Have you ever wondered how Christianity compares with other religions? Is Christianity really that different from all the others? We think that the following information will help you to understand just how uniquely different Biblical Christianity is and why we believe strongly that Christianity is NOT a religion but a relationship with the Creator of the Universe. So take your time and study the differences. We think you will be amazed and enlightened at what you discover.
What The Bible Teaches About:
JESUS CHRIST GOD HOLY SPIRIT MORALITY
RETRIBUTION (Divine Justice) REDEMPTION And SALVATION
What Other Religions Teach About:
JESUS CHRIST: Christian Science New Age Spiritualism
Jehovah Witnesses Mormonism Eastern Mysticism
GOD: Christian Science New Age Spiritualism
Jehovah Witnesses Mormonism Eastern Mysticism
HOLY SPIRIT: Christian Science New Age Spiritualism
Jehovah Witnesses Mormonism Eastern Mysticism
MORALITY: Buddhism Hinduism Islam
RETRIBUTION : Christian Science New Age Spiritualism
Jehovah Witnesses Mormonism Eastern Mysticism
REDEMPTION And SALVATION : Christian Science New Age Spiritualism
Jehovah Witnesses Mormonism Eastern Mysticism
In the beginning was the Word, . . . and the Word was God (John 1:1).
His mother, Mary was engaged to Joseph, but while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit (Matt 1:18).
Behold, the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name EMMANUEL (Isaiah 7:14).
God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the nations, believed on in the world, received up into glory (I Timothy 3:16).
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth (John 1:14).
No man has seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him (John 1: 18).
And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead (Romans 1:4).
And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain (I Corinthians 15:17).
Wherefore, he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them (Hebrews 7:25).
This same Jesus ... shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go into Heaven (Acts 1:11; cf. John 14:3; I Thessalonians 4:13-18).
What Other Religions Teach About JESUS CHRIST
Jesus is the human man and Christ is the divine idea (SH, 473:15-16).
If there had never existed such a person as the Galilean Prophet, it would make no difference to me (First Church of Christ Scientist & Misc., pp. 318-19).
The virgin mother conceived this idea of God and gave to her ideal the name of Jesus. Jesus was the offspring of Mary(SH, 29:17-18, 32; 30:1).
Not that the human Jesus was or is eternal...not one with the Father, ... but fleshly.... Christ is
The dual personality (Christ Jesus) continued until the ascension, when Jesus disappeared, while Christ continues to exist in the eternal order of Divine Science taking away the sins of the world (SH, 334:1020).
His disciples believed Jesus to be dead, while he was in the sepulcher, whereas he was alive (SH, 44:2829).
To the apprehension (of his students) our Master rose from the grave on the third day of his ascending thought
Resurrection is spiritualization of thought (SH, 593:9).
Christ himself was nothing more than a medium of high order. The teaching of spirits supersedes and is an advance upon the teachings of Christianity. (Spiritual Telegraph, No.37)
Jesus Christ was not divine. He is now an advanced spirit in the sixth sphere. He never claimed to be God manifest in the flesh and does not at present (Weisse, Demonology or Spiritualism, p. 141).
Jesus did not claim for himself more than he held out for others. His identification with the Father was the oneness of mediumship. He was a medium or Universal Spiritualism, p. 234).
Jesus Christ was indeed the Son of God, as also are we sons of God (Many Mansions, p. 107).
The miraculous conception of Christ is merely a fabulous tale (Weisse, Spiritualism, p. 141).
Spiritualism sees in the death of Jesus an illustration of the martyr spirit, of that unselfish and heroic devotion to humanity which ever characterized the life of Jesus, but no special atoning value in his sufferings and death (The A.B.C of Spiritualism, Q. 19).
Spiritualism accepts him as one of many Savior Christs, who at different times have come into the world to lighten its darkness and show by precept and example the way of life to men. It recognizes him as a world Savior but not as (The A.B.C. of Spiritualism, Q. 17).
Jesus is not Jehovah God. He was the first son that Jehovah God brought forth (LG, p. 32).
Jesus was the First Creation by God (MS, p. 282).
Jesus Christ had a pre-human existence (LG, p. 34).
Michael the archangel is no other than the only begotten Son of God, now Jesus Christ (NH, p. 30).
Jesus was born about Oct. 1, B.C. 2, of the virgin Mary (LG, p. 36).
At baptism Jesus was anointed to become the Messiah, or Jesus the Christ (Anointed) (LG, p. 38).
Jesus showed his subjection to God by humbling himself to a most disgraceful death on a torture stake (LG, p. 35).
God raised Jesus as a mighty immortal spirit Son (LG, p. 40)
Among the spirit children of Elohim, the firstborn was and is Jehovah or Jesus Christ, to whom all others are juniors (Smith, GD, p70)
By obedience and devotion He attained to the pinnacle of intelligence which ranked him as God,even in his pre-existent state (McConkie, MD, p. 192).
Jesus Christ was the executive in the work of creation, aided by Michael (or Adam), Enock, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Peter, James, John, Joseph Smith, and others (McConkie, MD p.466)
He was born of the virgin Mary. Elohim is literally the Father of the Spirit and of Jesus Christ, and also of the body (Talmage, DC, p. 466).
He is essentially greater than all others, by reason of His unique status in the flesh as the offspring of a mortal mother and an immortal, or resurrected and glorified father.
He died on the cross, rose again, and is coming again in power and glory to set up his kingdom on earth (Talmage, DC, p 472).
All religions from times immemorial are just different branches of the main trunk of the aernal religion represented by the Vedas (TM, p. 19). (Mahorishi Mahesh Yogi, p. 123).
Christ is considered to be one of a long line of The Current Religious Movements from the East.
BAHAISM: This emanated from Persian Islam but is essentially eclectic. All ways are of God, but Baha has the truth for this age.
DIVINE LIGHT MISSION: Guru Maharaj ji is presented as the Perfect Master, the Lord of the Universe, who has come to uncover the light of knowledge which is within the disciple himself.
KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS(Iskcon): Devotion centers on the god Krishna.
TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION: Deceitfully propagated as non-religious, this is undoubtedly Hindu, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi is the leader. Mandatory initiatory rites in Sanskrit addresses the Lord Narayana, Brahma the Creator. daily meditation focuses on the Source of creative Intelligence within the individual himself.
VEDANTA SOCIETY: (Rama Krishna Mission): This group also teaches the Perennial Philosophy, that god is the essence of all that is, and salvation is to "realize" the god (reality) that is in you.
YOGA: This is one of the six major Hindu philosophical systems to be followed in order to obtain union (yoga) with the Ultimate, the Great All-pervading Soul. Self-realization Fellowship advocates practice of disciplined Kriya Yoga as the path to realization, the true self.
ZEN-BUDDHISM: The major Buddhist activity solves eternity's problems by illogical Koran to produce enlightenment - similar to T.M.
In Samaveda it states that:
A. The Incarnate will be born of a virgin in a cattle shed
Lihvya Goptharam, Mahakyou Dadhina Kuryanthi, Havya Yaana, Parya Thaseen
B. Only a sacrifice can save
Yag-nova Apathe
C. The One Who rules the world, in order to atone for the sins of many, His body will be crushed and offered as a sacrifice (yagna)
Praja Pathirthe Vebhyam, Athmanaam Yag-nam, Kruthva Prayaschith
D. Only God can offer Himself as a sacrifice
Aham Yagnosmi
E. Shedding of blood is necessary for the atonement of sins
Sarva Papa Pariharo, Raktha Prokshana Mavashyaakam, Thath Rahtham Paramathmena, Punya Dana Baliyagam
Other evidences of a sacrificial death in Hinduism are:
A. The sacrificial victim is to be crowned with a crown made of thorny vines (Rigveda 10:90:7,15 Bruhadaranyakopanishad 111. 9:28)
B. None of His bones shall be broken
(Yajurveda XXXI)
C. Before His death He shall be given a drink of somarasa [sour wine)
(Ithreya Brahmanam)
D. After His death His clothes are to be divided among the offerors
(Bhagvad Gita 4:31)
SWAMY VIVEKANANDA P.411 Chapter "Isa Messiah"
"I will worship Jesus Christ just according to His will. Not by preparing feast on his birthday but in fasting and prayer." This example is being followed by the disciples of Swamiji even now. The members of Sri. Ramakrishna Math, all over India, celebrate Christmas eve and the Christmas day every year, with a camp fire, in prayers and conducting seminars on Christian teachings.
While teacing his students in 'Thousand Island Park' Swamiji opened his lecture, reading from the Holy Bible. Gospel of St. John Chapter 1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God."
Vol. VI page 424 May be inspired by the oneness of the Vedic, Upanishadic verses with the Biblical ones Swami Vivekananda has ascribed Jesus at the highest in the holiest of the holy as the God him
COMMENTS
Hindus say Jesus visited India during the period when he was 12 -30 years old and studied under "The Gurus" The Jews were in India as early as 450 BC as India was one of the states under King Ahasuerus (Xerxes 485-464 B.C.) Jesus amazed the spiritual leaders of the Jews at the age of 12.
In S.V.49 Muhammad, reflecting God's dictation writes: "And in their footsteps we sent Jesus the Son of Mary, confirming the Law that had come before Him: We sent Him the gospel therein was guidance and light, and confirmation of the Law that had come before Him: A guidance and an admonition to those who fear God."
What does this passage mean? It means what it says that Jesus came to confirm the law the pronouncements laid down before He came. The law was laid down by the prophets; that is to say, the prophecies later were to be confirmed by the birth of Jesus.
S.III.36 "Oh my Lord! Behold! I am delivered of a female child! And God knew best... I have named her Mary, and I commend her and her Offspring to Thy protection from the Evil One, the Rejected."
So, we find in the Quran that the infant Mary (who later became Jesus' mother) is commended to the protection from the devil, the evil one, the rejected one.
And then follows, in the Quran, a description of Mary's growth in purity and beauty. Further, God supplies her, who was to be the mother of Jesus, with sustenance. Let us read what the Quran says:
S.III.37 "Right graciously did her Lord accept her (Mary); He made her grow in purity and beauty: to the care of Zakariya was she assigned. Every time that he entered her chamber to see her, he found her supplied with sustenance. He said, 'Oh Mary! Whence comes this to youT She said, 'From God; for God provides sustenance to whom He pleases, without measure."'
Ed Note: In short, the Quran is here giving details of Mary, the mother of Jesus, which is not found in the Bible. Mary is literally fed by God.The Quran next identifies the young Mary in this manner, (All of these quotations are taken directly from the Quran.) This is what the Quran says of how Mary conceived the baby Jesus:
S.III.42 "Behold the angels said: '0 Mary! God hath chosen thee and purified thee chosen thee above the women of all nations."' Mary then is chosen and purified. The Quran continues:
S.III.43 "O Mary! Worship thy Lord devoutly; prostrate thyself and bow down (in prayer) with those who bow down." And now comes this vital 70and far quran:
S.III.45 "Behold! The Angels said: 0 Mary! God giveth thee glad tidings of a Word from Him: His name will be Christ Jesus, The Son of Mary, held in honor in this world and the Hereafter and (the Company of) those nearest to God. He shall speak to the people in childhood and in maturity, and He shall be (of the Company) of the righteous." Mary's reply (again from the Quran) is:
S.III.47 "'Oh my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man has touched me?'The angel replied, 'Even so: God createth what He willeth: When He hath decreed a Plan, He but said to it, "Be," and it is!...
Further, "the Angels said 'His name will be Christ Jesus."'
(S.111.45). Christ means, "The anointed one". Jesus was born with
S.IV.159 There is not one of his people of his scripture but will believe in Him before His death, and on the day of His resurrection, He will be witness against them.
© 2000 - 2010 LSUSA Inc. All Rights Reserved Our Privacy Policy Site optimized @ 1280 X 800
