RELIGIONS
We will look into the major world faith systems...Hinduism, New Age,
Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity.* here I would like to share a brief
description of each religion, its distinguishing characteristics, and
what a person can gain from each. Then I'll present for your
consideration, the ways in which Jesus' teaching differs from the
world's religions.
Hinduism
Most Hindus worship one Being of ultimate oneness (Brahman) through
infinite representations of gods and goddesses. These various
manifestations of gods and goddesses become incarnate within idols,
temples, gurus, rivers, animals, etc.
Hindus see their position in this present life as based on their
actions in a previous life. If their behavior before was evil, they
might experience tremendous hardships in this life. A Hindu's goal is
to become free from the law of karma...to be free from continuous
reincarnations.
There are three possible ways to end this cycle of karma: 1. BE
lovingly devoted to any of the Hindu gods or goddesses; 2. Grow in
knowledge through meditation of Brahman (oneness)...to realize that
circumstances in life are not real, that selfhood is an illusion and
only Brahman is real; 3. Be dedicated to various religious ceremonies
and rites.
In Hinduism, a person has the freedom to choose how to work toward
spiritual perfection. Hinduism also has a possible explanation for the
suffering and evil in the world. According to Hinduism, the suffering
anyone experiences, whether it is sickness or starvation or a
disaster, is due that person because of their own evil actions,
usually from a previous lifetime. Only the soul matters which will one
day be free of the cycle of rebirths and be at rest.
New Age
New Age promotes the development of the person's own power or
divinity. When referring to God, a follower of New Age is not talking
about a transcendent, personal God who created the universe, but is
referring to a higher consciousness within themselves. A person in New
Age would see themselves as God, the cosmos, the universe. In fact,
everything that the person sees, hears, feels or imagines is to be
considered divine.
The Earth is viewed as the source of all spirituality, and has its
own intelligence, emotions and deity. But superseding all is self.
Self is the originator, controller and God of all. There is no reality
outside of what the person determines.
New Age teaches a wide array of eastern mysticism and spiritual,
metaphysical and psychic techniques, such as breathing exercises,
chanting, drumming, meditating...to develop an altered consciousness
and one's own divinity.
Anything negative a person experiences (failures, sadness, anger,
selfishness, hurt) is considered an illusion. Believing themselves to
be completely sovereign over their life, nothing about their life is
wrong, negative or painful. Eventually a person develops spiritually
to the degree that there is no objective, external reality. A person,
becoming a god, creates their own reality.
Buddhism
Buddhists do not worship any gods or God. People outside of Buddhism
often think that Buddhists worship the Buddha. However, the Buddha
(Siddhartha Gautama) never claimed to be divine, but rather he is
viewed by Buddhists as having attained what they are also striving to
attain, which is spiritual enlightenment and, with it, freedom from
the continuous cycle of life and death. Most Buddhists believe a
person has countless rebirths, which inevitably include suffering. A
Buddhist seeks to end these rebirths. Buddhists believe it is a
person's cravings, aversion and delusion that cause these rebirths.
Therefore, the goal of a Buddhist is to purify one's heart and to let
go off all yearnings toward sensual desires and the attachment to
oneself.
Buddhists follow a list of religious principles and very dedicated
meditation. When a Buddhist meditates it is not the same as praying or
focusing on a god, it is more of a self-discipline. Through practiced
meditation a person may reach Nirvana -- "the blowing out" of the
flame of desire.
Buddhism provides something that is true of most world religions:
disciplines, values and directives that a person may want to live by.
Islam
Muslims believe there is the one almighty God, named Allah, who is
infinitely superior to and transcendent from humankind. Allah is
viewed as the creator of the universe and the source of all good and
all evil. Everything that happens, is Allah's will. He is a powerful
and strict judge, who will be merciful toward followers depending on
the sufficiency of their life's good works and religious devotion. A
follower's relationship with Allah is as a servant to Allah.
Though a Muslim honors several prophets, Muhammad is considered the
last prophet and his words and lifestyle are that person's authority.
To be a Muslim, one has to follow five religious duties: 1. Repeat a
creed about Allah and Muhammad; 2. Recite certain prayers in Arabic
five times a day; 3. Give to the needy; 4. One month each year, fast
from food, drink, sex and smoking from sunrise to sunset; 5.
Pilgrimage once in one's lifetime to worship at a shrine in Mecca. At
death -- based on one's faithfulness to these duties -- a Muslim hopes
to enter Paradise, a place of sensual pleasure. If not, they will be
eternally punished in hell.
For many people, Islam matches their expectations about religion and
deity. Islam teaches that there is one supreme God, who is worshiped
through good deeds and disciplined religious rituals. After death a
person is rewarded or punished according to their religious devotion.
Christianity -- faith in Jesus Christ
We Christians believe in a loving God who has revealed himself and can
be personally known in this life. With Jesus Christ, the person's
focus is not on religious rituals or performing good works, but on
enjoying a relationship with God and growing to know him better.
Faith in Jesus Christ himself, not just in his teachings, is how the
Christian experiences joy and a meaningful life. In his life on Earth,
Jesus did not identify himself as a prophet pointing to God or as a
teacher of enlightenment. Rather, Jesus claimed to be God in human
form. He performed miracles, forgave people of their sin and said that
anyone who believed in him would have eternal life. He made statements
like, "I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in
darkness, but will have the light of life."1
Christians regard the Bible as God's written message to humankind. In
addition to its being an historical record of Jesus' life and
miracles, the Bible reveals God's personality, his love and truth, and
how one can have a relationship with him.
Whatever circumstances a Christian is dealing with in their life, they
can confidently turn to a wise and powerful God who genuinely loves
them. WE believe that God answers prayer and that life takes on
meaning as WE live to honor him.
Is there a difference?
In looking at these major belief systems and their views of God, we
find tremendous diversity:
* Hindus acknowledge multitudes of gods and goddesses.
* Buddhists say there is no God.
* New Age followers believe they themselves are God.
* Muslims believe in a powerful but unknowable God.
* Christians believe in a God who is loving and approachable.
Are all religions worshiping the same God? Let's consider that. New
Age teaches that everyone should come to center on a cosmic
consciousness, but it would require Islam to give up their one God,
Hinduism to give up their numerous gods, and Buddhism to establish
that there is a God.
The world's major religions (Hinduism, New Age, Buddhism, Islam,
following Jesus Christ) differs in many ways. And of these one affirms
that there is a personal, loving God who can be known, now in this
life. Jesus Christ spoke of a God who welcomes us into a relationship
with him and comes along side us as a comforter, counselor and
powerful God who loves us.
In Hinduism a person is on their own trying to gain release from
karma. In New Age a person is working at their own divinity. In
Buddhism it is an individual quest at being free from desire. And in
Islam, the individual follows religious laws for the sake of paradise
after death. In Jesus' teaching, you see a personal relationship with
a personal God -- a relationship that carries over into the next
life.
Well Can a person connect with God in this life?
The answer is yes. Not only u can connect with God, you also can know
that you are fully accepted and loved by God.
Many world religions place an individual on their own, striving for
spiritual perfection. Buddha, for example, never claimed sinlessness.
Muhammad also admitted that he was in need of forgiveness. "No matter
how wise, no matter how gifted, no matter how influential other
prophets, gurus, and teachers might be, they had the presence of mind
to know that they were imperfect just like the rest of us."2
Jesus Christ, however, never alluded to any personal sin. Instead,
Jesus forgave people of their sin and he wants to forgive us of our
sin also. We all are aware of our faults, the areas of our lives that
may cause others to think less of us, areas that we ourselves wish
were not there...maybe it's an addiction, a bad temper, impurity,
hateful remarks. God loves us but hates sin, and he has said that the
consequence for sin is separation from knowing him. But God provided a
way for us to be forgiven and know him. Jesus, the Son of God, God in
human form, took all of our sin on himself, suffered on a cross, and
willingly died in our place. The Bible says, "By this we know love,
that he laid down his life for us."3
God is offering us complete forgiveness because of Jesus' death for
us. This means forgiveness for all our sins.... Jesus paid for them
all. God, who created the universe, loves us and wants to be in a
relationship with us. "This is how God showed his love among us: he
sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through
him."4
Through Christ, God offers us real freedom from our sin and guilt. He
does not leave a person's failures on their shoulders, with a dim hope
of becoming a better person tomorrow. In Jesus Christ, God reached
toward humanity, providing a way for us to know him. "For God so loved
the world that he sent his one and only Son, that whoever believes in
him should not perish, but have eternal life."5
Actually God wants us to know him.
We were created by God to live in relationship with him. Jesus said,
"He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me
will never be thirsty...and whoever comes to me I will never drive
away."6 Jesus called people not only to follow his teachings, but to
follow him. He said, "I am the way, and the truth and the life."7 In
claiming to be the truth, Christ goes beyond mere prophets and
teachers who simply said they were speaking the truth.8
Jesus identified himself as equal to God, and even gave proof. Jesus
said that he would be crucified on a cross and that three days after
his death, he would come back to life. He didn't say he would
reincarnate someday into a future life. (Who would know if he actually
did it?) He said three days after being buried he would show himself
alive to those who saw his crucifixion. On that third day, Jesus' tomb
was found empty and many people testified that they saw him alive
again. He now offers eternal life to us.
I can say It's a two-way relationship.
Many religions focus on a person's spiritual efforts. With Jesus
Christ it's a two-way interaction between you and God. He welcomes us
to go to him. "The Lord is near to all who call upon him, to all who
call upon him in truth."9 You can communicate with God, who will
answer your prayer, give you greater peace and joy, provide direction,
show you his love, and transform your life. Jesus said, "I came that
they might have life, and have it more abundantly."10 It will not mean
that life will become perfect and free of problems. But it means that
in the midst of life, you can relate to God who is willing to be
involved in your life and faithful in his love.
Our hope is not in following laws or standards, but in knowing a
Savior who fully accepts us because of our faith in him and his
sacrifice for us. We don't earn our place in heaven by religious
efforts or good deeds. Heaven is a free gift to us, when we begin a
relationship with Jesus Christ.
Would you like to be totally forgiven and personally come to know
God's love for you? Then start beginning a relation with God.
Beginning a relationship with God.
It is as simple as sincerely asking God for his forgiveness of your
sin and inviting him to enter your life. Jesus said, "Behold, I stand
at the door [of your heart] and knock. If anyone hears my voice and
opens the door, I will come into him."11 Would u like to begin a
relationship with the God who created you, who deeply loves you? Then
just pray a small Prayer,"God, I ask you to forgive me and invite you
to enter my heart right now. Thank you Jesus for dying for my sins.
Thank you for coming into my life as you said you would."
The Bible tells us that "as many as received him, to them he gave the
right to become children of God."12 If you sincerely asked God to come
into your life, you have begun a personal relationship with him. It is
like you have just met God and he wants to help you grow to know him
better, to know his love for you, to guide you with wisdom in whatever
decisions confront you. The book called "John" in the Bible is a good
place to learn more about a relationship with God.
In the world's religions a person has a relationship with teachings,
ideas, paths, rituals. Through Jesus, a person can have a relationship
with the loving and powerful God. You can talk with him and he will
guide you in this life now. He doesn't just point you to a path, a
philosophy, or a religion. He welcomes you to know him, to experience
joy, and to have confidence in his love in the midst of life's
challenges. "See what love the Father has given us, that we should be
called children of God."
READ BIBLE WITH SPRIT OF PROPHESY WHICH THE ADVENTIST OFFER! YOU WILL
KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT GOD !
Start each day with thanks to God
for the night of rest:
Then put your day in God's good hands,
for He alone knows the best.
No one knows when life will end,
or what will come our way,
But we face the future full of hope when we put God first each day.
"HAVE A BLESSED SABBATH AND A HAPPY WEEK AHED "
With love from Shrikanth