Transcript Apologetics and World Religions

Apologetics and World
Religions
ARS
John Oakes, PhD and
Dan Conder
May 28,29 2010
Course Outline
A. Introduction to the Topic and Definitions
B. Christianity: What are we comparing to? The Christian
world view.
C. Eastern Religions: Pantheism/Monism
– Hindism
– Buddhism
– Taoism, Jaina, Confucianism, Shinto, Sikkhism
D. Other Monotheisms
– Islam
– Judaism
– Bahai
E. Scientology, Christian Science and other strange religions
F. Pseudo-Christian Religions
– Mormonism
– Jehovah’s Witnes
– Seventh Day Adventism
G. Roman Catholicism
Class Requirements

Reading Assignment
– Required Reading


The Illustrated Guide to World Religions by Michael D.
Coogan Oxford University Press.
Essay: Apologetics and the Christian World View J. Oakes
http://www.evidenceforchristianity.org/index.php?option=com_cus
tom_content&task=view&id=5125
– Suggested/Supplemental Reading for Extra Credit








The Compact Guide to World Religions Dean C. Halverson.
Answering Islam Geissler and Saleeb
Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus Brown
The Qur’an
Etc.
Final Exam (essays, mostly)
Visit at least two of the following: mosque, temple,
shrine, or etc. (and write a brief report).
Submit an approx 6 page paper on an approved topic.
A. What is Religion?



From the Latin: ligate—to tie or bind to the gods
Webster: Any system of faith or worship: the
outward manifestation of belief in a supreme or
superior being.
From my SCI 110 class:
– Religion is a belief in something
– The belief is not necessarily substantiated by physical or
material evidence
– Religious knowledge is obtained through holy writings,
authority, revelations and religious experiences
– Religious believers have faith in such knowledge

Practical Definition: I don’t know what religion is,
but I sure know one when I see one.
Things we will not cover

Various Philosophies
– Postmodernism, Secular Humanism,
Scientism/naturalism, Existentialism, Marxism,
Stoicism, Epicureanism, neo-Platonism

More obscure religions
– Iglesia de Cristo (Philippines) Falun Gong (China)
Unification Church (Sun Myung Moon) Paganism/Wicca
Zoroastianism, Manichaeism, Santaria, etc.
What About Cults?

Webster:
– 1. A cult is a particular ritual or system of worship.
– 2. Involves devoted or extravagant homage or
adoration of some figure.
– A strong negative connotation in the US.
– Is the Unification Church (Moonies) a cult?
– What about Falun Gong? (1999 declared an “evil cult”
by PRC)
– What about Mormons?
– Suggestion: Let’s not use this word.
Definitions



Animism: Anima = spirit. A religious system which
includes the belief that spirits inhabit inanimate objects
and phenomena.
Polytheism: Poly = many. A belief that the universe is
governed by many gods.
Pantheism (monism): Pan = all. A belief that a spirit
fills the universe. God is the universe, and we are part
of God.
– Panentheism: God is in everything (stoicism)

Dualism: A belief that the universe is governed by
nearly equally matched forces of good and evil.
(Zoroastrianism, Manicaeism, Taoism)
Definitions (cont.)




Deism: A belief in a distant, uninvolved God who is
creator, but does not interact with his creation.
(Epicureanism)
Monotheism: A belief that the universe is
created/governed by a single
omnipotent/omniscient/omnipresent spiritual being.
Asceticism: A belief that enlightenment or a close
relationship with deity is obtained by an extreme
denial of worldly pleasures and possessions.
Associated with monasteries, monks, nuns, etc..
Mysticism: A belief which sees enlightenment and
spiritual power coming through meditation/direct
personal experience of God. Mystical experience may
be gained through use of drugs, drumming, dance,
etc. A highly individualized form of religion.
Other important concepts



Scripture: The list of primary authoritative
writings for a particular religion.
Inspiration: The belief that a particular
writing, edict or tradition comes by direct
communication from divinity, and is
therefore perfect and authoritative.
Myth: A story, presumably fictionalized,
about a divine interaction with human
beings which teaches an important religious
truth.
Jesus Christ: “I came to testify to the truth.”
Pontius Pilate: “What is truth?”
One Point of View:
“Wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and
many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that
leads to life, and only a few find it.”
-Jesus of Nazareth (Matthew
7:13-14)
I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except
through me.
Jesus of Nazareth (John 14:6)
Another Point
of View:
Different Paths
to the Same
Goal?
God
Islam
Mysticism
Ba’hai
Buddhis
m
Are all religions simply “different paths to the same goal?




There is some similarity between most or all
religions.
All man-made religions contain truth.
But…. On the most basic level of theology, all other
religions (except Judaism?) are incommensurate
with Christianity
If Hinduism is right, then Jesus Christ is a deceiver
and an enemy of truth.
The Bible and Other World Views


If Genesis 1:1 is true, then animism, polytheism,
pantheism, dualism, naturalism, deism,
postmodernism and every other ism is false.
Conflicting world views cannot be accommodated
with one another. Biblical theism is incompatable
with all these other world views.
How, then, should we interact with members of other
religions?

Find common ground.

Give respect where respect is due.



Acknowledge the good and do not make personal
attacks—especially toward revered people.
Highlight distinctions in world view/theology and
introduce them to Jesus Christ.
This is EXACTLY what Paul did in Acts 17:22-34
The Bible and Other World Views (cont.)

Acts 17:16-34 Paul shares the gospel by
arguing for the Christian World View.
– v. 22-23 Paul finds common ground.
– v. 24-28 Paul argues for the superiority and the
truth of the Christian world view as opposed to
Epicureanism/pantheism and Stoicism/deism
– v. 28 Paul quotes from Aretas a Stoic philosopher.
“ For we are his offspring.”
– v. 29-31 Having laid the groundwork, Paul points
them to Jesus.
– v. 32-34 Some, but not all were converted.
Acts 17:16-34 Paul confronts Greek World Views

God is Creator. He exists outside creation.
– Disproves pantheism/Stoicism.

God is close to us.
– Disproves deism/Epicureanism.


God is personal and has given us an
individual purpose.
God will bring all of us to judgment. Evil
will be defeated
– Disproves dualism/Gnosticism.
B. Christianity: The Christian World View



A Jain World
View
One's world view is the
perspective one uses to
process and interpret
information received about
the world.
James W. Sire put it this
way, "A world view is a set
of presuppositions (ie.
assumptions) which we hold
about the basic makeup of
our world."
James W. Sire, The Universe Next
Door (InterVarsity Press, 1997)
A “Good” World View Defined
A. It is true.
It is consistent with reality.
It is consistent with what we know to be true from experience. It
works.
B. It answers satisfactorily the questions people really want
answered.
What is prime reality/the ultimate cause/the nature of God?)
What is the nature of external reality-the world around us?
What is a human being?
What happens to a person at death?
Why is it possible for us to know anything at all?
How do we know what is right and wrong?
What is the meaning of human history?
What is my purpose?
What is the nature of my relationship, with the "prime reality?"
C. It causes those who hold to it to be better people than
they would otherwise have been if they held to competing
alternative world views.
The Christian World View
1. The physical world is: a. real
b. created out of nothing
(ex nihilo) and c. essentially good.
2. There exists an unseen spiritual reality which is not limited
to or defined by the physical reality. Human beings have a
spiritual aspect to their nature.
3. The creator of both the physical and spiritual realm is the
God who reveals himself in the Bible.
4. Human beings have both a physical and a spiritual nature,
The spiritual nature is more essential as it is eternal.
5. God is not easily defined but he can be characterized by
certain qualities. God is a person. God is love, God is just,
God is holy, God is omniscient, omnipotent and
omnipresent.
The Christian World View (cont.)
6. Although all God’s creation, including the physical world is
good, evil does exist. Such evil is the result of freedom of
will given to created beings and their subsequent decision
to use that freedom to rebel--to “sin”
7. Because of God’s justice and his holiness, those who
choose to rebel against him will ultimately be judged and
separated from God for eternity.
8. The solution to evil, to sin and its eternal consequences is
provided by God through the atoning substitutionary
sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Our job in the rest of this course is to compare this world
view to that of other religions and to analyze which is the
“best” world view.
C. Eastern Religions









Hinduism
Buddhism
Jaina
Taoism
Confucianism
Shinto
Sikkhism
Zoroastrianism
Western Monism: New Age Religions
HINDUISM





The principle religion of India.
Approximately 1,000,000,000
adherents.
Began as animism/polytheism
Evolved into
polytheism/pantheism
Syncretistic. Hinduism is not
really a single religion.
Ganesh: a Hindu deity
God of wisdom and
intellect
History of Hinduism



Aryan invasions about 1500 BC
Early animistic religions of Indian subcontinent
merged with Aryan/Persian religion
Gradually, a huge pantheon of gods distilled down
to the chief deities, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva
Principle gods of Hinduism


Brahma Chief god of the pantheon.
Shiva God of destruction. Worshipped
as a male phalus.

Vishnu Preserver and protector.

Krishna



Lakshmi
The eighth emanation of Vishna.
Rama Seventh incarnation of Vishna. Hero of the
Ramayana.
Devi Chief female deity. The power (shakti) that animates
the cosmos.
Lakshmi Female consort of Vishnu. Godess of prosperity.
Krishna, Incarnation of deity
Rama, Hero of the Ramayana
Scriptures of Hinduism





Vedas Poems. Ritualistic, priestly. 1500-1000 BC.
Especially the Rig Veda. Include the Brahmanas.
Upanishads Highly philosophical essays about
brahman, atman, transmigration of atman, karma
and so forth. 800-600 BC.
Epics (Ramayana, Mahabarata, Bhagavad Gita)
Mythic adventures of Rama, Krishna and others.
Puranas Largely local legends, myths, many local
deities. AD 400-1000. This is the “scripture” of
most local Hindus.
Tantras
Religious discussions/teachings.
Important Hindu Terminology
Brahman universal soul
 Atman soul, essence
atman is part
of a brahman.
 Maya illusion
 Reincarnation a disincarnated soul
enters a new body, starting a new
existence (samsara)
 Shakti power
 Karma a principle of cause and effect
 Nirvana oneness with brahman
 Dharma righteousness, teaching

Hindu World View

Maya. The physical world is an illusion. The physical
world is evil. Suffering is an illusion.

Brahman.

Atman (soul). When we die, atman is swallowed up in
Brahman

The goal: Escape cycle of karma and reincarnation

Nirvana; oneness with the universal soul which is
within yourself.

The Hindu world view has man looking inward, not
outward.
Universal soul. Pantheism.
Caste System



A historical remnant of the Vedic
system and the interaction
between the Aryans and the
natives of the subcontinent
Brahmins
class
the priestly (Aryan)
Kshatriyas The ruling class.
Kings,
landlords, warriors.

Vaishayas
merchants

Shudras servant/trade classes

Untouchables
Modern Hinduism


Yogic practices
Gurus (teacher), yogi
(practitioners), sadhu (holy
men)

Transcendental Meditation

Hare Krishna
Paramahansa Yogananda
Hinduism and Time




Time is cyclic. There is a “wheel of time.”
World is cyclically created by Brahma,
sustained by Vishnu and destroyed by Shiva.
Creative/destructive cycles called Yugas
A universe lasts for one Brahma day =
4,320,000 years
– Satya yuga (Krita yuga):- 1,728,000 Human years
(already past)
– Treta yuga:- 1,296,000 Human years (already past)
– Dwapar yuga:- 864,000 Human years (already past)
– Kali yuga:- 432,000 Human years (5,110 years have
passed; 426,890 years remain). Kaliyuga started in
3,102 B.C.; CE 2008 corresponds to Kaliyuga year 5,110
Hindism and Time (cont)


One full cycle =
100 “Brahma
years” 311
trillion years.
Then Brahma
himself dies and
is reborn
Hindu Cosmology
Many different levels of
heavens/worlds/hells
 These levels are horizontal (flat)
 The physical world is illusory and it is
evil
 Lower levels are even more evil than
ours

Angkor Wat: Mount Meru
Popular Hindu Cosmology
The earth is on the back of four
elephants standing on top of a
turtle, encircled by a serpent,
swimming in a sea of milk…
The Sutras
Hindu Cosmology
Time is cyclic—like a snake that bites its own tail.
Remember, the world is not real.
Hindu apologetics?
Is The Hindu World View a Good One?

Is it true?
– Hindu cosmology (cyclic time, earth on the back of four
elephants on a turtle swimming in a bowl of milk) is
patently false.
– The physical world is real and it is good.
– Evil is NOT an illusion

Does it answer the important questions?
– It does better than postmodernism or naturalism!

Does accepting this world view make one a better
person?
– Debatable. Better than naturalism. Karma. Self-focus
and dispassion are not helpful.
– Suffering is not real.
– Evil is not real.
Buddhism




Principle religion of Korea,
Japan, Cambodia, Vietnam,
Thailand, Burma Sri Lanka
and China?
400,000,000 adherents.
A reaction against the rigid
priestly system of Hinduism.
Pantheistic, or arguably nontheistic. A philosophy, a
psychology.
Life of Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)




Born into a wealthy family in north India
about 550 BC.
Renounced his birthright. Sought
nirvana/god through asceticism.
Decided on a middle path between
asceticism and sensuality.
Created the eight-fold path to
enlightenment (nirvana).
The Spread of Buddhism
The Four Noble Truths of Siddhartha





Suffering is not getting what one wants.
The cause of suffering is desire which leads
to rebirth.
The way to end suffering is to end desire.
The way to the end of desire and of
suffering is the eight-fold path.
Buddhism encourages dispassion, not
compassion.
The eight-fold path to bodhi/dharma/nirvana/lack of
suffering








Right
Right
Right
Right
Right
Right
Right
Right
viewpoint (the four noble truths).
values.
speech.
actions.
livelihood
effort
mindfulness
meditation
Important Terms to Understand Buddhism

Nirvana

Bodhi

Bodhisattva

Dharma
the Buddha’s teachings.
Sangha
nuns.
the Buddhist community of monks and


awakened state, lack of suffering.
awakenment, enlightenment.
Maitreya
an awakened being.
the second coming of Buddha prophesied.
Schools/Sects of Buddhism




Mahayana (the greater vehicle) China, Korea,
Japan. Ideal of the bodhisattva. Stresses the
divine nature of the Buddha. Many minibuddhas (bodhisattvas).
Theravada Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma. A more
pure form of Buddhism?
Zen. An offshoot of Mahayana which emphasizes
meditation to achieve nirvana.
Vajrayana Stresses tantric practices, rituals,
initiations, mystical power. Tibet, Mongolia.
Similar to Gnosticism.
Practices of Buddhism



Many monks and nuns who live ascetic lives
“Lay” Buddhists follow the five precepts, which
are, 1. do not kill 2. do not steal. 3. do not
have sex. 4. do not lie and 5. do not get
drunk
Meditation is a big part of many Buddhist
traditions, involving the saying of a mantra. (Om
Mani Padme Hum).
Buddhist Scripture



The Tripitaka “three baskets” Three sets of the
supposedly original sayings and teachings and
philosophy of Buddha. These were oral only for
about 400 years.
Disputes over the content of the Tripitaka led
eventually to the Theravada, Mahayana and other
sects.
Jatakas Mahayana stories of previous
incarnations of Siddhartha Buddha. Buddhism is
a striving through many lives to come to a
bodhisattva state.
Buddhist Cosmology




Like Jaina, Hinduism, a vertical cosmology,
with multiple levels/earths/heavens/lokahs
31 planes of existence, each with 3 realms.
Higher ones more blissful, lower ones more
like hell.
Endless cycle of time
Cosmic wheel.
Buddhist
Cosmology
Borodbur in Indonesia: A Buddhist concept of the world
Questions:
Can we take the Eastern ideas about cosmology
seriously in the context of modern science?
How does this compare to biblical cosmology and
ideas about creation?
Is the Buddhist World View a good one?
Is it True?
Does it provide satisfactory answers to the imporant questions?
Are those who accept this world view better for having done so?
Jainism

Founder: Mahavira ~600-540 BC

Last of 24 gurus. Parshva 750 BC?

Location: India mostly.

About 5,000,000 practitioners

A reaction to worldly, priestly
Hinduism
Jaina Theology



The Svastika
a symbol of
samsara
(rebirth)
Very strong emphasis on asceticism
Siddhartha may have been a follower
before finding a middle way.
We are souls trapped in a body. The
goal: escape the body to reach nirvana
through ascetic practices.

Reincarnation

Karma

Pantheistic
Jaina Scriptures


The Purvas. Sayings of the 24 gurus
all the original Purvas were lost.
Agama Sutras Sayings of Mahavira
Jaina Sects
Digambaras: Monks are nude, only males can
reach enlightenment.
Shvetambaras: Wear white robes. Women
can be ordained as nuns.
Jaina Worldview





A very strange cosmology. The universe is an
infinitely repeating pattern of cycles of time.
One of the gurus lived 70 trillion years and was 3000
ft. tall.
The earth is the center of the universe
The universe has existed forever.
Five Mahavrata or rules of ascetic living
– Ahimsa. Non-harming (fly-whisk, strain liquids,
etc…)
– Satya. Truthfulness
– Asteya. Non-stealing
– Celibacy
– Non-attachment
Jain Cosmology






A representation
of Jain
Cosmology

The universe has existed forever.
A cyclic wheel of time.
Utsarpini: A period of progressive
happiness and purity. Time spans ages and
sizes of people get much larger.
Avsarpini: A period of progressive sorrow
and immorality. Time spans, ages and sizes
of people get much smaller.
Great teachers in the past lived for millions
or billions of years and were thousands of
meters tall.
In the future, people will be even less
religious, smaller and live shorter time.
An extremely complicated cosmology with
multiple levels of worlds/heavens.
Sikhism



Nanak, founder
of Jaina

Location: India, especially the
Punjab. 25,000,000 adherents.
Founder: Nanak (1469-1539)
A compromise between Islam
and Hinduism.
Avowedly monotheistic, but with
many Hindu ideas.
Sikh Teaching and Theology


Reject polytheism but keep
ideas of maya (illusion),
samsara (reincarnation),
karma
Reject priestly system. All
are equal before the “True
Name.”

Opposition to idolatry and to
asceticism.

Sikhs do not try to escape the
world, but to participate in it.

Works salvation: “Sin and
sorrow are destroyed by
hearkening.”
The Golden Temple
Amristar, India
Scriptures of Sikkhism



The Adi Granth
Arjun in 1604
Compiled by the fifth guru
The Ganth of the Tenth King: Written by the
last of the ten great gurus of Sikhism Gobind
Singh.
The Janamsakhis Legends. Obviously
mythical accounts of the life of Nanak,
including miracles. (Nanak never claimed to
be a miracle worker).
Sikh Practices





The wearing of the male turban is
very characteristic.
Baptism in sugar water holding a
dagger.
Sikhs have been warriors. They
have been very militaristic.
Sikhs are immersed in worldly
affairs. Businessmen, merchants
etc.
Think of Sikhs as the opposite of
Jains.
Confucianism





Founded by Confucius Kung Fu Tzu 551478 BC.
Principle religion in China? Is it a
religion?
Also influential in Korea and Viet Nam.
Not a religious leader—he accepted the
religious superstition of his day as
sufficient.
Agnostic—“Keep aloof from spiritual
matters, but perform the ceremony
correctly.”
Utilitarian, conservative philosophy.
Each person should accept his position in
society for righteousness and stability.
Strong emphasis on proper government,
training for holding government office.
Confucianism (cont.)

Practical rather than esoteric.

Ancestor worship stressed.

Later Confucian philosophy involved emphasis on
ying and yang—the competing balance between good
vs. evil, physical vs. spiritual, hate vs. love.
(Dualism)
Confucianism competed with two other
philosophies: Taoism and Moism. Confucianism,
being more practical, generally won out.
Confucian Scriptures
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
I-Ching 1000 BC. Book of divination, magic.
Shu-Ching. History, ancient documents,
speeches.
Shin-Ching 800-600 BC. Poetry used extensively
by Confucius. Customs concerning courtship,
marriage, war, agriculture, feasts, sacrifices, etc.
Li Chi. Book of ceremonial etiquite. 200 BC –
200 AD.
Ch’un Chiu. History of one Chinese province.
Collected by Confucius?
Lun Yu. Written down 400 BC. The sayings of
Confucius, especially on ethics and government
Analects of Confucius, etc…
Chinese symbol for
Confucianism
Confucianism is a philosophy, a way of life, not
really a religion, although it has accreted ideas
such as “chi” “yin and yang” It can easily
coexist with other religions such as Buddhism,
Taoism and even Christianity.
Taoism (Daoism)

Founded by Lao Tzu—a contemporary of Confucius.

Scripture: The Tao Te Ching. Tao = way Te = power
Ching = teaching

Basic doctrine: Through non-involvement and
withdrawal, we come to know god/deity. Emphasis
on self-interest. “The religion of selfishness.”

Pantheistic yet Dualistic.
contemplating nature.
Experience God by

Emphasis on mysticism and magic.
“He would not pluck so much as a hair out of his head
for the benefit of his fellow man.”
Taoist World View

Pantheism
existence.
Tao is an undifferentiated force of

Wu-wei: Purposeful inactivity

Self-focus, emphasis on mysticism and magic.


Yin/Yang A balance of forces to be achieved. Good
and evil are coexistent and mutually dependent.
Is this a “good” world view?
Baha’i





Founded by Baha-Ullah 18171892
The Bab 1819-1850 The John
the Baptist of Baha’i
Begun in Iran, moved to Iraq,
Lebanon. Very widely spread
today.
About 7,000,000 adherents.
A reform movement within
Islam?
History and Teaching




The Bab was martyred in 1850
in 1852 Baha-Ullah claims to have received a vision,
while in prison, of a divine woman who declared him
to be “The Beauty of God amongst you.” ie the next
prophet.
Ba’hai is the culmination of all the world’s religions.
Moses, Krishna, Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad,
Baha’Ullah.
No priests, no ceremony.
Theology and Teaching





Monotheistic.
God is unknowable “The most Exalted, the
Inaccessible.”
Baha-Ullah claimed to be
– The second coming of Christ—that John 14:16 was
about him.
– The Maitreya—the second coming of Buddha.
– The new incarnation of Krishna
– The fulfillment of the “Day of God” in the Koran.
Strong emphasis on equality, education, peace.
Progressive Revelation. “Religious truth is not
absolute but relative.”
Teachings and Scripture.




Salvation through keeping the law as handed down
by Baha-Ullah
Emphasis on good deeds, helping the poor, education
Jesus did not die for our sins, because he did not
have to. We are imperfect, but not lost.
Scripture: The writings of Baha-Ullah. There are
many! An somewhat open scripture.
Other World Religions


Shinto—the ancestral religion of Japan. Animist
Zoroastrianism—Dualistic religion with origins in
Persia. Worship of Ahura Mazda; a fire god.
Summary


The theologies of world religions are
fundamentally and diametrically opposed to one
another. Many paths to the same God is a
ludicrous philosophy.
The truth of the Bible is confirmed by
– Clear evidence of inspiration (fulfilled prophecy, types
and foreshadows, historical accuracy, scientific evidence,
etc…)
– Public miracles worked by Moses, Elijah and others, and
especially by Jesus Christ (Hebrews 2:3,4).
A Question: Who reaches out to whom?
Initiative
Human approach
God
Mankind
Truth
God
Mankind
Works Salvation: Man
reaches out to God.
Salvation by Grace: God
reaches out to man.
Islam
Judaism
Hinduism
Christianity
Jaina
Sikkhism
Gnosticism
New Age
Buddhism?
New Age: A Very Confusing Religion
Is it:
Palm reading?
Channeling?
Seances?
Meditation?
Reincarnation?
Occultism?
Gurus?
Paganism?
Gnosticism?
Mother Goddess worship?
Yes… all the above.
So, What is New Age, Really?




You are God, I am God, the trees are God, we all are
God!
New Age is Western pantheism
New Age is a syncretistic blend of Gnosticism,
Hinduism, Spiritualism, Mysticism, Buddhism and
Paganism.
New Age is Monism! God is everything I am God!!!
“Once we begin to see that we are all God, then I
think the whole purpose of life is to re-own the Godlikeness within us.”
 Is



This a “good” worldview?
Is it true that I am God?
Does it make me a better person to think that I am
God?
Does this solve the problem of evil and of sin?
Summary



The theologies of world religions are fundamentally
and diametrically opposed to one another. Many
paths to the same God is a ludicrous philosophy.
The world view of Christianity is radically different
from any other religion. They cannot both be right!
The truth of the Bible is confirmed by
– Clear evidence of inspiration (fulfilled prophecy,
types and foreshadows, historical accuracy,
scientific evidence, etc…)
– Public miracles worked by Moses, Elijah and
others, and especially by Jesus Christ (Hebrews
2:3,4).
Islamic Theology



Like Christianity and Judaism, Islam is
monotheistic
But there are several differences in the theology
of these religions.
In Islam God is more like the neo-Platonic idea of
God—very distant and removed from man.
Islamic Theology
“Surely good deeds take away evil
deeds” (11:114).
Kabira (big sins)—murder, adultery, drunkenness,
disobeying parents, neglecting Ramadan or Friday
prayers, gambling, dancing, shaving the beard,
forgetting the Koran after reading it, usury…
Forgiveness with repentance.
Saghira (little sins)—deceit, anger, lust. Forgiveness if
greater sins are avoided and good deeds are
performed.
Shirk—association (of other gods with Allah). No
forgiveness.
Salvation by own
effort
(40:9, 39:61, 7:43)
Charity atones for sins
(2:271,277)
 Earn
grace.
 Earn favor of Allah.
 Earn salvation.
 Earn paradise.
Islam: Salvation is earned through the
efforts of those who were pre-selected by
Allah to inhabit a very sensual paradise.
Christianity: Salvation is granted by
the grace of a loving God to those who,
through faith and repentance and
baptism accept that love.
Islamic Worldview:
God is very distant from mankind
In Islam, Allah determines everything, even
who will choose to follow him.
2:142, 6:39 6:125
Inshallah God willing. It is God’s will that
people suffer.
.
The Biblical World View

The physical world is real and it is good. Genesis
1:31
– Only Islam agrees with this conclusion.

This world is not our home.

But, compassion…

James 1:27 Micah 6:8
Christian groups are responsible for virtually all
the world’s efforts to deal with poverty and
human suffering in general and to work for social
justice.
Scriptures of World Religions

And we also thank God continually because,
when you received the word of God, which you
heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of
men, but as it actually is, the word of God. 1
Thess 2:13
The Qu’ran; the Scripture of Islam
Based on “revelations” from Gabriel to Mohammed.
Compiled in the 7th century AD (the 600s).
Contains 114 chapters, or suras, arranged from longest
to shortest. Quite repetitive.
About 80% the length of the New Testament.
• Early Period in Mecca. Muhammad sees
himself as following tradition of Judaism.
Muslims pray toward Jerusalem.
• Early Medina period. Mohammad begins
to be politically powerful. The idea of Jihad
introduced.
• Later Medina and Meccan period.
Muhammad strongly opposed to Jews and
Christianity. Islam definitely a distinct
religion.
Historical errors in the Qur’an







Ishmael = Isaac
37:102
2 trees in Eden = 1 tree
20:120
Noah’s 4th son drowns
11:43
Zechariah silent 3 days (not 9 months)
3:41
Pharaoh’s magicians repent
20:70
Judges 7 / 1 Sam 17 conflated
2:249
Jesus’ childhood miracles
3:49, 5:110,
Scientific errors in Qur’an (I)
23:14—Creation from the clot of blood
“Then we made the sperm into a clot of
congealed blood; then from that clot we
made a lump; and we made out of that
lump bones and clothed the bones with
flesh.”
18:86—Traveling west…
“… till, when he reached the setting-place
of the sun, he found it setting in a
muddy spring.”
Scientific errors in Qur’an (II)
21:33—Sun and stars orbit the earth
12—11 planets
34:9, 52:44—Piece of sky falls and kills
someone
36:4, 23:14 Man deposits child into the
mother
Is Islam a Good World View?

Is it true? Is Mohammed a prophet?
–
–
–
–

Fifteen wives
Massacre of 700 Jews
Doctrine of Abrogation
Science errors
Does it make its followers better?
– Motivation to help others?
– Are women respected?
– Does emphasis on Jihad lead to loving non-Muslims?
Judaism
Where are they?
 15
million Jews throughout the world (Mostly in
the U.S., Israel & former USSR)
 Jews makes up 83% of Israel’s population
 More Jews live in the U.S. than in Israel!
 A higher proportion of American Jews are
religious (i.e., practice Judaism or profess some
form of belief in Judaism) than in Israel!
Major Branches of Judaism
 Conservative
– 4.5 million
 Unaffiliated & Secular – 4.5 million
 Reform – 3.75 million
 Orthodox – 2 million
•Most Jews today do not strictly hold to the Law
•Many of Israel's Jews are secular - nonobservant and
either nonreligious or even agnostic / atheist
•Religious Jews are in the minority in Israel
Post Old-Testament Jewish History





333-63BC – Greek Period – Hellenization of Holy Land; Maccabean Revolt;
rise of Synagogue & religious parties (Sadducees, Essenes, Pharisees)
63BC-200AD – Roman period
70AD – Jewish War results in the destruction of Herod’s Temple, Sanhedrin &
sacrificial system. Pharisees become dominant force in Judaism. Council of
Jamnia solidifies this position. Synagogue system replaces Temple Judaism.
132AD – Judean revolt sparked by Roman Emperor Hadrian’s building city
Aelia Capitolina on top of ruins of Jerusalem. Jews banned from Jerusalem;
circumcision of converts forbidden
200-640AD – Period of intense persecution mainly from the Christians,
especially after Christianity became the religion of the Roman Empire







634-1096AD – Age of the Gaons – Muslim conquests bring
many Jews under Islamic domain, improving quality of life
considerably
1096AD – Crusades specifically target Jews; they are looted &
murdered en masse
1096-1348AD – Jews expelled from England, not returning
until 1650
1348 – Jews accused of poisoning wells and causing the Black
Death. (This resulted in many gruesome massacres across
Europe.)
1348-1517 – Jewish Influence – After the massacres, Jews
allowed to return to their cities, many becoming
moneylenders.
1492 – Jews in Spain offered choice of converting to
Christianity or leaving the country.
Wherever they went the exiles had a powerful impact.

1517-1700 – Europe in Ferment – Period started with a era of
tolerance as authorities viewed Jews as useful. Massacres in 1648 &
1649 devastated the Jews in Poland & the Ukraine.
1700’s-Present – Large numbers migrated to the
Americas (period of Jewish tolerance)
 1880’s – Strong Aryan, anti-semitic movements began in
France
 WWII – Extermination of 1/3 of world’s Jewish
population – 6 million murdered
 1948 – Zionists pushed for & received the State of Israel
for the Jews to have a country once more. Battle for this
territory still rages today

 Jewish
–
–
–
–
Sects in 1st Century (Josephus)
Pharisees (formerly the Hasidim)
Sadducees
Essenes
Zealots
Pharisees






Represented more of the common
people
Stressed holiness of life; created a body
of laws to prevent people from breaking
laws (‘hedging’)
Not as strict as the Essenes
Created the oral law; eventually became
the Talmud
Unlike the Sadducees, they strongly
resisted the Hellenistic culture
Emerged as the dominant group after
70AD
Sadducees
 Composed
of wealthy aristocrats & priests
 Held to a very strict interpretation of the Scriptures
 Rejected the doctrine of the Resurrection
 Most members of the Sanhedrin were Sadducees
 Disappeared with Jerusalem destruction in 70AD
When John the Baptist saw many of the Pharisees &
Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them:
“You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the
coming wrath?” – Matthew 3:7
Essenes





Ascetic, monastic sect; removed themselves from daily life to prevent
being polluted by the corrupt world
No personal possessions, very strict observation of community &
Sabbath rules, incl. no bowel movements
Devoted themselves to study, with a focus on moral & ethical learning
Qumran sect is best known of this group; the Dead Sea Scrolls were
widely believed to be their work
John the Baptist was an Essene? Not!
Zealots
Term used to describe Jewish anti-Roman groups using
both political & military tactics
 Covered many different factions; was not a party name
 Began in 6AD by Judas Maccabees based on inspiration
of Phinehas (Numbers 25:11)
 “Sicarii” (‘Dagger-men’) most extreme branch; carried
short daggers, stabbing their enemies in broad daylight
in large crowds, then joined the outraged crowd, adding
their own cries of indignation
 Largely responsible for the beginning of the Jewish War,
which led to the destruction of the Temple

Zealots
 One
of the 12 apostles was ‘Simon the Zealot’
 Barabbas; possibly Paul (Acts 22:3; Galatians 1:14)
 Acts 21:38 – ‘4,000 Assassins’ – ‘4,000 Terrorists’
 Mark 15:7 – ‘The Insurrectionists’
 Last Zealot Stronghold, Masada, fell in May 74AD
Orthodox vs. Reformed
 Most
obvious division today is between Orthodox
& Progressive Jews
 Orthodox Jews adhere to a very strict biblical &
oral law (Talmud).
 Diligently follow Sabbatical laws & Kosher
regulations. (In their own eyes no other Jews are
really Jews.)
Reformed Judaism
in Germany in the 18th Century
 Followed philosophies of enlightenment, enjoying the
benefits of the lessening persecution
 Soon many Jews adapted to their culture rather than
holding to their traditions
 Using scientific inquiry and critical evaluation some
even taught that man no longer needed to accept the
revelation of the Torah as factual & binding
 Changes in ritual law & worship were encouraged;
dietary laws were abandoned and a more “people
friendly” version of Judaism was born
 Began
Kabbalah (Mysticism)
Branch of Judaism; meaning ‘Received Tradition’
 Claims to be the oldest religion; with origins dating
back to Adam & Abraham
 Possesses secret & mystic “truths”
 Claims to hold the long-hidden keys to the secrets of
the universe & mysteries of the human heart & soul
 Many similarities to Gnostic movements
 Essenes protected their writings, allegedly authored by
Cain, Noah & Jared
 Isaac Newton, Madonna, Britney Spears, Paris Hilton,
Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Mick Jagger, Anthony
Kiedis

Kosher/Dietary Regulations
Kosher – Fit or clean according to Jewish dietary laws
 Regulations found in the Torah (Lev 11, Deut 14), but
many more added through traditions
 Meat & dairy products can’t be eaten together. (Many
households have 2 sets of dishes to prevent any contact
 Jewish hotels have 2 kitchens to prevent contamination
 Animals must be slaughtered & prepared by a ‘shochet’,
trained & ordained in the kosher regulations
 Orthodox Jews follow these regulations meticulously;
average Jews do not

The Synagogue
 Place
of Jewish communal worship
 Most Jews are members of a Synagogue although
that does not mean that they regularly attend
 Mainly a place for reading scripture & prayer
 Since 70AD (Destruction of the Temple), this has
been the center of both religious & cultural life
 May have originated after 586BC to replace temple
worship while in exile, but it developed rapidly
during the Intertestamental period
Christian Science and
Scientology. What do
they have in common?
Definitely not science!!
Christian Science

Founder and chief prophet: Mary Baker Eddy
1821-1910

Headquarters in Boston. Less that 1,000,000
adherents.

Influenced by Phineas Quimby and the “New
Thought” movement.


Quimby: God is “Universal Wisdom and
Intelligence.” God is “Presence.” God is “Loving
Principle.”
Emphasis on disease, spiritualism. Disease is an
“error, created not by God, but by man.” No
false beliefs → no disease.
Mary Baker Eddy




“She was subject from infancy to
convulsive attacks of a hysterical
nature and had many nervous fits.”
Clairvoyance, spiritualism, occult
“Cured” by Quimby (but symptoms
soon returned)
“The works I have written on
Christian Science contain absolute
Truth.”
Christian Science is neither Christian, nor is it science.
Science?
1990’s 18 documented cases of children
suffering preventable death because parents
refused to take them to a doctor. Convictions of
child endangerment and even manslaughter.
Zero scientific verification
Christian?
Jesus was a mere man. He is an embodiment
of the “Christ Principle.” He is “the highest
possible Inner consciousness.”
He did not die on the cross.
He did not resurrect from the dead.
Theology of Christian Science
Jesus is “divine mind.”
Jesus was a mere human, but an expression of
Christhood.
Salvation is release from ignorance.
Sin, evil, sickness and even death are illusions
which are conquered by denying them.
Q: Will denying cancer make it go away?
The trinity is “Life, Truth and Love.”
No hell.
Scripture of Christian Science


One must use “Science and Health
with Key to the Scripture” to
properly interpret the Bible.
Interpreted the Bible esoterically.
Cannot take the miracles,
resurrection and so forth literally.
“The cause of all so-called disease is mental, a mortal
fear, a mistaken belief of conviction of the necessity
and power of ill health.
New York Sun Dec 19, 1898, Eddy “challenged the
world to disprove” that she had healed a variety of
serious illnesses, including cancer
Dr Charles A. Reed (later president of AMA) offered to
present similar cases for her to heal, which she
politely declined.
“If she by her Christian Science, shall cure any one of
them, I shall proclaim her omnipotence from the
housetops; and, if she shall cure all or even half of
them, I shall cheerfully crawl upon my hands and
knees that I may but touch the hem of her walking
dress.”
Scientology






Founder L. Ron Hubbard
A science fiction writer who took his fiction
seriously.
Wrote Dianetics The Modern Science of Mental
Health, 1950
Established Church of Scientology, 1954.
Tom Cruise, 2006; “Psychology is
pseudoscience.”
John Oakes, 2006: “Scientology is
pseudoscience.”
Theology

Men are “Thetans” (immortal spirits)

God is “All Theta,” “The eighth dynamic.”

Our problem is our “engrams.”



Engrams are stored impressions in the reactive (vs analytic) mind
of painful experiences carried over from past lives (and during
gestation in our mother).
The goal: eliminate your engrams so that you can realize your
true nature.
“Man is not the limited and pitiful body and ego he mistakenly
imagines himself to be. He is a thetan whose fundamental nature
is basically good and divine. He is not morally fallen; rather he is
simply ignorant of his own perfection. His only fall was into
matter, not sin.”
Scripture of Scientology
All L. Ron Hubbard’s books.
The “Science” of Scientology:
The solution to engrams is “Auditing”
Involves using an electropsychometer to discover the engrams in the
“pre-clear.”
The electropsychometer is a pair of electrodes which detect changes in
conductivity when certain questions are asked by a trained auditor.
Auditor guides the pre-clear to discharge the harmful energy from the
engram.
All this costs a lot of money. This is a religious scam; plain and simple.
Response


Scientology: Jesus was “a shade above clear.”
Jesus: John 8:46 “Can any of you prove me guilty
of sin?”
MORMONISM
ANOTHER TESTAMENT
OF JESUS CHRIST?
OUTLINE
History
The
Book of Mormon
Mormon Teachings
Evangelism
Joseph Smith
 Diviner
 Treasure
Hunter
 Religious
Fraud
Early History
The Hill Cumorah




1823 A visit by the angel Moroni
– You will be given golden plates on the hill Cumorah
1827 Dug up golden plates. Written in “Reformed
Egyptian.”
Used the “Urrim and the Thummim” with his head in a
hat to translate the Book of Mormon.
Conveniently, God took the golden plates back to


“His translation complete, Joseph had one further use for
the golden plates. To assure skeptics that the plates did,
indeed exist, he showed them to several trusted witnesses,
who signed statements affirming that they had beheld the
plates. In preparation for viewing the plates, the chosen
witnesses prayed for several hours. After lengthy praying,
one witness reported that he saw only an empty box.
Joseph sent him out for additional prayer, after which the
golden plates were fully visible to the witness.”
Later, all these witnesses became apostate to Mormonism.
Understanding Mormonism

This is my testimony…..

Emotion-based religion.

Mormons are, arguably, the most Christian-like
group around, and they know it.
WANDERING IN THE WILDERNESS
 Palmyra,
New York
 Kirtland, Ohio
 Independence, Missouri
 Nauvoo, Illinois
 Salt Lake Valley, Utah
JOSEPH SMITH AND SIDNEY RIGDON
General Joseph Smith
BRIGHAM YOUNG
The Mormon Scripture

The Book of Mormon
– A grade B religious fantasy
about the Jaredites and the
Nephites.



The Pearl of Great Price with
the Doctrine and the
Covenants.
The Bible, “so long as it is
correctly translated.”
Mormon 8:18 “Don’t
demand to see the plates or
you will be killed.”
Did Jesus come to the New World?
Statements by the Smithsonian Institution and the
National Geographic Society:
•"The Smithsonian Institution has never used the Book of
Mormon in any way as a scientific guide. Smithsonian
archaeologists see no connection between the archaeology
of the New World and the subject matter of the Book."
Official Statement, 1979
•"Neither representatives of the National Geographic
Society nor, to my knowledge, archaeologists connected
with any other institution or equal prestige have ever
used the Book of Mormon in locating historic ruins in
Middle America or elsewhere."
Dr. Neal Judd
MORMON TEACHINGS







The Latter Day Saints
Modern-day revelation
We are all gods
Polygamy
Racism
Baptism for the dead
Scriptures to bear in mind: Galatians 1:6-9,
2 Thessalonians 2:5-12, 1 John 2:18-23.
The Latter Day Saints


The original church completely fell away with the
death of the original apostles. There was no
legitimate church for about 1700 years.
“This is my testimony, Joseph Smith is a prophet
and the Book of Mormon is the Word of God.”
We are all gods.


The Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are
three separate gods.
Mormonism is polytheism.
– “I will preach on the plurality of gods. I have always declared
God to be a distinct personage, Jesus Christ a separate and
distinct personage from God the Father, and the Holy Ghost was
a distinct personage and a Spirit: and these three constitute
three distinct personages and three Gods.” Teachings of Joseph
Smith, p. 370.
– From Joseph Smith’s most famous sermon: “God himself was
once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned
in yonder heavens!... I am going to tell you how God came to be
God. We have imagined and supposed that God was God from
eternity. I will refute that idea, and take away the veil so that
you may see… He was once a man like us; yea that God
himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth, the same as
Jesus Christ himself did.
Polygamy





A new revelation against polygamy by the Utah church
1890
Joseph Smith had at least 30 wives, some less than 15 yrs.
old and took many other women as well.
Celestial marriages.
When our father Adam came into the garden of Eden, he came
into it with a celestial body, and brought Eve, one of his wives,
with him. He helped to make and organize this world. He is
Michael, the Ancient of Days! About whom holy men have written
and spoken—He is our Father and our God, and the only God with
whom we have to do.” Journal of Discourses vol 1, p 50.
“The grand reason why the Gentiles and philosophers of his school
persecuted Jesus Christ, was because he had so many wives;
Racism

Mormons 5:15 “Indians are dark filthy and loathsome.”

1 Nephi 11:13


“dark people are sinful.”
2 Nephi 5:21 “Dark skin are loathsome. Those who marry
dark skinned are cursed.”
Officially renounced by new revelation in 1978.
Other interesting doctrines

Baptism for the dead

Modern-day priesthood of Melchizedek

Baptism in the name of Jesus preached to the Nephites
several hundred years BC. A very confused idea of
covenants.
The
Salt
Lake
City
Temple
REACHING OUT TO MORMONS
 This
is my testimony….. Emotion
vs reason.
 Do not attack Joseph Smith
personally
 Friendship/family
 Study on “Covenants” Joe Fields
Study #1 The Word of God
What books are identified as the words of God? 2 Nephi 29:13
“…words of the Jews” (Old Testament)
“…words of the list tribes of Israel” (Lost book?)
“…words of the Nephites” (Book of Mormon)
What does “they both shall be established in one” mean? 1 Nephi 13:41
What are “the plain and precious things” that were taken from the Bible?
(1 Nephi 13:28) Please be specific.
Do the Bible and the Book of Mormon have to be in harmony with each other?
What are “the two sticks?” in Ezekiel 37:15-22?
What version of the Bible do you accept as the inspired word of God?
Does God’s word in the Book of Mormon ever contradict God’s word in the
Bible?
Would there ever be any reason to reject the Bible as God’s word?
Study #2 Infinite and Eternal Atonement
Alma 34:14 / Hebrews 10:1
Atonement Shadow
Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
Mosiah 16:14
2 Nephi 25:24-27
Alma 33:19-22
Mosiah 12:31-13:28
Alma 25:15
(148 BC)
(545 BC)
(74 BC)
(148 BC)
(77 BC)
Mosiah 4:2,3
Jacob 4:11
Jarom 1:11
Jacob 7
Alma 7:14
(124 BC)
(421 BC)
(399 BC)
(421 BC)
(83 BC)
The New Testament
The Old Testament
Genesis 12:3
Numbers 21:4-9
Isaiah 53:4-7
Exodus 12:1
Leviticus 4
Atonement Applied
(1500 BC)
(1500 BC)
(701 BC)
(1500 BC)
(1500 BC)
(Hebrews 10:1, Galatians 3:24)
Galatians 3:8
(AD 49)
John 3:14, 12:32 (AD 85-90)
1 Peter 2:21-25
(AD 64)
1 Corinthians 5:7
(AD 54)
Hebrews 9
(AD 60-69)
(Galatians 3:19,23, Colossians 2:14)
The Jehovah’s Witness
The Watchtower
vs
The Bible
John Oakes, PhD
Charles Taze Russsel
Historical Background

Influenced by Adventist movement

William Miller, October, 1844

Russel establishes The Watchtower, 1879

Rejects the Trinity 1882

Predicts the end of the world in October,
1914

Dies 1916

“Judge” Rutherford takes the reigns

Predicts the resurrection of Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob to occur in 1925

Changes name to Jehovah’s Witness, 1931

Began predicting Armageddon to occur in
1975

Oops…..!
Fundamental Theology of JW’s

Jesus is not God

The Holy Spirit is not Deity or a person, but a
force of God.

God’s only acceptable name is Jehovah.

Only JW’s will be in heaven.

Hell is not a place of punishment.

The Church became completely apostate until
1870’s
Jehovah’s Witness Theology (cont.)

Emphasis on OT law
 No

blood transfusions
Miscelaneous (attempts to mark JW’s as unique)
 Birthdays,
etc.
 No
Military Service
 No
Wearing Crosses
 No
pledging
The Watchtower Society
God’s faithful and discreet slave Matthew 24:4547
“God’s sole channel of communication to His
people.”
“Avoid independent thinking or questioning the
counsel that is provided by God’s invisible
organization.”
“We recognize not only Jehovah God as our
father, but his organization (The Watchtower
Society) as our mother and the wife of our
Father, Jehovah God” (The Watchtower, May 1, 1957,
The New World Translation of the Bible

Done by JW members only

Designed to protect members from corrupted
non-Christian translations (like NIV and so forth)

John 1:1
The word was a god….
The Deity of Christ

Jesus is the first and highest of
Jehovah’s creation.

Jesus is the archangel Michael.

The Arian heresy (Arius, 3rd Century
AD).

Claim: Jesus is never worshipped in
the NT.
Proof-texts
·

John 1:1 …. The Word was a god…
John 3:16 (NWT) Jehovah’s first creation
was his only begotten Son.

Coll 1:15-17 The first-born of (vs over) all
creation.

Jn 14:28 The Father is greater than I

Jn 20:17 My God

1 Cor 15:28 … the head of Christ is God
Response

Compare Coll 1:16 to Hebrews 2:10

Hebrews 1:2

John 8:58 (Exodus 3:14)

John 10:30 (see vs. 33)

Coll 2:9

John 20:28

Titus 2:13

Phil 5,6

Zech 12:10

Isaiah 9:6,7
The Holy Spirit is not Deity

“The Holy Spirit is not a person, but is a powerful force that
God causes to emanate from himself to accomplish his holy
will (Reasoning From Scriptures, 1989, p. 381)
Arguments:

The Holy Spirit is never given a name

Mark 1:10, Acts 2:, etc describe the Holy Spirit coming on
or filling up people. A person cannot do this. (see Eph
3:19)

Genesis 1:2 (NWT) “God’s active force was working to
shape the earth”
Response

1 Cor 2:10

Eph 4:30

Acts 16:6, 8:29

Matthew 12:32 (see Rev 13:6, Matt 27:39)

1 Cor 12:11

Acts 13:2

John 14:15-17

John 16:7-11

Matthew 28:18
Jehovah is God’s Only Name




Ezekiel 39:6
Matthew 6:9
Exodus 3:15
Romans 10:13
Claim: Jesus is never called Jehovah—Therefore
he cannot be God.
Claim: The word Jehovah was removed from most
of the OT by superstitious Jews.
Claim: The word Jehovah was removed from the
NT by early apostate Christians.
Response






To the ancients, the name of a person stood for the person.
YHWH + ADONAI’s vowels = YAHOWAH → Yiddish →
German as Jehovah.
The word Jehovah is not found anywhere in NT or OT
God has many names in the OT and the NT (Elohim,
Adonai, Father, God, Lord, etc.)
Jesus never called his Father Jehovah.
Manuscript evidence (ex the Rylands Papyrus) absolutely
rules out even the possibility of Jehovah being removed
from the NT.
Hell Not a Place of Punishment

No conscious existence after death.

There is no soul apart from a physical body

Jesus himself ceased to exist when he died


All go to a common hell called “soul sleep” when
they die to await being recreated by God.
If they are not re-embodied by God, they simply
cease to exist—no punishment at all for sins.
Soul Sleep


144,000 of Revelation 7 will be in spiritual heaven with
Jesus (the “little flock” of Luke 12:32)
The rest (“my other sheep of John 10:16) will live in
physical bodies on a paradise earth.
Proof-texts:




Matthew 6:10 NWT “Let your will take place, as in heaven,
also upon earth”
Ecclesiastes 9:5 “The dead know nothing.”
Luke 23:43 NWT “I tell you today, you will be with me in
Paradise.
Matt 25:46 NWT “And these will depart into everlasting
cutting-off.”
Response

Rev 14:9-12 forever and ever

Matthew 25:46

Daniel 12:2 Can you have one without
everlasting comtempt
another?

Mark 9:44
blessing and curses

Luke 12:46-48 degrees of punishment
Seventh Day Adventism
APLA
Manila PI
Jan, 2010
Ellen G. White,
Prophetess of 7th
Day Adventism
An epileptic?
Probably
A plagiarizer? Yes!
History of Adventism

Millerite movement 1840s

Jesus did not come back in 1844!!!


Premillenialism, Arianism, Sabbatarianism,
etc.
Led to 7th Day Adventism and Jehovah’s
Witness
Important Teachings of 7th Day Adventism

Adventism: Jesus came in the “Investigative
Judgment in 1844 (based on Daniel 8) Emphasis
on premillenialism.

Obedience to Mosaic Sabbath

Emphasis on Jewish health laws

Do not believe in Hell
Evangelizing 7th Day Adventists


Suggestion: Do not start by attacking Ellen
G. White
Sabbath:
– Acts 20:7
– Rev 1:10
– Church history is unanimous

Law-keeping:
– More than one kind of law? Ceremonial law?
– Galatians 2:21, 3:10-12, 5:2-4 Colossians 2:1323
Roman
Catholicism
APLA
Manila, Jan 2010
History of Catholocism



Unlike other “Christian” groups, Catholics can
legitimately claim to be a primitive church which
can trace its origins to the New Testament church
(as can “Orthodox” and Coptic Christians)
To some extent, the story of Church history is the
story of the gradual corruption and paganization
of the Roman Catholic Church, especially after AD
325
Authority is found through “apostolic succession,”
not the scripture.
The Big Problem with Catholicism: Authority

The Rule of Faith (in other words tradtion)

The “Church”

Scripture
In that order!!!
Apostolic Succession


Authority of the Roman Church has traditionally
been based on supposed apostolic succession,
with Peter as the first “pope” or bishop of Rome.
Matthew 16:17-19 . You are Peter (rock, stone,
petros) and on this rock (bedrock, large rock,
petra) The “rock” that the church will be built on
is not Peter. It is the confession and the fact that
Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God.
Does Tradition have authority?


Catholics use NT language about traditions to
justify authority of extra-biblical tradition (2
Thess 3:6, Rom 16:17, Phil 3:17, etc.)
Mark 7:1-13 Jesus: “You nullify the word of God
by your tradition that you have handed down.”
“They worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines
the traditions of men.”
False Doctrines in Catholicism




Prayer to God through Mary and the saints.
Timothy 2:5
Original Sin.
18:19-20
→ Infant Baptism
1
Ezekiel
Transsubstantiation.
(The elements in the
Lord’s Supper literally become flesh and blood)
Lord’s Supper is a sacrifice.
in remembrance of me.”
 Immaculate Conception.
virgin)
Luke 22:19 “Do this
(Mary was born from a
False Doctrines (cont.)




Sacramentalism. Power in the act rather than in
faith and repentance.
Special class of Christian priests
Corinthians 5:17-20.
1 Peter 2:9
2
Purgatory. Works salvation.
Salvation is found, not “in Christ” but in the church.
Irenaeus: She [ie. the church] is the entrance to life; all
others are thieves and robbers.
Traditions which “nullify the Word of God”

Church calendar

Statues, icons, vestments

Celibacy of priests

Monks, nuns, asceticism

Popes, cardinals, archbishops, etc.