.
intellectually – I feel honest against every religion that rejects an objective singular source for eternity…but the ones that have an objective claim for eternity & source of origin are worth looking at; they actually sharpen my faith in Christ in many ways.
They fail pretty quickly in regards to story/history/credibility though. My Taste and see Christian experience of the story trumps the intellectual integrity route for me.
I do not trust the intellectual parts of me that beg to continue wondering and wondering and wondering.
Peace is too valuable to me to lose in the process of wondering. I’m also too capable of very dark behaviors in the midst of doubt, unbelief, and intellectual searching.
I’m with Donald Miller in that – if I ever leave Christianity – it will not be because of intellectual reasons – but because of emotional or social ones.
You might find Ravi Zacharias’ ‘Jesus Among Other Gods’ useful in your study. It’s been a while since I read that one but I remember it helped me get started with the primary world religions and their relationship to Christianity. It is weighted toward Christianity of course so other scholastic sources like Smith’s would be necessary. If you’re interested in reading Buddhist philosophy I recommend ‘Peace is Every Step’ by Thich Nhat Hanh. That’s one of the best books I read last year.
As a philosophy student, my gut reaction was to say we should study world religions. But, as always, my search for justification went immediately to the scriptures (does that defeat the purpose of the question?).
Every biblical account of conversion – whether a Jew who already believed in Jehovah or a Gentile who was saved out of paganism or materialism – hinges on the recognition of one’s fallen state and the acceptance of the one-and-only remedy, Christ…by *faith*.
I agree that awareness/education concerning world religions can be helpful for the purpose of teaching (I am reminded of Paul quoting Greek poets on Mars Hill). On the other hand, all that is needed to be faithful and honest Christians (i.e. saved) is that there is one God and one mediator between Him and us. In the modern age, I don’t even know if that can be considered “intellectual honesty” (in the epistemological sense), given that we must have faith/hope in the unseen (Heb. 11:1). That is the very nature of God’s message to us – to the “wise” of this world it appears as foolishness.
It could be summed up by saying that the faith required in Jesus Christ and his saving power is just that. If our “faith” is subject to a survey of alternatives, then is it faith?
I think Jeff’s comment is spot-on when he said, “Peace is too valuable to me to lose in the process of wondering…”
We are told that Christ offers the “peace that passes all understanding.” What good does epistemology do in illuminating that which lies beyond knowledge?
Thank God we do not have to understand Him to receive his mercy!
—
In my (failed) attempt to be concise, I avoided the topic of the Holy Spirit. But I think the relationship Christians enjoy with the Spirit MUST be considered in how we *know* we are right. That is its own discussion…
P.S. Why is smoking weed so bad?
I also think Ravi Zacharias is awesome in this real. As a native of India, he certainly grew up surrounded by a faith other than Christianity. I have a CD of his testimony about how he became a Christian … beginning with the hopelessness of reincarnation and life without any real hope of things getting better … in a mental institution at age 17 for attempting to kill himself … when someone visited him and gave him a Bible. His daily e-mail (written mostly by a staff of stellar writers) is excellent … as well as his podcast.
James Sire has written also in this realm and I like the way he writes … simply … but thoroughly.
Anyhow… great questions … and it sounds like a great class. Bless you for spending time with the teens. I believe they will never forget that.
Monty Cox from Harding did a good job talking about world religions, especially Buddhism, at our Florida Spiritual Growth Workshop. He was a missionary in Kenya, Africa for some time so has some world experience. I think he teaches a class on this topic. Not sure what info he might have or if he has a web site or not.
I did the same thing here with our teens in Melbourne a number of years ago. I basically changed my emphasis for the summer to youth ministry. I preached and did everything with the teens. I think it was more enlightening to me than it was to them.
Peace.
You think of world religion and I sometimes wonder (and I know that isn’t how it isn’t is but wonder) God chooses Jesus and the Bible to let the Jew and Christians know who he that their is a God. He uses uses Islam to let that part of the world know that their is a God. He uses Buddism to let that part of the world to know that their is a God. Each are judged according to their religion that God has shown them. North Korea and China and those that have never heard of God or God hadn’t made himself know. Grace deep wide, grace covers it. (I just wonder that about world religion). But as John Lennon says Imagine no religion. It’s easy if you try……No hell below us…Above us only sky…
I’m just Glad that God’s grace is bigger than we can ever imagine.
Preacherman,
Jesus and the Bible = Buddhism = Islam, all used by God to reveal himself? Not sure that flies with Christ’s claim.
Brad,
I know.
I just wonder sometimes if God’s grace is big enough to cover all world religions. If we are on this earth to know that there is a God. I wish there were no world religions.
I just am doing my part as a minister of His word to preach and teach what I know as a Christ truth. The grace of Jesus Christ. I am thankful and Cherish that grace and the relationship that I have with God. And do what I can to help others have that relationship with God.
Thanks for the question. Good responses.
I would be interested in hearing more about what you mean by Christianity being superior or the best. Do you mean that in the context of teaching or that Christianity has a better answer about where all this comes from and is going? Just looking for clarification is all.
Darin–by superior I guess I mean the best way to draw near to God or the typical Christian claim of exclusivity.
What can I say? I can’t deny God exists, he is obviously powerful, and so, I have to conclude that he is powerful enough to tell us clearly who he is and how to be with him, therefore…
There is one way to God.
The question is: “Is ours the right one?”
I haven’t studied other religions as thoroughly as Christianity, but…
I don’t want to live on earth over and over (possibly as a bug if I’m not good enough), and never able to rise above my caste.
I don’t like seeing life as an endless cycle of suffering, where even pleasure is ultimately a bad thing.
I simply cannot believe the teachings of Mohammed historically and practically they are inconsistent and contradictory, plus I’m a girl and I don’t like what they think of and do to women.
I have loved our Wednessday night classes, and appreciate you taking time in answering our questions. I love how you have not assuemed what we need or want to know, and allowed us to ask you ourselves. It puzzles me how people can automatically think they know exactly what we (teens) struggle with and what they need to teach us (which is generally, dont have sex, dont do drugs, and dont drink and drive)
so, thank you for intruiging our youth ministery. It has been so refreashing!
ali
I have three cats. Which one is the right one?
Most non-religious folks see that question as no different from jenni’s, I believe. They would say it presumes there is a right one, and those who have only investigated them as far as how their adherents live can conclude logically that the question is fundamentally flawed.
To persuade them that pursuing Christ is worth their while, we first have to convince them that there is objective truth that cannot be proven. That, after overcoming their correct perception that we do pretty crummy job of emulating our Lord.
Tough sell!
I’m going to step out on a limb a bit here. Let’s assume that at the core of all religions is the search for meaning. Why are we here? How did we get here? What is our purpose?
Okay, that assumed, do most people marry the first person that comes into their lives? What does love have to say about our God? What do other religions have to say about love? Surely God placed some of him in us, thus our need for love and our longing to create. Look at other religions in the light of what we do know. What do our internal needs tell us?
The more I study Christianity, the more I learn about this GRAND and EXPANSIVE story that includes us, all of us, from the very start. Although the story can be viewed as somewhat exclusive in the beginning, it’s drive and culmination is all-inclusive. What other religion tells such a grand story? What other religion is so inclusive in its directive? (and what is the Dharma Initiative?)
I truly don’t know. I did know, however, when I fell in love with my wife. It’s been a lot of work along the way, but I know that I still love her more than ever. I did not marry the first girl that came along, but neither did I look through all of them before making my choice. In fact, truthfully the choice felt like it was made for me. Love found me. When I fell in love, there was a truth in my heart that spoke to me. Some of the big questions were answered, and the ones that couldn’t be answered didn’t seem to matter as much anymore. I had purpose.
The same happened when I fell in love with my savior. I felt that I was being sought after, I was found, I was part of a story much bigger than myself. Voids that had never been filled in my life began to fill with purpose. I still can’t answer all the big questions… but some of them don’t matter as much anymore. What other religion claims a God that loves so much? What other religion pursues the heart like Christianity? I truly don’t know.
WAAAAAAAADDDDe – where you goin big man?
the language you’re using with “typical Christian claim” … “best way to God” is interesting.
Are you indicating that other religions contain a path to the God of Christianity or they contain a path to their deity.
I don’t think a Christian can honestly even entertain the question “What’s the ‘best’ route to God.”
Seriously – is there another explanation for “one way” that I’m not aware of?
Where are you going?
Jeff-I posed a question in the original post. I then clarified the use of a word in the question. I’m not going anywhere.
I didn’t think you were – but thought you may be more in line with McLaren’s thoughts in the Last Word stuff.
I’m still not completely sure where I stand in that regard and thought you may be leaving “best” open – based on something you have come to see.
obviously – this is an interesting topic to me… and there’s a reason I can’t stay bogged down in it too long.
good posts
Wade, I’ve been thinking along the same lines these days. While I’ve studied other religions from the perspective of “how are these different from christianity and therefore wrong?” I’m feeling a need to look at world religions more seriously to answer the question, “how have other traditions found meaning in life?” I don’t feel threatened by the existence of other religions like I did when I was younger.
In response to the 1st comment, although there aren’t any major world religions that teach the resurrection of God/savior (unless you consider resurrection the same as reincarnation), in history Christianity is far from the first religion to worship a resurrected God. Many of the ancient religions taught of a God who was resurrected. Baal was resurrected after being killed by Mot, and the cycle was repeated annually. The Baal/Mot story has parallels from other cultures. In fact, some older religions also taught of a virgin mother of God as well. It’s all worth looking in to for an understaning of the nature of people and worship and how God chose to manifest himself to us.
Wade, thanks for the response.
To the original question I think it is very important to understand other religions ideas and understandings.
I’ve frequented your blog here Wade, but this is the first time I’ve posted a comment…
Wade, you said: How much of the other religions do we need to understand in order to be intellectually honest about our assessment that Christianity is the best way to go?
The need to intellectually understand other religions is important so that you can understand the best way to share Jesus Christ with them! To take it further would be to ignore God’s warning against dabbling with pagan woship…
Do an assessment to determine if Christianity is the best way to go? Dude, did you drink some bad koolaid, or are you simply being playfully McLarenesque? If I’m reading my bible correctly, the only way to the Father is through Jesus Christ. Conversation and disagreement are wonderful ways to be in community and discuss matters of faith. If you are truly pondering the question of universalism, then I think you have a responsibility to your readers to tell then that you are pondering the question of whether or not you’re even a follower of Jesus… just yet, and that you need to complete your assessment first. Your feet have moved from the rock to the sandbox, and the winds are sure to blow brother! Shake it off and stay in the Word! Tim Geoffrion, I’m afraid is lost, and I hope that he finds his way back home… We need to pray for this guy!
I appreciate the way Wade posed the question, not b/c I think he is necessarily asking to find the “answer” for himself, or b/c he already knows it all and is just playing the facilitator for us, but b/c it is an honest question that many people in our world are asking, and if we don’t discuss it and answer it ourselves, how can we ever answer to them? Besides, asking in such an unbiased way helps everyone to think beyond their personal mindset and discover thought processes of others. I have loved this discussion and I think the number of posts indicates I am not alone!