Transcript Comparitive Religions Slides

Memory Scriptures
Philippians 4:13
I can do everything through him who
gives me strength.
1 Timothy 4:12
Don’t let anyone look down on you
because you are young, but set an
example for the believers in speech, in
life, in love, in faith and in purity
New Scriptures
Hebrews 10:26-27
Hebrews 12:11
Comparative Religions
Purpose/Goal
To answer questions about man’s
existence
Why?
What is our purpose?
Dogma vs Beliefs
What happens to us in the end?
Zoroastrianism and Dualism
Zoroaster
6th C. BC
Official religion of Persia (Cyrus
Ahura Mazda vs. Angra Mainyu
Good vs. Evil
Day of Judgment
Saoshyant – Messianic figure
50,000 to 70,000 followers today
Zoroastrianism to Christianity
Zoroaster
Dualism
Magi
Man makes choice
to do good or evil
Day of Judgment
Saoshyant
Jesus
One God
No way but through
Jesus John 14:6
Blood of Christ leads
to Salvation Romans
3:24-25
Day of Judgment
Characteristics of Islam
Muhammad A.D. 622
1.3 Billion followers
One God – Allah
Qur’an/Hadith (traditions)
Salvation through the confession of faith and
following the five pillars
Paradise or Hell
Mahdi (messianic figure)
Confession of Faith
1 – Belief in Allah as one God, the only
God
2 – Muhammad is the last prophet of
God
3 – Believe in the resurrection of the
soul and body and the coming day of
judgment
Five Pillars of Islam
1 – Pray 5 times a day facing Mecca
2 – Ramadan (a month of fasting from
sunup until sundown
3 – Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca)
4 – Alms (giving of 1/5 of income for
charity
5 – Do good/prevent bad
Chart Comparing Islam and
Christianity
Allah
Muhammad last
prophet
Salvation is through
confession of faith
and following 5
pillars
Day of Judgment
God
Jesus is way to
Salvation
Works are a result
of grace not a way
to Salvation
Day of Judgment
Judaism
Monotheistic – Yahweh
Abraham (Semitic people – related to
Arab peoples)
Jews trace descent through Isaac
Five Important Characteristics
of Judaism
1
2
3
4
5
–
–
–
–
–
Absolute obedience to God
Covenants
Messianic Salvation
This World Focused
Yahweh is true creator
Evolution of Old Testament
Mosaic Law = Torah
Prophets = Neviim
Writings = Ketuvim
TaNaKh = Tanakh
Judaism to Christianity
Yahweh
Law of Moses
Synagogue
Focus is on receiving
reward in this world
Still awaiting
Messianic Salvation
God
Salvation through
Grace via Jesus
Focus is on eternity
Awaiting the Second
Coming and the Day
of Judgment
Characteristics of Hinduism
Monotheistic, polytheistic, pantheistic,
atheistic
One supreme reality (Brahman) can be
manifested in many ways
Salvation is obtained by breaking the bonds
of ignorance and illusion
Goal is liberation from the cycle of existence
Dharma – social duties that all must perform
in accordance with their class before the
withdraw from this world
Chart Comparing Hinduism
and Christianity
Eclectic
Salvation is obtained
through meditation
leading to a breaking of
the bonds of ignorance
and illusion
Must perform social
duties before
attempting to withdraw
from world
Monotheistic
Salvation through
Jesus
Works are proof of
Jesus as Lord, not a
way to Salvation
Must live in this
world while not
being of this world
Characteristics of Buddhism
Atheistic there is no god/gods
Life has no purpose
Only hope is to escape suffering
Doomed to be reincarnated
Salvation is obtained by becoming nonexistent
Actions have consequences
Chart Comparing Buddhism and Christianity
Buddhism
Christianity
No God
Personal God who wants
man to seek a
relationship with him
Jeremiah 29:11-14.
Life has no purpose –
Humans are trapped in an
endless cycle of birth,
death, and rebirth
(reincarnation).
Every human action
carries consequences –
good deeds lead to a
better life in the next
cycle.
Man has been given a
special purpose Matthew
28:18.
Man cannot save himself
through his actions, but
only through the blood of
Jesus Romans 5:9
Conclusions
Only Christianity allows for Salvation through
Grace
Only Christianity shows God reaching out to
man
Other religions Salvation is earned through
obedience to deity, laws, or by works of man
Only Christianity offers a free choice to be
saved no matter one’s previous condition.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory
of God. Sin is forgiven and forgotten