Why Christianity is unique amongst ALL the world's religions!

[ramiroflores]

Many will say and believe that the various religions around the world are merely different pathways to God. Further, they'll insist that one's PATHWAY isn't what is important, but only the fact that you are on A path - and that ALL paths lead to the same "God." But to believe this, one has to ignore that the various world religions, while often sharing core ethical / moral teachings about how we are to treat each other, have DRASTICALLY different teachings about God (or whatever god they believe in), including what is required by each faith tradition to reach Heaven. And ALL of the world's religions EXCEPT Christianity, teach a MERIT-based theology of what their deity or god(s) require for them to reach whatever version of heaven they believe in. And that's because Christianity is NOT merit-based or dependent upon how GOOD one has lived their life. Christianity teaches one CANNOT reach or EARN Heaven by their good works and deeds. As Christianity teaches Christians reach Heaven ONLY by the sacrificial death of Jesus on the Cross - as ONLY He makes Heaven possible for ANYONE! IF one will embrace and believe in the Jesus of Scripture and commit / submit themselves to Him in heart and mind to follow Him. And if they will do so, Jesus then applies HIS work to every saved person, and thus makes them acceptable to God and thus Heaven-bound!

[Yozavan]

Many will say and believe that the various religions around the world are merely different pathways to God. Further, they'll insist that one's PATHWAY isn't what is important, but only the fact that you are on A path - and that ALL paths lead to the same "God." But to believe this, one has to ignore that the various world religions, while often sharing core ethical / moral teachings about how we are to treat each other, have DRASTICALLY different teachings about God (or whatever god they believe in), including what is required by each faith tradition to reach Heaven. And ALL of the world's religions EXCEPT Christianity, teach a MERIT-based theology of what their deity or god(s) require for them to reach whatever version of heaven they believe in. And that's because Christianity is NOT merit-based or dependent upon how GOOD one has lived their life. Christianity teaches one CANNOT reach or EARN Heaven by their good works and deeds. As Christianity teaches Christians reach Heaven ONLY by the sacrificial death of Jesus on the Cross - as ONLY He makes Heaven possible for ANYONE! IF one will embrace and believe in the Jesus of Scripture and commit / submit themselves to Him in heart and mind to follow Him. And if they will do so, Jesus then applies HIS work to every saved person, and thus makes them acceptable to God and thus Heaven-bound!

Interesting premise, but without stating a specific question for debate they'll move this to the random rambling section.

Possible Suggestions: Does Christianity's unique salvational message set it apart from other religions?
Does this peculiarity signify that its more valid than other religions?

On any event, good luck

[TRANSPONDER]

I thought that was going to be on the claim rhat Jesus is eyewitness in a convincing historical context.

It beats Buddhism or even Islam which sound more stories of later recall, not the reporter notebook style of the Gospels.

Of course, LDS has an even better record. Joseph Smith is as well attested as George Washington. But does that make the religion believable? Apparently, not to most Christians.

But no, we don't get that. Instead we got a disappointingly poor claim that Christianity is not merit based. sure, Paul tried to make forgiveness through Faith the Only way to be saved; but isn't Faith the first step in any religion, and good depends just the way of staying in favor? In fact Judeo Christianity seems to be the only one to have inherent deserving of death imposed for no good reason. Other religions seem to asume that being Good is an option, to be earned, not a favor to be begged. If it makes Christianity Different, it makes it singularly worse.

Paul soon found out that grace can be forfeited by sinning, so one has to behave. In that respect Christianity is in fact no different from any other religion. Indeed, the only Real case it had was that it was, as a work colleague said to me, 'It is better historically based'.

And it does seem to be - until one examines it closely and the story falls apart, or to be more accurate, the poorly - mixed plaster with the cheezy fresco of Christian Jesus slides off the wall and reveals the Jewish zealot picture underneath.

Oh yes, there is a Real Jesus and a surprising amount (probably) of what Jesus did being true, but not a word of what he supposedly said.

[Yozavan]

I thought that was going to be on the claim rhat Jesus is eyewitness in a convincing historical context.

It beats Buddhism or even Islam which sound more stories of later recall, not the reporter notebook style of the Gospels.

Of course, LDS has an even better record. Joseph Smith is as well attested as George Washington. But does that make the religion believable? Apparently, not to most Christians.

But no, we don't get that. Instead we got a disappointingly poor claim that Christianity is not merit based. sure, Paul tried to make forgiveness through Faith the Only way to be saved; but isn't Faith the first step in any religion, and good depends just the way of staying in favor? In fact Judeo Christianity seems to be the only one to have inherent deserving of death imposed for no good reason. Other religions seem to asume that being Good is an option, to be earned, not a favor to be begged. If it makes Christianity Different, it makes it singularly worse.

Paul soon found out that grace can be forfeited by sinning, so one has to behave. In that respect Christianity is in fact no different from any other religion. Indeed, the only Real case it had was that it was, as a work colleague said to me, 'It is better historically based'.

And it does seem to be - until one examines it closely and the story falls apart, or to be more accurate, the poorly - mixed plaster with the cheezy fresco of Christian Jesus slides off the wall and reveals the Jewish zealot picture underneath.

Oh yes, there is a Real Jesus and a surprising amount (probably) of what Jesus did being true, but not a word of what he supposedly said.

I'm fairly confident jesus said," the kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman hid ...etc. " Most of his sayings seem to be Christian creeds, apologetics against Judaism, and perhaps a bit of John the Baptist's teachings thrown in ( which would call my one quote into question )

[1213]

...And ALL of the world's religions EXCEPT Christianity, teach a MERIT-based theology of what their deity or god(s) require for them to reach whatever version of heaven they believe in. And that's because Christianity is NOT merit-based or dependent upon how GOOD one has lived their life. Christianity teaches one CANNOT reach or EARN Heaven by their good works and deeds. As Christianity teaches Christians reach Heaven ONLY by the sacrificial death of Jesus on the Cross ...

I think you have otherwise a good point, but I think it is wrong to say it is by sacrificed death of Jesus and nothing else matters. Jesus said eternal life is for righteous. This is why I think one must be righteous to get into Heaven. That does not mean it is then by merits, but because of the righteous mind, which leads person to righteous actions.

These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.
Matt. 25:46
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23
Riches don't profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death.
Prov. 11:4
The wicked is brought down in his calamity, But in death, the righteous has a refuge.
Prov. 14:32
Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For Yahweh knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked shall perish.
Ps. 1:5-6

So, if a Christian says it is by sacrificial death of Jesus, it is wrong, not Biblical teaching. But, it is true that is not by doing good works and deeds. Forgiveness, new beginning, is offered freely for all, and it was so even without the death of Jesus, as shown here:

The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, "Who is this that speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?" But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, answered them, "Why are you reasoning so in your hearts? Which is easier to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you;' or to say, 'Arise and walk?' But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" (he said to the paralyzed man), "I tell you, arise, and take up your cot, and go to your house." Immediately he rose up before them, and took up that which he was laying on, and departed to his house, glorifying God.
Luke 5:21-25

That gives the new beginning, but then there must happen change of "heart" so that person becomes righteous, because as said before, eternal life is promised only for righteous.

Jesus answered him, "Most certainly, I tell you, unless one is born anew, he cant see Gods Kingdom." Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mothers womb, and be born?" Jesus answered, "Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he cant enter into Gods Kingdom. That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Dont marvel that I said to you, You must be born anew.
John 3:3-7
But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become Gods children, to those who believe in his name: who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 1:12-13
He who does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. To this end the Son of God was revealed: that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever is born of God doesnt commit sin, because his seed remains in him, and he cant sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are revealed, and the children of the devil. Whoever doesnt do righteousness is not of God, neither is he who doesnt love his brother.
1 John 3:7-10
It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life.
John 6:63

[TRANSPONDER]

I thought that was going to be on the claim rhat Jesus is eyewitness in a convincing historical context.

It beats Buddhism or even Islam which sound more stories of later recall, not the reporter notebook style of the Gospels.

Of course, LDS has an even better record. Joseph Smith is as well attested as George Washington. But does that make the religion believable? Apparently, not to most Christians.

But no, we don't get that. Instead we got a disappointingly poor claim that Christianity is not merit based. sure, Paul tried to make forgiveness through Faith the Only way to be saved; but isn't Faith the first step in any religion, and good depends just the way of staying in favor? In fact Judeo Christianity seems to be the only one to have inherent deserving of death imposed for no good reason. Other religions seem to asume that being Good is an option, to be earned, not a favor to be begged. If it makes Christianity Different, it makes it singularly worse.

Paul soon found out that grace can be forfeited by sinning, so one has to behave. In that respect Christianity is in fact no different from any other religion. Indeed, the only Real case it had was that it was, as a work colleague said to me, 'It is better historically based'.

And it does seem to be - until one examines it closely and the story falls apart, or to be more accurate, the poorly - mixed plaster with the cheezy fresco of Christian Jesus slides off the wall and reveals the Jewish zealot picture underneath.

Oh yes, there is a Real Jesus and a surprising amount (probably) of what Jesus did being true, but not a word of what he supposedly said.

I'm fairly confident jesus said," the kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman hid ...etc. " Most of his sayings seem to be Christian creeds, apologetics against Judaism, and perhaps a bit of John the Baptist's teachings thrown in ( which would call my one quote into question )

I'm fairly confident he didn't, especially as it comes across as a prophecy of the success of Christianity, which is always suspect as hindsight. The prediction of the punishment of the Jews in the Jewish war sticks out as later thinking back - engineered.

But, yes, I agree the message of the gospels is 'forget all about Judaism, Temple and Mosaic law; I am now all the religion you need' "Something greater than the Temple is here.". That is, it is simply Christian writers, putting Pauline doctrines into Jesus' mouth to validate them.

I use the examples of David and the Shewbread, which would never have stood up against real Pharisees who knew their scripture. We get (as we usually do) straw Pharisees who are unable to reply and sneak away to do dirty plotting. It is Christian Pauline propaganda, that is what it is, not reporting anything Jesus actually said. The Blasphemy charge also requires the Christian meaning of the messiah and son of God to make sense. And who can anyone credit Matthew as an eyewitness when he takes Jesus riding on a donkey (the only prophecy I suspect he did fulfil) and make him somehow riding on two beasts because he misread the text in the Greek translation? And for that matter the Babes and sucklings' passage could not have been said by Jesus as it is a Greek mistranslation. Look it up in the OT and you'll see it is different.

No, I think Jesus did some of the stuff in the gospels, or at least had it done to him, but nothing, I reckon, of what he said is what he really did say. It is all Christian thinking stuffed into Jesus' mouth.

[TRANSPONDER]

[Replying to 1213 in post #5]

I think I get this pauline and erroneous view (it doesn't work, as Paul found out) that having a 'Righteous mind' will of course make a person do good deeds. This is highly arguable as many of the evils of Christianity were done by people who thought they were acting Righteously. But the question is, whether one can acquire a Righteous Mind outside of Jesusgod - Faith (in which case religions don't matter, or only through Faith (in the right Belief) can one acquire a righteous mind.

I suspect that term makes it possible to evade saying anything other than it is acquired out of nowhere (as it if comes from Faith, then Faith is what matters) and does nothing (as if doing good works matters it is a merit - making religion). In the end, people are going to see the palpable flummery and evasion of that even if you can't.

[1213]

... But the question is, whether one can acquire a Righteous Mind outside of Jesusgod - Faith (in which case religions don't matter, or only through Faith (in the right Belief) can one acquire a righteous mind....

By this scripture I think it is possible that person has the righteous mind, even if he has not heard of Jesus:

For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without the law. As many as have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it isn't the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be justified for when Gentiles who don't have the law do by nature the things of the law, these, not having the law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience testifying with them, and their thoughts among themselves accusing or else excusing them in the day when God will judge the secrets of men, according to my Gospel, by Jesus Christ.
Romans 2:12-16

[TRANSPONDER]

... But the question is, whether one can acquire a Righteous Mind outside of Jesusgod - Faith (in which case religions don't matter, or only through Faith (in the right Belief) can one acquire a righteous mind....

By this scripture I think it is possible that person has the righteous mind, even if he has not heard of Jesus:

For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without the law. As many as have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it isn't the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be justified for when Gentiles who don't have the law do by nature the things of the law, these, not having the law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience testifying with them, and their thoughts among themselves accusing or else excusing them in the day when God will judge the secrets of men, according to my Gospel, by Jesus Christ.
Romans 2:12-16

Then good morality works without Jesus or any other religion. I get the idea of a god watching to coerce the wrongdoer into not doing it through fear of punishment, but I'd rather see a morality based on reason and evidence rather than superstition. And it is far from clear to me that religion really makes anyone better; it only gives more to be bigots about and give more opportunities for exploitation and scams.

The whole idea of hellthreat might work if we have non religious theism; that is a universal god - belief without any one religion claiming to be the right one, all being recognised as man made and it being a crime to impose of coerce anything on anyone for religious reasons. (Go for it SJW's ) Anyone imposing Fatwahs, trying to get films banned or persecuting another group would be up on a universal law charge. But obviously that means religions have to lose power and support, and that is a long way off.

[1213]

Then good morality works without Jesus or any other religion.

I have not seen any evidence for that.

I get the idea of a god watching to coerce the wrongdoer into not doing it through fear of punishment, ...

If fear of punishment is the only preventing thing, then I don't think the person is righteous.