- You are here:
- Home
- Essays
- Analyzing Christianity…
Some seekers feel they must compare the different 'religions' to see which one 'works'. While this may be exactly the best means to discover 'Truth', it is certainly in keeping with the consumer-mentality that we have in Western culture. For those who feel they must pursue this route, Christianity provides an excellent starting place. There are several reasons that a seeker should consider Christianity first: Christianity Is Evidential and Testable Christianity is based upon solid historical fact. You can investigate the documentation, the rules for acceptance in the fields of antiquity and legal evidences. Many have been convinced that the Bible is the most documented and reliable ancient manuscript in existence! And once you become convinced of it's reliability, you can begin to consider the validity of its claims. But if you invalidate it, you can move on. The trouble with other 'religions', especially surreal worldviews such as Buddhism, Hinduism or New Age, is that you must either agree to accept incoherent postulates (what is the sound of one hand clapping anyway, and what does it have to do with anything important?), or you must commit to a loooong process of discovery (since many – such as Buddhism – make claims that it takes a lifetime of devotion in order to finally realize what they're talking about!) So with Christianity you can investigate evidence and make a coherent decision! Christianity Is Unique With GRACE With Christianity, you don't have to buy anything! Salvation is free to those who believe! God has set forth impossible requirements for us to fulfill, but out of His love provides us with the means to accomplish it! Beware those who appear to be 'prophets for a profit'! A universal need for fulfillment has turned into a universal con opportunity, with peddlers of all sorts offering 'salvation' for a price. Many offer jibberish or the latest politically correct slogans, but none really offer a realistic answer to the problems of guilt and loneliness in our lives but Christianity. Many require strict adherence to certain requirements in order to appease a god who will decide if we're acceptable after we die – without providing any certainty now, when we need it. And who wants to meditate for days, or walk over hot coals? So again, it makes sense to check out Christianity first – it provides a way out of our guilt and fulfills our religious impulses – and it's free! Christianity Is Livable And Fits Our Knowledge Of The World – With Christianity you can be honest with yourself. With many of the other 'religions' you must live a 'lie'. Christianity allows for a complete lifestyle, based upon the Creator's intentions, not what we seem to 'want' or seem to 'hope'. With others, you will proclaim one thing, and then live another. For example, a Buddhist or a Hindu proclaims that the world is an illusion – but they still expect exact change, and look both ways before crossing the street. They will assert that pain and suffering are not real, or that they are earned from past sins, but this does nothing to comfort the dying or afflicted. With 'naturalistic religions' (such as Atheism or Secular Humanism), one will pretend that their lives have meaning, but must accept that they are the product of an accident, with no inherent value. 'Religions' such as Mormonism or Islam or Judaism must appease a demanding God who shows no grace, and gives no assurances of salvation. Their lives must be a life of fear and worry, not a live of peace and hope. In short, with Christianity you may live your beliefs; with all the others you must 'compartmentalize' your life into separate areas of belief that contrast with how we live. Jesus Christ – One very interesting aspect of many other 'religions' is that they include Jesus! Islam says He was definitely a major prophet from God, even higher than Abraham – just not higher than Muhammad. Judaism admits that He lived, just not as the Messiah that they are looking for. Many adherents to Hinduism or Buddhism admit that He was a very special man, and had tremendous impact on the world and is to be admired and learned from. There seems to be a trend, and that is that all the major religions believe that He existed, and that He was a tremendous influence. So it is perfectly logical to begin with a study of the real Jesus – to see why all the others include Him and revere Him so well. A proper study of Christianity does just that. So, in summary, if one is seeking for the Truth, and wants to begin a study of the world's 'religions' to determine which one fits our lives, our needs, and our world best, it makes perfect sense to begin with an open minded and in depth study of the Christian faith first.