With all of the different religions, how can I know which one is correct?

[Patriot]

What is the difference between religion and spirituality?

Question: "What is the difference between religion and spirituality?"

Answer: Before we explore the difference between religion and spirituality, we must first define the two terms. Religion can be defined as “belief in God or gods to be worshiped, usually expressed in conduct and ritual” or “any specific system of belief, worship, etc., often involving a code of ethics.” Spirituality can be defined as “the quality or fact of being spiritual, non-physical” or “predominantly spiritual character as shown in thought, life, etc.; spiritual tendency or tone.” To put it briefly, religion is a set of beliefs and rituals that claim to get a person in a right relationship with God, and spirituality is a focus on spiritual things and the spiritual world instead of physical/earthly things.

The most common misconception about religion is that Christianity is just another religion like Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, etc. Sadly, many who claim to be adherents of Christianity do practice Christianity as if it were a religion. To many, Christianity is nothing more than a set of rules and rituals that a person has to observe in order to go to heaven after death. That is not true Christianity. True Christianity is not a religion; rather, it is having a right relationship with God by receiving Jesus Christ as the Savior-Messiah, by grace through faith. Yes, Christianity does have “rituals” to observe (e.g., baptism and communion). Yes, Christianity does have “rules” to follow (e.g., do not murder, love one another, etc.). However, these rituals and rules are not the essence of Christianity. The rituals and rules of Christianity are the result of salvation. When we receive salvation through Jesus Christ, we are baptized as a proclamation of that faith. We observe communion in remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice. We follow a list of do’s and don’ts out of love for God and gratitude for what He has done.

The most common misconception about spirituality is that there are many forms of spirituality, and all are equally valid. Meditating in unusual physical positions, communing with nature, seeking conversation with the spirit world, etc., may seem to be “spiritual,” but they are in fact false spirituality. True spirituality is possessing the Holy Spirit of God as a result of receiving salvation through Jesus Christ. True spirituality is the fruit that the Holy Spirit produces in a person’s life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Spirituality is all about becoming more like God, who is spirit (John 4:24) and having our character conformed to His image (Romans 12:1-2).

What religion and spirituality have in common is that they both can be false methods of having a relationship with God. Religion tends to substitute the heartless observance of rituals for a genuine relationship with God. Spirituality tends to substitute connection with the spirit world for a genuine relationship with God. Both can be, and often are, false paths to God. At the same time, religion can be valuable in the sense that it points to the fact that there is a God and that we are somehow accountable to Him. The only true value of religion is its ability to point out that we have fallen short and are in need of a Savior. Spirituality can be valuable in that it points out that the physical world is not all there is. Human beings are not only material, but also possess a soul-spirit. There is a spiritual world around us of which we should be aware. The true value of spirituality is that it points to the fact that there is something and someone beyond this physical world to which we need to connect.

Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of both religion and spirituality. Jesus is the One to whom we are accountable and to whom true religion points. Jesus is the One to whom we need to connect and the One to whom true spirituality points. Are you interested in discovering true religion and true spirituality? If the answer is yes, please begin your journey on our webpage that describes receiving Jesus Christ as your Personal Savior - https://www.gotquestions.org/personal-Savior.html.

Recommended Resource: Slave: The Hidden Truth About Your Identity in Christ by John MacArthur

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[Patriot]

What is pure and undefiled religion (James 1:27)?

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Question: "What is pure and undefiled religion (James 1:27)?"

Answer: In James 1:27, the apostle James gives us insight into what pleases God: “Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world” (NASB). The word for “undefiled” is translated “faultless” in the NIV.

When interpreting any verse in the Bible, including James 1:27, we should always look at its context to get an idea of what the verse means within the surrounding verses. In this case, we can look at what comes immediately before James 1:27 and get some idea of what is going on in this particular passage. Verse 26 says, “Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.” So, in these final two verses of James 1, we have a contrast between what makes religion “worthless” and what makes religion “acceptable” to God.

Here it would be good to define the word religion. By “religion,” James means the external evidence of inward piety; that is, worship as expressed in ritual acts.

In the “worthless” religion, it doesn’t seem to matter what rituals or pious acts the worshiper engages in—it is all negated by an out-of-control tongue. A man may go through all the external motions of Christianity, yet if he tells lies or speaks unkindly or gossips or slanders or profanes God’s name, then his religion is empty. Everyone around him will see it, but he himself remains self-deceived. “By your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:37).

The implied contrast in the “pure and undefiled” religion that pleases God is that the worshiper keeps his tongue under control. “Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies” (Psalm 34:12–13). But James goes beyond just tongue control and gives examples of the religious acts God is looking for. One is outward-focused: “Look after orphans and widows in their distress.” The other is inward-focused: “Keep oneself from being polluted by the world” (James 1:27). Holy living, coupled with service to others, is the key. Or, as Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God” and “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:30–31).

“Pure and undefiled religion” happens when believers take care of the less fortunate and strive for personal purity. The right kind of religious practice involves helping those who cannot help themselves (and who cannot pay you back). As Jesus taught, “When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous” (Luke 14:13–14). The right kind of religious practice also requires a personal commitment to growing in Christian virtue (see 2 Peter 1:5–8).

The apostle Paul also wrote about pure and undefiled religion, i.e., the actions of those who wish to please the Lord: “If a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God” (1 Timothy 5:4). Taking care of one’s family is a proper religious practice.

Looking after widows and orphans and keeping oneself “unspotted” from the world (KJV) are just two practical examples of what the Christian might do who desires to please God in his or her religion. James is not trying to create an exhaustive description of what religious practice must include. He is most likely highlighting some areas of concern among the believers to whom he was writing. But the result—pure and undefiled religion—is what believers of all eras should have as their goal.

Recommended Resource: James, MacArthur New Testament Commentary by John MacArthur

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[Patriot]

What is the oldest religion?

Question: "What is the oldest religion?"

Answer: The oldest religion in the world is the worship of the One True God, as stated in Genesis 4:26, “At that time people began to call on the name of the Lord.” The name they called upon was Yahweh (Latinized as “Jehovah”). The fact that they “began” to call on this name indicates a change in society—for the first time, people were organizing and identifying themselves as worshipers of God. This happened during the lifetime of Enosh, Adam’s grandson through Seth, about 250 years after the first couple was expelled from Eden.

About that early form of worship we have no information concerning formal instructions from God or set traditions on how the people carried out their worship. We can assume that sacrifices were involved, since Cain and Abel had understood the need for individual sacrifices a generation prior (Genesis 4:3–4). All Moses tells us of that first “religion” is that they knew God’s name and they called upon Him.

Satan corrupts and divides. It wasn’t long before the pure religion of calling upon God’s name was corrupted by idolatry and divided into literally hundreds of religions. By Noah’s day, the name of God had been all but forgotten, and “every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time” (Genesis 6:5). The next time we read of anyone calling upon God’s name is in Genesis 12:8; that’s when Abraham “built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord.”

The oldest pagan religion for which we have evidence of an organized following is Egyptian. The Egyptian culture with its many gods was already well established by the time described in the latter part of Genesis and the book of Exodus. Abraham had dealings with a wealthy, growing Egypt and its pharaoh (Genesis 12:10ff).

At the time of Moses in the 15th century BC, the Lord once again revealed His name (Exodus 3:14) and codified religion for the Israelites. Required as part of calling upon the name of Yahweh was the forsaking of all other gods (Exodus 20:3–4). In the midst of a pagan, polytheistic world, the monotheism of the Hebrews stood out as a light in a dark place.

The religion we know as Christianity is really a continuation of God’s plan for the Israelites. The gospel is “the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile” (Romans 1:16). So, the history of the world involves a cycle of God’s revealing Himself to mankind, man’s falling away from that knowledge, and God’s restoration of the truth. Tracing that line of truth all the way back to Genesis 4:26 and the promise of Genesis 3:15, one could even say that the worship of God in Christ is the world’s oldest religion.

Recommended Resource: Handbook of World Religions by Len Woods

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[Patriot]

What is the origin of religion?

Question: "What is the origin of religion?"

Answer: From the earliest times, humans have looked around and above them and wondered about the world, the universe, and the meaning of life. Unlike animals, humans have a built-in desire to understand how we got here, why we are here, and what happens after we die. Adam and Eve knew God personally (Genesis 3) and spoke of Him (4:1). Their children brought sacrifices to the Lord (4:3-4). And during the time of their grandchildren, “men began to call on the name of the LORD” in corporate worship (4:26).

In all of history and in every culture, people have felt a need to worship what they perceive to be the source of life. The Bible explains why—we are created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27), and God has set eternity in our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11). We were created to be in relationship with our Creator. The rituals and practices of religion began as an expression of the creature’s desire to worship the Creator.

Biologist Julian Huxley dismissed the existence of religion as a vestige of past ignorance and superstition: “Gods are peripheral phenomena produced by evolution.” In other words, primitive man invented the idea of God in an ancient, superstitious time, and theism has no relevance in today’s society. Theories based on an evolutionary premise imagine that man’s belief in God was first expressed in animism, ghost-worship, totemism, and magic. Not all scholars have reached this conclusion, however. The Rev. Wilhelm Schmidt presents evidence of a monotheistic faith being the first religion practiced by men and offers many powerful arguments in support. For more information, see here. Man began with a belief in one God, and then his theology degenerated into a belief in multiple gods.

The Bible says that after the flood God initiated the unconditional covenant between Himself and Noah and his descendants (Genesis 9:8-17). Men disobeyed God’s command to spread out and fill the earth, and they built a city and began making a monumental tower instead. God confused their language and forced them to disperse (Genesis 11:1-9). After that time, many polytheistic religions sprang up around the world. Later, God made Himself known to Abram and introduced the Abrahamic Covenant (circa 2000 B.C.).

After God redeemed Israel from Egyptian bondage, He gave them the Mosaic Covenant and later the Davidic Covenant. In all of these events, it is God who reached down to His people, drawing them into relationship with Him. This is unique in the history of world religions.

With regard to Christianity, God Himself was responsible for introducing the New Covenant—an unconditional promise to unfaithful Israel to forgive her sins on the basis of pure, undeserved grace through the sacrifice of the Messiah. This New Covenant also opened up the way for Gentiles to be saved. In all of this, it is God who initiates the relationship. Biblical religion is based on the fact that God reached down to us; it is not man’s attempt to reach up to God. Biblical religion is a response to what God has done for us, not a code of conduct that we must perform for God.

One reason we have so many different religions is the deception imposed on the human race by the enemy of our souls, who seeks glory and worship for himself (2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 Timothy 4:1). Another reason is man’s inherent desire to explain the unexplained and to make order out of chaos. Many of the early pagan religions taught that, to prevent disasters from befalling them, they needed to appease their fickle, petulant gods. Through the centuries, religion has often been hijacked by kings and rulers in order to subjugate their people in a state-run “church” system.

The true religion that God initiated thousands of years ago with Israel pointed forward to a coming Messiah who would provide the way for all people to be reconciled to their Creator. After Christ came, Christianity spread by word of mouth as the disciples of Jesus took the gospel to the world and the Holy Spirit changed lives. God’s Word was also preserved in writing and is available today throughout the world.

Recommended Resource: Handbook of World Religions by Len Woods

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[Patriot]

What is the psychology of religion?

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Question: "What is the psychology of religion?"

Answer: The psychology of religion is the study of religion from the human psychological point of view. Those who study religion from the psychological perspective are interested in three primary areas that may be broadly characterized as past, present, and future.

Past: What psychological factors gave rise to particular religious beliefs in various societies and cultures, or what psychological factors were responsible for a particular individual’s adoption of certain religious beliefs? For many who study the psychology of religion, all religious belief can be explained by natural human psychology without any reference to divine intervention. For instance, some psychologists see the belief in God as an attempt to feel more secure in a dangerous world. People have “invented” a benevolent higher power as a coping mechanism because it would be too scary to think that no one is in charge or that no one is looking out for them. This would be a psychological explanation of the origins of religion. An individual’s conversion to a particular religion might similarly be explained in psychological terms of crisis and guilt avoidance.

Present: What is the psychological impact of specific attitudes and practices in a religious community or individual? When a person joins a religious group, it often seems to result in improved mental health. What part of this is due to natural psychological consequences of uniting with others in common cause and having a feeling of belonging, and what (if any) is the result of divine intervention? If Christians are found to be more loving and self-sacrificing (compared to other religions or to the behavior of the individuals before they became Christians), most Christians would attribute this to the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives (see Galatians 5:22–23). However, someone studying Christianity from the standpoint of human psychology might explain this phenomenon in terms of common values emphasized within the group or an attempt to avoid the guilty feelings that arise when one fails to measure up to an expected standard of behavior.

Future: What are the likely psychological consequences of religious belief and practice for the individual and for society? The psychology of religion attempts to predict consequences of religious belief. Based on their research, psychologists might anticipate that a particular belief will cause those who believe it to respond in a certain way. For instance, people who believe that the end of the world is imminent might be more likely to withdraw from society. Studies may also show that people who have experienced forgiveness of sin are more likely to live happy, productive lives. In more recent years, psychologists have questioned certain Christian practices such as spanking their children or exposing them to the gruesome details of crucifixion, predicting harm to the children and to their future families. It seems quite possible that one day certain Christian beliefs, such as the immorality of homosexuality, will be deemed psychological disorders.

While there is nothing inherently wrong with studying the psychological aspects and effects of Christianity, a bias is introduced if it is assumed a priori that there is no supernatural aspect to Christianity and that everything can be explained by natural psychological concepts.

It is important to realize that there is no sharp dichotomy between the natural and the supernatural worlds. It is indeed true that many people do become religious and may even become genuine Christians because the weight of the world is pushing in upon them and they realize they cannot control things on their own. God is their only hope. It is this truth (and even the feelings that go along with it) that God may use to bring them to Himself. Christians emphasize mutual accountability among believers. Church discipline (Matthew 18:15–20) is meant to bring pressure upon a professing Christian who is involved in sinful activity. No one would deny that this pressure is at least in part psychological and that it may be one of the means that God uses to bring errant Christians to repentance. The identification of a psychological component in religious belief does not rule out the divine. God frequently uses “natural” means to accomplish spiritual results.

Christianity has a great many psychological benefits, and these are some of the things that initially attract people to it. We would expect something that is true to have positive psychological benefits. Furthermore, religious convictions are not the only convictions that have psychological components. It is quite possible that many psychologists of religion arrive at their conclusions because they are members of an academic community that exerts great psychological pressure to conform to scientific naturalism.

In the final analysis, Christianity does not stand or fall based on the psychological benefits that it provides Christians. Christianity is based on the historical life, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus.

Recommended Resource: Christian Counseling, Revised and Updated Third Edition by Gary Collins

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[Patriot]

What is the right religion for me?

Question: "What is the right religion for me?"

Answer: Fast food restaurants entice us by allowing us to order our food exactly the way we want it. Some coffee shops boast over a hundred different flavors and varieties of coffee. Even when buying houses and cars, we can look for one with all the options and features we desire. We no longer live in just a chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry world. Choice is king! You can find about anything you want according to your own personal likes and needs.

So how about a religion that is just right for you? How about a religion that is guilt-free, makes no demands, and is not encumbered with a lot of bothersome do’s and don’ts? It is out there, just as I have described. But is religion something to be chosen like a favorite flavor of ice cream?

There are a lot of voices vying for our attention, so why should anyone consider Jesus above, say, Muhammad or Confucius, Buddha, or Charles Taze Russell, or Joseph Smith? After all, don’t all roads lead to Heaven? aren’t all religions basically the same? The truth is that all religions do not lead to Heaven, just as all roads do not lead to Indiana.

Jesus alone speaks with the authority of God because Jesus alone conquered death. Muhammad, Confucius, and the others molder in their graves to this very day. But Jesus, by His own power, walked away from the tomb three days after dying on a cruel Roman cross. Anyone with power over death deserves our attention. Anyone with power over death deserves to be heard.

The evidence supporting the resurrection of Jesus is overwhelming. First, there were over five hundred eye witnesses of the risen Christ! That is a lot of eye witnesses. Five hundred voices cannot be ignored. There is also the matter of the empty tomb. The enemies of Jesus could have easily stopped all talk of the resurrection by producing His dead, decaying body, but there was no dead body for them to produce! The tomb was empty! Could the disciples have stolen His body? Hardly. To prevent such a contingency, the tomb of Jesus had been heavily guarded by armed soldiers. Considering His closest followers had fled in fear at His arrest and crucifixion, it is most unlikely this ragtag band of frightened fishermen would have gone head to head against trained, professional soldiers. Nor would they have sacrificed their lives and become martyrs—as most of them did—for a fraud. The simple fact is that the resurrection of Jesus cannot be explained away!

Again, anyone who has power over death deserves to be heard. Jesus proved His power over death; therefore, we need to hear what He says. Jesus claims to be the only way to salvation (John 14:6). He is not a way; He is not one of many ways. Jesus is the way.

And this same Jesus says, "Come to me all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). This is a tough world and life is difficult. Most of us are pretty well bloodied, bruised, and battle-scarred. Agree? So what do you want? Restoration or mere religion? A living Savior or one of many dead "prophets"? A meaningful relationship or empty rituals? Jesus is not a choice—He is the choice!

Jesus is the right "religion" if you are looking for forgiveness (Acts 10:43). Jesus is the right "religion" if you are looking for a meaningful relationship with God (John 10:10). Jesus is the right "religion" if you are looking for an eternal home in Heaven (John 3:16). Place your faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior; you will not regret it! Trust in Him for the forgiveness of your sins; you will not be disappointed.

If you want to have a "right relationship" with God, here is a sample prayer. Remember, saying this prayer or any other prayer will not save you. It is only trusting in Christ that can save you from sin. This prayer is simply a way to express to God your faith in Him and thank Him for providing for your salvation. "God, I know that I have sinned against you and am deserving of punishment. But Jesus Christ took the punishment that I deserve so that through faith in Him I could be forgiven. I place my trust in You for salvation. Thank You for Your wonderful grace and forgiveness - the gift of eternal life! Amen!"

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[Patriot]

What is the right religion for me?
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What is the right religion for me? With all of the different religions out there, how can I know which one is right for me? "I have just put my faith in Jesus...now what?" Click here: https://www.gotquestions.org/video-pr...

 

[Patriot]

What were the religious wars / wars of religion?

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Question: "What were the religious wars / wars of religion?"

Answer: The religious wars were a series of military conflicts in Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries. While the wars of religion often began as conflicts between Catholics and Protestants, there were political, economic, civil, and national reasons behind the wars as well. The European religious wars were brutal, with the combined death toll ranging from 5.5 million to 18.5 million. Some areas of Europe had more than 30 percent of their population wiped out.

The wars of religion were a series of separate but related conflicts. The primary wars were the German Peasants’ War, the Eighty Years’ War, the French Wars of Religion, and the Thirty Years’ War.

The German Peasants’ War (1524–1525) was primarily an uprising of German peasants of the Anabaptist persuasion. The peasants protested against the extreme abuses of Germany’s feudal system and sought to establish a theocracy in which Christian ideals and the commonwealth of goods would be the governing rules. The peasant rebellion was crushed by Germany’s rulers. Between 100,000 and 200,000 people were killed.

The Eighty Years’ War (1568–1648), also known as the Dutch War of Independence, was primarily a conflict between the Netherlands, which was largely Protestant, and Spain, which was largely Catholic. The Dutch had grown exceedingly frustrated with the political rule of the Spanish Habsburgs, and the enforcement of Roman Catholicism did not sit well with a populace with many Lutheran, Anabaptist, and Reformed elements. The Eighty Years’ War was ended by the Peace of Münster in 1648, but by then between 200,000 and 2 million people had been killed.

The French Wars of Religion, also known as the Huguenot Wars, were a series of massacres and battles between Roman Catholics and Reformed Protestants (known as Huguenots) in France from 1562 to 1629. The French Wars of Religion were especially brutal, with both Catholics and Protestants committing horrible atrocities and betrayals with numerous broken treaties and assassinations. The conflicts were mostly ended at the Edict of Nantes in 1598 but not concluded until the Peace of Alais in 1629. Between 2 and 4 million people were killed in the French Wars of Religion.

The Thirty Years’ War (1618–1648) was one of the deadliest conflicts in the history of Europe. It occurred almost entirely in Germany. It began due to Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II attempting to force Roman Catholicism as the exclusive religion of the territory he controlled. The Protestants, who had been enjoying relative freedom of religion, revolted and took up arms against the Holy Roman Empire. Sweden, Spain, and France joined the conflict, supporting the side that best fit their political goals. ’ War ended with the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, but not before between 3 and 12 million people were killed in the warfare and its aftermath (disease and famine).

Atheists often point to the religious wars as example of how religion is almost always the cause of war. But the wars of religion in Eud have eventually caused these wars even if religion was not involved. With that said, it cannot be denied that both Catholics and Protestants did some truly atrocious things to each other in that time period. Religion, though, cannot be blamed when its adherents do things that are diametrically opposed to its core teachings. Just like the “Christian” Crusades were absolutely in contradiction to the teachings of the Christian faith, so were the wars of religion in direct violation of the teachings of Scripture and Christian values.

Recommended Resource: Christianity Through the Centuries by Earle Cairns

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[Patriot]

What is the Jedi religion / Jediism?

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Question: "What is the Jedi religion / Jediism?"

Answer: The Star Wars saga is a cultural phenomenon. Since the release of the first film, Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, in 1977, Star Wars has gained an enormous global following. The science fiction movies (and books and comic books) relate the account of the inhabitants of an ancient galaxy and their struggle against an oppressive government. There is a quasi-religion in the Star Wars universe, too, and that religion has adherents in the real world. It’s called Jediism or “the Jedi religion.”

In the Star Wars universe, the Jedi are the main keepers of the peace and the “good guys.” The Jedi are also a monastic religious order, of sorts. They follow ancient traditions and use an unseen, mystical power called “the Force,” which supposedly binds and flows through the entire universe. The idea that the Force is real and not fantasy has led to a Jedi religion. Real-life followers of Jediism treat the fiction of Star Wars as a blueprint for a religious or philosophic belief system. A number of organizations have created everything from doctrinal creeds to training programs to take a person from Padawan (an initiate) to Jedi Master. One group, the Temple of the Jedi Order, is a registered 501c3 tax-exempt religious organization.

The Jedi religion has no centralized structure to create official beliefs. However, Jediism is always nontheistic and focused on doing good for humanity—although what is “good” is defined by the individual, since there is no absolute moral standard for a Jedi to follow. Depending on the website or organization, practitioners of Jediism may hold to the “13 Keys of the Code of the Jedi,” the “16 Teachings,” the “21 Maxims,” or any combination thereof. The teachings of the Jedi religion are based on a combination of Taoism and Buddhism and instruct Jedis in meditation, self-actualization, visualization, quieting the mind, and connecting with the Force. The Jedi religion tends to be syncretic, as most Jedi groups accept or even encourage their followers to maintain their original religious affiliation, citing tolerance and the belief that wisdom can come in many forms.

Many people take the Jedi religion seriously. Not that they believe in Darth Vader, Jawas, or a planet called Tatooine, but they see value in the idea of the Force as a religious or philosophical guide to life. Although many of the maxims of the Jedi religion are simple calls to honesty, loyalty, and integrity, the core teaching of the Force is directly contrary to the Christian worldview. Jediism’s understanding of the Force as an impersonal power that binds the universe conflicts with the Bible’s teaching of a personal Creator who actively upholds all things (Colossians 1:17). Also, the Star Wars franchise presents the Force as amoral—a power that can be harnessed and manipulated for one’s own purposes, good or evil. This concept, akin to the yin yang of Taoism, is contrary to the Bible’s clear presentation of absolute moral standards and the sovereignty of God. The Taoist and Buddhist beliefs from which the idea of the Force is drawn, the Jedi religion’s humanistic emphasis on our ability to tap into mystical power, and its denial of moral absolutes make the Jedi religion incompatible with biblical Christianity.

Recommended Resource: Encountering World Religions by Irving Hexham

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[Patriot]

What will be the end times, one-world religion?

Question: "What will be the end times, one-world religion?"

Answer: The one-world religion described in Revelation 17:1–18 as “the great harlot” will be part of the end-times scenario. The term harlot is used throughout the Old Testament as a metaphor for false religion. The actual identity and makeup of the religion has been debated for centuries and has resulted in a number of different views among Bible commentators and theologians. There are convincing arguments for the one world religion being Catholicism, Islam, the New Age movement, or some form of religion not even invented yet, and an internet search will produce many more possibilities and theories. There is no doubt that some sort of one-world religion under the false prophet will be a part of the end times, perhaps made up of a number of different religions, sects, and isms that are around today.

Revelation 17:1–18 gives us several characteristics of the one-world religion. The false religion will dominate all the “peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues” of the earth (Revelation 1b, 15), meaning that it will have universal authority, no doubt given by the Antichrist, who rules the world at that time. Verses 2–3 describe the harlot as committing adultery with the “kings of the earth,” referring to the false religion’s influence among the world’s rulers and influential people. The reference to being drunk with the wine of her adulteries may refer to those who are drunk with the power they receive from worshiping the false god of the false religion. Satan frequently ensnares those whose lust for power drives them away from the worship of the true and living God. The alliances forged by the false religion will unite church and state as never before.

Verse 6 describes the harlot as being “drunk with the blood of the saints” and the blood of those who testify of Jesus. Whether they will be martyred at the hand of the Antichrist or by being systematically starved, believers who are on the earth during the tribulation will experience the wrath of the harlot and her power source, the Antichrist. Those who oppose the worldwide religion will be killed, and those who refuse to worship the Antichrist by accepting his mark will be unable to buy and sell, thereby making survival very difficult (Revelation 13:16–17).

Eventually, the harlot will lose favor with the Antichrist, who will want to receive the world’s worship for himself. He will not share the adoration of the world with the prophets and priests of the false religion, no matter how obsequious or fawning they may be. Once the Antichrist gains the world’s amazed attention by his miraculous return from the dead (Revelation 13:3, 12, 14), he will turn on the false religious system and destroy it, establishing himself as God. The deception, Jesus tells us, will be so great that, if it were possible, even the elect would fall for it (Matthew 24:24).

Recommended Resource: End Times Prophecy by Paul Benware

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[Patriot]

Is atheism a religion?

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Question: "Is atheism a religion?"

Answer: It will be helpful to define religion before we attempt to classify any belief system, such as atheism, as a religion. These definitions come from dictionary.com:

1. A set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.

2. A specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects.

3. The body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices.

4. The practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith.

5. Something one believes in and follows devotedly; a point or matter of ethics or conscience.

According to these definitions, atheism can indeed be considered a religion.

In the Bible we discover that, when God created humankind, He designed an awareness of His existence into human nature. This awareness is not full knowledge or understanding of God; it is simply the built-in knowledge—we might call it “instinct”—that there is an eternal being, God. Paul explained it quite clearly in Romans 1:19: “For what can be known about God is plain to [unbelievers], because God has shown it to them” (ESV). Everyone—believers and unbelievers alike—knows there is a God, even though they may deny that knowledge. History gives us an example. The Athenians had an altar dedicated to a God they knew existed, did not know, and whom they knew they must worship (Acts 17:23). The Athenian altar “To the Unknown God” exhibits proof all human beings know there is a God.

God designed human beings to worship Him. When a person does not worship God, he or she will worship anything-but-God. That is what atheism is. When a man rejects God, he creates false gods to receive his worship. Mankind creates gods in their own sinful image, e.g., the Greek and Roman gods who were immoral, mendacious, venal, petty, and cruel. In more modern times, there is the Muslim god who commends dying (including by suicide) in a religious cause as the highest form of worship; and the secular humanist god who commends infanticide and euthanasia as the greatest expressions of personal freedom. Man has created gods of the stars, the planets, the sea, the wind, rivers, plants, and animals; has turned his ancestors into gods; has worshiped spirits who supposedly exist in animate and inanimate things; and has imagined that he can become a god himself.

Even the atheist creates a god he can worship. Psalm 14:1 states, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘No, God’”—the literal rendering of the Hebrew text. The fool doesn’t deny the existence of God; he rejects the authority of the one true God, replacing God with himself. In other words, he becomes his own god. He says, “No God for me!” meaning “no God but me.” J. J. Stewart Perowne writes of Psalm 14:1, “There is here rather a practical than a theoretical atheism; not so much a denial of the being of a God as a denial of His moral government of the world” (The Book of Psalms, Zondervan, 1966, 1:183–84).

Every human being knows, because of the way God designed human nature, that there is a God who must be worshiped, a God who requires submission and dependence. But the atheist refuses to submit to God and therefore rejects God. He hides his rebellion with the lie—to himself and others—that there is no God. Atheism is not disbelief in God but the rejection of God.

Is atheism actually a religion? The answer is “yes.” The atheist worships—he cannot help it—because God designed the necessity to worship into human nature. The atheist, like all who reject the one true God, creates an idol—in his case, it is an idol of himself to satisfy both the inner knowledge that there is a God and the inner necessity to worship that God. The atheist creates a religion of trust in himself that meets one or more of the above definitions of religion.

Recommended Resource: Inside the Atheist Mind by Anthony DeStefano

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Is Christianity a white man’s religion?

Question: "Is Christianity a white man’s religion?"

Answer: The charge is sometimes leveled that Christianity is a “white man’s religion,” due to the historical connections that Christianity had with the rise of European nations and the founding of the United States. This is complicated by the fact that, during the era of the African slave trade, many white slave owners claimed to be Christians and tried to use the Bible to justify their actions. Acceptance of the idea that Christianity is a white man’s religion causes some people of color to embrace non-Christian religions such as Islam, animism, and Rastafarianism.

Regardless of world history since the reign of Charlemagne, Christianity was never intended for white people only. The Bible teaches that all people are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). The first Christians were all Semitic in ethnicity and likely had light- to dark-brown skin. Christianity having been predominantly a white religion in recent centuries has nothing to do with the message of Christianity. Rather, it is due to the failure of Christians to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to the ends of the world (Matthew 28:19–20; Acts 1:8). Jesus Christ is the propitiation for the sins of the entire world—all races and nationalities (see 1 John 2:2). Spiritually, men of all races are in need of the Savior because of their shared sinful condition (Romans 5:12).

The idea that Christianity is a white man’s religion is countered in the book of Acts. When the church began, there were Africans who responded to the gospel (Acts 2:10). Philip the evangelist was called specifically to share the message of Christ with an Ethiopian official in Acts 8:26–38. This Ethiopian was saved and baptized, and the last we read of him, he “went on his way rejoicing” (verse 39). The Ethiopian Coptic Church traces its origin to the evangelistic work of the Ethiopian official in Acts 8.

The spread of the gospel in Syrian Antioch—a metropolitan city located in Asia—highlights the varied roots of the church. In fact, Antioch was the first dominant hub of Christianity once it spread beyond Jerusalem. More evidence of the strength of the Asian church is found in the number of Paul’s letters (Galatians, Ephesians, and Colossians) that were written to Asian churches, and the letters to the churches in Revelation 2–4, also written to residents of Asia.

Church leaders such as Augustine, Athanasius, and Tertullian—all from Northern Africa—demonstrate the vibrancy of Christianity in Africa. Irenaeus, Ignatius, and others demonstrate the vitality of Christianity in Asia in the first three centuries. Ethiopia, present-day Libya, Egypt, and western Asia remained firmly Christian territory until Muslim invasions in the Middle East and Africa turned it over to Islamic control. Before the arrival of Islam, many African and Asian regions were hubs of Christianity as much as Europe ever was.

Forgiveness of sin through the sacrifice of Christ, the essence of Christianity, is offered to all races, colors, creeds, and genders, to all “those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness” through Him (Romans 5:18). In giving His life as a substitute for sin, Jesus Christ purchased for God with His blood “men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9).

No, Christianity is not a white man’s religion. Christianity is not a black, brown, red, or yellow religion, either. The truth of the Christian faith is universally applicable to all people. “How true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right” (Acts 10:34–35).

Recommended Resource: Bloodlines: Race, Cross, and the Christian by John Piper

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Why is skepticism of religion so prevalent today?

Question: "Why is skepticism of religion so prevalent today?"

Answer: Religious skepticism should not be confused with outright atheism or irreligion, although atheists can be considered one type of religious skeptic. The religious skeptic may simply be someone who has serious doubts or who is noncommittal toward religion. Actually, religious skepticism is nothing new. The famous skeptics Nathaniel (John 1:45–47) and Thomas (John 20:25) were disciples of Jesus who had their doubts. Yet it does seem today that religious skepticism is growing more prevalent.

Many things have contributed to the rise of religious skepticism. One is the culture at large. For more than a millennium, the ethos of Western culture was “Christian”; that is, the Judeo-Christian worldview was respected and taught, even if it was not always lived. That began to shift during the Enlightenment (also known as the Age of Reason) in the early 1700s and continued during the Industrial Age, a time when man knew no obstacles. The cultural change accelerated in the modern and now postmodern age due, in part, to the influx of many different cultures and ways of thinking.

David Kinnaman, president of the Barna Group, writes in his book unChristian: What a new Generation Really Thinks About Christianity . . . and Why It Matters, “Many young Americans say life seems complicated—that it’s hard to know how to live with the onslaught of information, worldviews and options they are faced with every day. One of the specific criticisms young adults frequently make about Christianity is that it does not offer deep, thoughtful or challenging answers to life in a complex culture.” In other words, they see the Bible’s answers to cultural issues as too simplistic. Society is too “sophisticated” to pay attention to the “old-fashioned” mores of the Bible. They reject basic answers such as “because the Bible says so,” and they fail to see—perhaps they’ve never been taught—there are deeper reasons underlying the Bible’s mandates.

Another reason for today’s religious skepticism has to do with the practitioners of religion. Sadly, some religious people are immoral, dishonest, or just plain mean. Some skeptics have had bad experiences with religion in the past. According to the Barna Group, the biggest reason religious skepticism has grown among Millennials (those born between 1985 and 2002) rests on personal interactions with “Christians” who were truly un-Christian. Religious hypocrisy has left many disillusioned and disengaged from the faith that once solidified the Western world.

Any lack of Christlike attitudes and actions among professing believers points to a lack of personal transformation. We are called to be like Christ. But many Christians focus more on unrighteousness in the culture than self-righteousness in their own hearts. They miss the point of Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” The crucified life counters hypocrisy.

Another contributing factor to religious skepticism today is an over-reliance on empiricism. People who want everything to be “proved” beyond all doubt will naturally be skeptical of spiritual truths, which cannot be quantified, dissected, or tested in a lab. Ironically, many religious skeptics accept as gospel truth the theory of naturalistic evolution, which has never been proved, while rejecting the eyewitness accounts of Jesus’ miracles in the Gospels.

Religious skepticism can also be caused by a desire to give due consideration to all religious beliefs—and being puzzled by the conflicting beliefs the different religious systems espouse. One group says one thing about Jesus, and another group says the opposite. Other groups dispense with Jesus altogether in favor of a mesmeric guru or a cerebral philosophy or a strangely shaped rock. It’s enough to make anyone a little skeptical. Add to this confusion the wide-ranging acceptance of postmodern relativism, and it’s no surprise that there are so many religious skeptics today.

Intellectually based religious skepticism, in itself, is not bad. In fact, healthy skepticism is a good thing—we should be wary of false teaching, and we are told to “test the spirits to see whether they are from God” (1 John 4:1). A healthy, enduring faith incorporates permission to question and seek answers. God can withstand our scrutiny, and doubt does not have to equate to disbelief. God calls us to “come . . . reason together” with Him (Isaiah 1:18).

We need to “be wise in the way [we] act toward outsiders” (Colossians 4:5; see also 1 Thessalonians 4:12 and 1 Timothy 3:7), and we must engage skeptics in dialogue leading to the truth. The apostle Peter says, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15). He immediately follows that command with instruction on how to engage the questioner: “Do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander” (1 Peter 3:15–16). Humility and respect are crucial in dealing with skeptics in our postmodern age.

Recommended Resource: The Master’s Plan for the Church by John MacArthur

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What religion was Jesus?

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Question: "What religion was Jesus?"

Answer: Jesus was born into a Jewish family who followed Jewish law (Luke 2:27). Jesus’ lineage is from the tribe of Judah, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. He was born in the Jewish town of Bethlehem and raised in Nazareth. Jesus was fully immersed in Jewish culture, nationality, and religion.

Jesus practiced the religion of first-century Judaism. He was “born under the law” (Galatians 4:4) and grew up learning the Torah and following its precepts. He perfectly obeyed the Mosaic Law—all the commandments, ordinances, and feasts (Hebrews 4:14–16). He not only obeyed the Law; He fulfilled it and brought its requirements to a close (Matthew 5:17–18; Romans 10:4).

Jesus and His disciples observed the Passover (John 2:13, 23; Luke 22:7–8) and the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7:2, 10). He kept an unnamed Jewish feast in John 5:1. He attended worship services and taught in synagogues (Mark 1:21; 3:1; John 6:59; 18:20). He advised others to observe the Law of Moses and offer sacrifices (Mark 1:44). He promoted respect for the Law as it was being taught by the scribes and Pharisees of His day (Matthew 23:1–3). He quoted the Tanakh often (e.g., Mark 12:28–31; Luke 4:4, 8, 12). In all of this, Jesus showed that His religion was Judaism.

As Jesus spoke to a group of Jews, He issued a bold challenge to them: “Can any of you prove me guilty of sin?” (John 8:46). If Jesus had in any way departed from the religious observances of Judaism, His enemies would have immediately seized this opportunity to condemn Him. As it was, Jesus had a knack for silencing His critics (Matthew 22:46).

Jesus had many harsh words for the leaders within His own religion. It’s important to remember that Jesus’ condemnation of the Pharisees, scribes, and Sadducees (Matthew 23) was not a condemnation of the Law or of the Judaism of the day. Jesus’ denunciations of hypocrites, corrupt officials, and the self-righteous were in sharp contrast to His commendation of those who were devout before God and lived out their faith honestly (see Luke 21:1–4). Jesus spoke out against certain religious leaders because “they teach man-made ideas as commands from God” (Matthew 15:9, NLT). On two occasions, Jesus cleared the temple of thieving, rapacious sinners (John 2:14–17; Matthew 21:12–13). These actions were not designed to destroy Judaism but to purify it.

Jesus was an observant Jew who perfectly followed the Law. His death brought an end to the Old Covenant God had made with Israel—shown in the tearing of the temple veil (Mark 15:38)—and established the New Covenant (Luke 22:20). The early church was rooted in Judaism and Jewish messianism, and the earliest believers in Christ were mostly Jews. But as the believers proclaimed the risen Jesus as the Messiah, the unbelieving Jews rejected them, and they were forced to make a clean break from Judaism (see Acts 13:45–47).

Jesus was the Messiah that the Jews had been anticipating. He was born into the religion of Judaism, fulfilled the Jewish religion, and, when His own rejected Him, He gave His life as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. His blood ratified the New Covenant, and, soon after His death, Judaism lost its temple, its priesthood, and its sacrifices.

Recommended Resource: The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, Updated Edition by Alfred Edersheim

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Is the Catholic Church a separate religion or a division of Christianity?

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Question: "Is the Catholic Church a separate religion or a division of Christianity?"

Answer: The Roman Catholic Church considers itself the only “true” church and traces its beginnings to Jesus and the apostles. It maintains that all other denominations or branches of Christianity are aberrant and have fallen away from the true teachings of the “mother church” and therefore from Christianity. But is this true? Our website contains many articles related to Catholicism, its origins, and practices. So this article will deal specifically with whether or not the Catholic Church is, in fact, Christian or a separate religion altogether.

Christianity, considered as a major world religion, has several branches: Catholicism, Orthodoxy, and Protestantism. Defined this way, Catholicism is one division of Christianity. But true biblical Christianity is not a religion in the sense that one “joins” it by becoming a member of an organization. Jesus simplified what it means to be a Christian when He told Nicodemus that one must be “born again” (John 3:3). That new birth is an individual experience between God and a repentant heart and is not dependent in any way upon a priest’s blessing, baptism, or any other outward action we take. Ephesians 2:8–9 is clear that salvation is by grace through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as full payment for our sin. When we enter into that saving relationship with God, we become “new creatures” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Our new nature is not a slave to sin as we once were (John 8:34; Romans 6:16). This new nature produces righteous living, not in order to become saved, but because we have been saved (1 John 3:7–10).

In the Catholic Church, many extra-biblical practices have been added that create a different religion out of Christianity. While those who consider themselves Catholic can also be truly born again, one does not inherit eternal life by being a good Catholic (Titus 3:5–7). One can be a Christian in spite of being Catholic, just as one can be a Christian in spite of church attendance of any kind. However, Catholic teaching has gone far awry from strict adherence to the Bible, adding human ideas and “teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Mark 7:7). The Pharisees of Jesus’ day had done the same thing with God’s Law, and it appears that Catholic tradition follows more closely in the footsteps of the Pharisees than those of the apostles.

One of the most blatant examples of the Catholic Church becoming a separate religion is in their extreme overemphasis on the importance of Mary, practically treating her a fourth member of the Trinity. Scripture tells us very little about the woman chosen to bear the Son of God (see Luke 1: 26–56; 2:16–52), yet Catholic doctrine has recreated Mary and given her an exalted place that the Bible never implies. Pope Leo XIII wrote, “By the will of God, Mary is the intermediary through whom is distributed unto us this immense treasure of mercies gathered by God, for mercy and truth were created by Jesus Christ. Thus as no man goeth to the Father but by the Son, so no man goeth to Christ but by His Mother” (Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII, On the Rosary, Octobri mense, September 22, 1891).

Jesus never said any such thing about coming to Him through Mary. Instead, Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Jesus declared that no one comes to the heavenly Father except through Him (John 14:6). Every bit of Jesus’ communication was related to His oneness with the heavenly Father, not His earthly mother (Matthew 11:27; Luke 10:22; John 7:28–29). His only references to His mother actually relegated her to the level of everyone else (Mark 3:32–34) and also assured that she would be taken care of after His ascension to His Father (John 19:27). That’s it. Nothing about venerating Mary or praying through her. If Pope Leo’s words were accurate, wouldn’t Jesus have told us so?

Pope John Paul II added to the heretical deification of Mary. Quoting Pope Pius XII, he said, “Preserved free from all guilt of original sin, the Immaculate Virgin was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory upon the completion of her earthly sojourn. She was exalted by the Lord as Queen of the Universe” (Encyclical of Pope John Paul II, On the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Life of the Pilgrim Church, Redemptoris Mater, March 25, 1987; cf. Pope Pius XII, Apostolic Constitution Munificentissimus Deus, November 1, 1950). The Bible does, in fact, refer to the “queen of the heavens,” but it is in rebuke of the idolatrous Israelites for offering sacrifices to other gods (Jeremiah 7:18). The teaching that Mary is the Queen of the Universe is idolatry, although the Roman Catholic Church does not want to see it that way. At the very least, the statement of Pope Pius and Pope John Paul is complete fabrication and a departure from true biblical Christianity.

Another strong departure from orthodox Christianity is the Catholic insistence that an earthly priest is necessary as an intermediary between us and God. According to the The Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent: Canons Concerning the Most Holy Sacrament of Penance, “If anyone denies that sacramental confession was instituted by divine law or is necessary to salvation; or says that the manner of confessing secretly to a priest alone . . . is at variance with the institution and command of Christ and is a human contrivance, let him be anathema” (Canon VI). The official Catholic teaching, then, is that people who do not confess their sins to a human priest cannot be saved and are, in fact, cursed for eternity. This doctrine contradicts 1 Timothy 2:5, which could not be clearer in renouncing the Catholic doctrines of Mary and the priesthood: “There is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.”

While there are sincere Catholics who love the Lord and do not worship Mary or the pope, the doctrines themselves suggest a separate, works-based religion rather than a simple denomination within Christianity. This departure from truth is nothing new. When Paul and Barnabas were in Antioch, “certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: ‘Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved’” (Acts 15:1). These false teachers had mixed grace with works and were creating an aberrant faith that was leading many astray. The Catholic Church has done the same by creating a religion filled with laws, sacraments, and the undue adulation of other human beings—things God never sanctioned. None of us have the right to add to or take away from the revealed Word of God or the sacrifice of Christ Jesus on our behalf, and to do so creates a false religion.

Recommended Resource: Reasoning from the Scriptures with Catholics by Ron Rhodes

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What is natural religion?

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Question: "What is natural religion?"

Answer: Natural religion is an approach to God that dispenses with the need for miracles, sacred texts, or supernatural concepts, relying instead on human reason and experience. It is “natural” religion as opposed to “supernatural” religion. Natural religion, or natural theology, seeks to know God through rational analysis, approaching theology as a scientific endeavor to be explored through reason and the five senses.

There are three ways in which God has revealed Himself, but natural religion only accepts the reality of one. The first way God has revealed Himself is called ontological revelation, which involves God becoming human in Jesus: “God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).

The second method of God’s revelation is termed special revelation and is represented by the Bible, which delivers God’s message of salvation and more to the world: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God a may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16–17).

The third mode of revelation is labeled general revelation, in which God reveals Himself in creation, along with the effects He has produced. Of general revelation, Thomas Aquinas wrote, “From every effect the existence of its proper cause can be demonstrated. . . . If the effect exists, the cause must pre-exist. Hence the existence of God . . . can be demonstrated from those of His effects which are known to us” (from Summa Theologiae I, Article 2). It is general revelation that is the sole basis for natural theology.

David speaks of the value of general revelation when he writes, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them” (Psalm 19:1–3).

The apostle Paul states that, on the basis of natural theology, everyone can know of the existence and power of God: “That which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:19–20, NASB, emphasis added).

Because an effect must resemble its cause, and a cause can only give what it already possesses, a person “clearly sees” God’s “invisible attributes” by observing creation and reasoning back to the Creator. Natural theology, based on reason and observation, argues that whatever brought everything into existence must possess the following attributes:

Supernatural (because it created the natural) — Genesis 1:1
Powerful (incredibly) — Jeremiah 32:17
Eternal or self-existent — Psalm 90:2
Omnipresent (it created space and is not limited by it) — Psalm 139:7
Timeless and changeless (because it created time) — Malachi 3:6
Immaterial (because it transcends space/physical) — John 5:24
Purposeful/personal (defined as “having intent”) — Genesis 3:9; Jeremiah 29:11
Necessary (as everything else depends on it) — Colossians 1:17
Infinite and singular as you cannot have two infinites — Jeremiah 23:24; Deuteronomy 6:4
Diverse yet unified (as unity in diversity exists) — Matthew 28:19
Intelligent (supremely) — Psalm 147:4–5
Moral (moral laws require a moral lawgiver) — Daniel 9:14
Caring (or no moral laws would have been given) — 1 Peter 5:6–7

Of course, natural theology dismisses the need for biblical support, but we have provided it here to show that an objective critique of general revelation will lead to conclusions congruent with God’s special revelation. Far from being a “God of the gaps” argument, natural theology attempts to use reason, logic, and more to determine the cause (God) ultimately behind everything that exists. Natural religion, so far as it goes, can be helpful in apologetics; however, mankind will never “reason” their way to salvation. We need God’s special revelation and the work of the Holy Spirit for that.

Recommended Resource: The Moody Handbook of Theology by Paul Enns

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Why is Christianity such a bloody religion?

Question: "Why is Christianity such a bloody religion?"

Answer: To understand why Christianity is a “bloody religion,” we must go back to God’s declarations regarding blood in the Old Testament: “the life of the flesh is in the blood” (Leviticus 17:11, 14). Here God tells us that life and blood are essentially one and the same. The blood carries life-sustaining nutrients to all parts of the body. It represents the essence of life. In contrast, the shedding of blood represents the shedding of life, i.e. death.

Blood is also used in the Bible to represent spiritual life. When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden by disobeying God and eating fruit of the forbidden tree, they experienced spiritual death immediately, and physical death years later. God’s warning, “You shall not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. For in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die” (Genesis 2:17) was fulfilled. Their blood—their lives—were now tainted by sin. In His gracious plan, however, God provided a “way out” of their dilemma by declaring that sacrifices of blood, first the blood of animals and finally the blood of the Lamb of God (Jesus Christ), would be sufficient to cover the sin of fallen mankind and restore us to spiritual life. He instituted the sacrificial system, beginning with the animals He himself killed to provide the first garments, thereby “covering” the sin of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:21). All the Old Testament sacrifices which followed from then on were temporary ones, needing to be repeated over and over. These continual sacrifices were a foreshadowing of the one true and final sacrifice, Christ, whose blood shed on the cross would pay the penalty of sin forever. His death made any further bloodshed unnecessary (Hebrews 10:1-10).

As far as Christianity being a bloody religion, it is. But it is uniquely a bloody religion. Contrary to bloodless religions, it takes sin seriously, indicating that God takes sin seriously and gives a death penalty for it. Sin is not a small matter. It is the simple sin of pride that turned Lucifer into a demon. It was the simple sin of jealousy that caused Cain to slay Abel, etc. And in Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit, they believed the deceiver over a good and loving God, choosing to rebel against His love and denying the goodness of His character. Christianity is a bloody religion because it views sin as a holy God views it—seriously.

Also, because God is just, sin requires a penalty. God cannot merely forgive in mercy until the demands of justice have been met. Thus the need for a sacrifice before forgiveness is possible. The shedding of the blood of animals, as Hebrews points out, could only "cover" sin for a time (Hebrews 10:4) until the intended and sufficient sacrifice was made in Christ’s atoning death. Thus, Christianity is different from other bloody religions in that it alone provides a sufficient sacrifice to take care of the sin problem.

Last, although Christianity presents a bloody sacrifice in these regards, it is the only religion that is bloodless in the end. The opposite of death is life. In Jesus’ death, He brought life as is shown in so many verses. And in trusting Christ and His atoning sacrifice for one’s sins, one is saved from death and has passed into life (John 5:24; 1 John 3:14). In Him is life. All other paths lead to death (Acts 4:16; John 14:6).

Recommended Resource: God the Son Incarnate: The Doctrine of Christ by Stephen Wellum

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What is Tantra / Tantrism / Tantric religion?

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Question: "What is Tantra / Tantrism / Tantric religion?"

Answer: Tantra, also called Tantrism or Tantric religion, is an umbrella concept within Hinduism. Yoga, mantras, the construction of mandalas, visualization, and many other Hindu practices are all part of the larger whole, which is Tantra. To a follower of Hinduism, Tantra is simply an attempt to connect to the divine, to achieve a higher state of consciousness, and to channel divine energy through the human body. Tanta uses rituals to integrate the body, soul, spirit, emotions, will, and mind into a perfect union. It seeks to enlighten both the spiritual and physical aspects of a person.

Hindu scholar David Gordon White defined Tantra this way: “Tantra is that Asian body of beliefs and practices which, working from the principle that the universe we experience is nothing other than the concrete manifestation of the divine energy of the godhead that creates and maintains that universe, seeks to ritually appropriate and channel that energy, within the human microcosm, in creative and emancipatory ways” (Tantra in Practice, Princeton University Press, 2000, p. 9).

There are some key differences between Tantric religion/Tantrism and biblical Christianity. Tantra teaches the existence of chakras and kundalini energy, which are unbiblical concepts, and it promotes yoga and occult rituals, which no Christian should be involved in. Tantra promises to emancipate humanity, but Jesus said only the truth will set us free (John 8:32). Tantra’s concept of divine energy is impersonal and can be manipulated for one’s own purposes; the Bible teaches that God is personal and cannot be manipulated at all (Psalm 59:8).

In Hinduism there is no set of laws or traditions followed by every Hindu, and there is no religious authority or any authoritative holy books. A Hindu can choose his own path to the divine, be it pantheistic, monotheistic, atheistic, or humanist. For this reason, any comprehensive definition of Tantra or Tantric religion is difficult to achieve. Christianity, on the other hand, is the opposite. There is one holy book—the Bible—that is the absolute truth and authority. There is one God, and one way to God—salvation through Jesus Christ (John 14:6).

A person who trusts Jesus for eternal salvation is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, who teaches, guides, and sanctifies the believer (John 15:26; Hebrews 10:14). The Holy Spirit is a Person and abides with men in a personal way (John 14:26). In contrast, Tantra’s concept of the divine in men is an impersonal, non-salvific force that can be accessed (or not) by various rituals, sacrifices, sex rites, and various other methods. The connection to the impersonal divine, in Tantric religion, is laid on man’s shoulders. If he or she wishes to connect to the divine, he or she must work at it.

Tantra offers no sure, absolute guarantee of success. Tantrists strive to connect to the divine, but there is no way to know for sure that they are connected or that the connection will be maintained. Tantra’s divine power ebbs and flows and is as impersonal and uncaring as the ocean tide. Jesus Christ’s power is absolute and unchanging, and He offers to save all those who call on Him for salvation (Romans 10:13).

Recommended Resource: Encountering World Religions by Irving Hexham

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[Patriot]

What was Abraham’s religion before God called him?

Question: "What was Abraham’s religion before God called him?"

Answer: Abraham is called the friend of God, the father of the Jews, and the father of the faithful. He is honored by Jews, Muslims, and Christians as a great man, but what religion did he follow before being called by Yahweh?

Abraham was born and raised in Ur of the Chaldees, which is in modern Iraq, near Nasiriyah in the southeastern part of the country. Joshua 24:2 says that Abraham and his father worshiped idols. We can make some educated guesses about their religion by looking at the history and religious artifacts from that period.

Ur of the Chaldees was an ancient city that flourished until about 300 BC. The great ziggurat of Ur was built by Ur-Nammu around 2100 BC and was dedicated to Nanna, the moon god. The moon was worshiped as the power that controlled the heavens and the life cycle on earth. To the Chaldeans, the phases of the moon represented the natural cycle of birth, growth, decay, and death and also set the measurement of their yearly calendar. Among the pantheon of Mesopotamian gods, Nanna was supreme, because he was the source of fertility for crops, herds, and families. Prayers and offerings were offered to the moon to invoke its blessing.

When God called Abraham (then called Abram) in Genesis 12:1, He told Abraham to leave his country, his kindred, and his father’s house. Everything familiar was to be left behind, and that included his religion. We do not know what Abraham knew about the true God at that point, but it is likely that he had received some instruction from his father, as each generation passed down their history to the next. As a worshiper of other gods, Abraham must have been surprised to receive a direct revelation from Yahweh. The moon god and other deities were distant objects of worship, and they did not personally interact with men. Abraham obeyed God’s call, and, when he arrived in the land of Canaan, he built an altar to Yahweh at Shechem (Genesis 12:7). The text indicates that God’s appearance to Abraham was a deciding factor in his choosing to worship Him. Hebrews 11:8 says that Abraham’s departure from Ur was an example of faith in action.

Abraham continued to learn about this God he now worshiped, and in Genesis 14:22, following the example of Melchizedek, Abraham calls Yahweh “the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.” This statement shows that Abraham set Yahweh above and apart from the moon god. His decision to worship God alone was settled in Genesis 17, when God established the covenant of circumcision with him. God appeared to Abraham, saying, “I am God Almighty, walk before me, and be blameless” (Genesis 17:1). In verse 7 God said the covenant He established with Abraham was to be everlasting and that He alone was to be God to Abraham and his offspring. Abraham chose to follow God alone, and he demonstrated his commitment by circumcising every male in his household.

Though Abraham forsook moon worship, the worship of heavenly objects became a continual problem with his descendants. Many times in the Old Testament, God rebuked the children of Abraham for their idolatry and renewed His call to worship Him alone. In Deuteronomy 17:2–5, God specified the punishment for idolatry—death by stoning. Moses described idolatry as doing what is evil in the sight of God and transgressing His covenant. Much later, King Hoshea of Israel was defeated and the people taken captive. Second Kings 17:16 says the defeat happened because the people “bowed down to all the starry hosts.” In 2 Kings 23:4–5 King Josiah of Judah led a revival of Yahweh worship and deposed the false priests who burned incense to the sun, moon, and stars.

God Almighty, creator of heaven and earth, wants people to worship Him, not the things He created. In Romans 1:18–20, we are told, “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” When we worship creation instead of the Creator, we exchange the truth about God for a lie (Romans 1:25) and reject what God has revealed about everything in life. God saved Abraham out of idolatry, changed his name, and called him to follow Him. As a result of God’s blessings to Abraham, the whole world is blessed (Genesis 18:18).

Recommended Resource: Genesis - NIV Application Commentary by John Walton

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[Patriot]

Is it wrong to force a conversion?

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Question: "Is it wrong to force a conversion? What role should coercion play in religion?"

Answer: Forced conversion is the use of pressure, force, or threat to make someone abandon his or her beliefs for those of another religion. Forced conversion results in the adoption of a different religion (or the abandonment of all religion) under duress. Forced conversion is prominent in some religions, cults, and totalitarian governments, but it’s easy to address from a Christian point of view.

Simply put, forced conversion is wrong. Growing the ranks of a religion should not involve any type of coercion. Often, forced conversion doesn’t even work: those who are forced into a different religion may act like a convert outwardly but secretly remain loyal to their former religion.

It is impossible to become a Christian as a result of force or duress. It may be possible to force someone to engage in a religious ceremony or mouth words to a prayer, but being a Christian is not about ceremony or perfunctory prayers. It’s about being born again by the Spirit of God, and no amount of human pressure can force the Spirit’s hand. God knows the heart. Regeneration cannot be externally imposed.

Some religious leaders in history have taken up the sword to compel people to join their ranks, but not Jesus. He laid down His life and invites us to follow Him. His kingdom functions differently from what the world is used to. Jesus told Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place” (John 18:36).

Forced conversion also contradicts the free will that God has given each of us. We extend the invitation to all to be saved, but we do not constrain them. We recognize that people must repent and believe on their own, as the Holy Spirit works in their hearts (see John 16:8). Jesus alluded to the sinner’s free will as He spoke to a rebellious Jerusalem: “How often I have longed to gather your children together, . . . and you were not willing” (Luke 13:34, emphasis added).

In Acts 16 Paul and Silas meet a man in the Greek city of Philippi who asks an important question about salvation. We know at least three things about this man: he was a jailer, he was a pagan, and he was desperate. He had been on the verge of suicide when Paul stopped him. And that’s when the man asks, “What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30).

The very fact that the man asks the question shows that he recognized his need of salvation—he saw only death for himself, and he knew he needed help. The fact that he asks Paul and Silas shows that he believed they had the answer. That answer comes swiftly and simply: “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). The passage goes on to show that the man’s life began displaying a difference right away. Note that the man’s conversion was based on faith (“Believe”). He had to trust Jesus and nothing else. His faith included a belief that Jesus died for sin and rose again, because that was the message that Paul and Silas had been preaching (see Romans 10:9–10 and 1 Corinthians 15:1–4). The salvation of the Philippian jailer was anything but a forced conversion; rather, it was based on his own personal desire and a choice to place his faith in Christ.

To convert to Christianity, we must believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died for sin and rose again. We must agree with God that we are sinners in need of salvation, and we must trust in Jesus alone to save. When we do this, God promises to save us and give us the Holy Spirit, who will make us new creations. Being a Christian is having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ that results in the forgiveness of sins and eternity in heaven. Something like that cannot be forced. True religion is not coerced.

Recommended Resource: God the Son Incarnate: The Doctrine of Christ by Stephen Wellum

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