Apologetics Camp Session 5 Other Religions

Overview Existence of God Reliability of the Bible Who Jesus Was The Resurrection of Jesus

What is Christianity? One God

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” What is Christianity? “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” Deuteronomy 6:4

What is Christianity? “We know that An idol is nothing at all in the world and that There is no God but one. For even if there are so- called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many gods and many lords), yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.” 1 Corinthians 8:4-6

What is Christianity? One God Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior

What is Christianity? I and the Father are one. Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me? We are not stoning you for any good work, they replied, but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God. John 10:30-33

What is Christianity? “Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

What is Christianity? “Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.” John 11:25-26

What is Christianity? One God Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior Jesus’ Resurrection

What is Christianity? 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 "Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born." 1 Corinthians 15:1-8

What is Christianity? "And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith." 1 Corinthians 15:14

What is Christianity? One God Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior Jesus’ Resurrection Salvation by Grace through Faith

What is Christianity? “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

What is Christianity? “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6

What is Christianity? Ephesians 2:1-10

Nicene Creed We believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father by whom all things were made; who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man, and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried, and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end.

Nicene Creed And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And we believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. And we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Christian Denominations Catholicism Eastern Orthodox Protestant (Lutheranism, Baptist, Presbyterian, non-denominational, etc.)

The Problem of Other Religions 4,200 Faiths

The Problem of Other Religions Pluralism - There is not one true religious faith. Particularism - There is one religious faith with exclusive authenticity.

Pluralism - Two Types 1.) All religions are equally true. 2.) All religions have part of the truth.

In Defense of Particularism Pluralism is incoherent. Particularists can actually respect other beliefs even while disagreeing with them. There may be evidence for one particular faith tradition that outshines the rest. Parallels - Morality, Science

Evaluating Christianity in Light of Other Faiths We have already provided a strong, affirmative case. No need to refute every other possibility! Most religious traditions do not have an evidential basis. Christianity has a number of compelling unique characteristics.

Judaism VARIETIES GOD One God (monotheism) SCRIPTURE Orthodox, Conservative, Reform GOD One God (monotheism) SCRIPTURE Tanakh (Old Testament) FOUNDER Abraham AFTERLIFE Mixed Views (Most believe in physical resurrection) SALVATION Works? CHRIST? Good religious teacher, not Messiah

Islam Sunni, Shia Physical resurrection VARIETIES GOD One God (monotheism) SCRIPTURE Quran (Koran) FOUNDER Muhammad AFTERLIFE Physical resurrection SALVATION Works Based. Five Pillars of Islam CHRIST? Wonderful prophet of God. Did not die on the cross.

Qur'an, sura 4 (An-Nisa) ayat 157-158 What is Christianity? That they said (in boast), "We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah";- but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not:- Nay, Allah raised him up unto Himself; and Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise; Qur'an, sura 4 (An-Nisa) ayat 157-158

Buddhism Siddhārtha Gautama (Buddha) Reincarnation GOD SCRIPTURE No God (or God does not matter) SCRIPTURE Buddhavacana (the Word of the Buddha) FOUNDER Siddhārtha Gautama (Buddha) AFTERLIFE Reincarnation SALVATION Nirvana (end of individual self-identity). Follow the 4 Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path CHRIST? Respect as religious teacher.

Buddhism - 4 Noble Truths Life means suffering The origin of suffering is attachment The Cessation of suffering is attainable The path to the cessation of suffering

Buddhism - 8 Fold Path

Hinduism 4 Castes Reincarnation VARIETIES GOD Many Gods (polytheism) SCRIPTURE The Vedas (and The Upanishads) FOUNDER None AFTERLIFE Reincarnation SALVATION Moksha - Becoming ‘one’ with God. Works Based. CHRIST? Possibly an incarnation of the god Vishnu

Mormonism GOD Multiple Gods (polytheism). God is physical. SCRIPTURE Bible + Book of Mormon + Doctrine and Covenants FOUNDER Joseph Smith AFTERLIFE Faithful mormons can eventually become gods. SALVATION Works CHRIST? Literal son of God.

Jehovah’s Witnesses GOD One God (non-Trinitarian) SCRIPTURE FOUNDER The Bible (New World Translation - questionable!) FOUNDER Charles Taze Russell (Watchtower Society) AFTERLIFE 144,000 in Heaven. The rest rule with Christ on Earth. SALVATION Works CHRIST? God’s first creation. Archangel Michael. Not divine.

Scientology GOD believe in muti-gods some are better or higher then others SCRIPTURE limited solely to what L. Ron Hubbard writes FOUNDER L Ron Hubbard AFTERLIFE ??? SALVATION you go through reincarnation untill you are audited CHRIST? Believe to be a non god or demi god that gained important status through out time CRAZY

The Problem of Hell Is everybody who accepts a different faith damned? And what about those who never heard the Gospel?

The Problem of Hell Foundational Belief: Jesus sacrifice on the cross and resurrection from the dead were NECESSARY for anybody whatsoever to be saved. The question is HOW that salvation is applied.

The Problem of Hell - Easy Cases Hitler Stalin Exceedingly wicked people who rape, torture, kill.

The Problem of Hell - Problem Cases Old Testament saints before Jesus Infants and unborn People who have never heard the Gospel People who seem to be “nice” but happen to have the wrong theology.

3 Views Exclusivism Inclusivism Universalism

3 Views on Who is Saved “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because 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.” Rom. 1:18-20

3 Views on Who is Saved “For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness, and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them.” Rom. 2:14-15

3 Views on Who is Saved “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Romans 10:14-15

3 Views on Who is Saved “Then Peter began to speak: I now realize 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

3 Views on Who is Saved “God will repay each person according to what they have done. To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self- seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism.” Romans 2:6-11

3 Views on Who is Saved This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. 1 Timothy 2:3-6

Christian Distinctions Christianity is the only truly grace-based religious faith. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

Christian Distinctions Christianity stakes it’s truth on a historical event. “If Christ has not been risen, our preaching is useless and so is our faith” 1 Corinthians 15:17

Christian Distinctions The Message of Christ Jesus Christ’s ministry, works, and message form the foundation of the Christian worldview. We can be confident in the truth of Christianity because we can be confident in Christ!

QUESTIONS?