RELIGION: 101 PART ONE

RELIGION: 101
WHAT IS IT?
[Why do we believe what we believe?]

Exactly why do we believe what we believe? For all intents and purposes can you explain why you believe what you believe? And the most interesting question: Why do you call yourself a Christian? Are you sure you want to be classified as a Christian?

Okay before you get upset let me explain. What I want to do is get you to see why you believe the way you do. To see if what you believe is solid and truthful. As to being classified as a Christian, when you see what groups are considered to be Christian, you will hopefully understand why I included that question.

Let us get that one out of the way first. Christianity is at the top of the list in world religions at 33%. But that 33% includes all of the following groups.

Catholic
Protestant
Eastern Orthodox
Pentecostal
Anglican
Monophysite
AIC’s
Latter-Day Saints
Evangelical
SDA’s
Jehovah’s Witnesses
Quakers
AOG
Nominal, etc.

Sounds like that commercial on TV when the children are reading the back of the peanut butter, what is that anyway. Well, I am sure that you do know some of the names. But, if you are like me, some of them just plain come out of left field. Still want to be classified as a Christian? We will look at some of these a little more later. First let me finish the list of the major world religions.

21%Islam
Shiite
Sunn
Etc.
16% Nonreligious
Agnostic
Atheist
Secular humanist
People answering no or no preference
½ of this group theistic but nonreligious
14% Hinduism
6% Primal-indigenous
[Includes African Traditional
and Diroporic]
65 Chinese Traditional
6% Buddhism
0.36% Sikhism
0.22% Judaism

This list is only of major religions. During the 1800's comparative religion scholars increasingly recognized Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism as the most significant "world religions." Even today, these are considered the "Big Five" and are the religions most likely to be covered in world religion books.

Five smaller or more localized religions/philosophies brought the list of world religions to ten: Confucianism, Taoism, Jainism, Shinto and Zoroastrianism.

There are many distinct religions or religious movements which have more adherents than some of the classical world religions, but which are not part of the classical list for various reasons.

These reasons include:
the religions which are not included on the classical list are too new (Scientology, Neo-Paganism)
they are concentrated in only one country (Cao Dai, Ch'ondogyo, Tenrikyo)
they lack identifiable central organizations or unifying scriptural literature (Neo-Paganism, New Age, Spiritism)
their adherents primarily name a different, more established traditional religion as their religious preference (most practitioners of Vodoun are nominal Catholics, practitioners of New Age religions are often nominally Protestant, Catholic or Jewish)
their religion is still strongly associated with a major religion from which it arose, but no longer wishes to be an official part of (Tenrikyo and many other Japanese New Religious Movements, as well as many religions emerging from Indian/Hindu environments)


Is this getting interesting yet?

I hope you are enjoying it, because there is much more.

If we just studied the different groups that are listed, we would come away with knowledge of the beliefs and traditions of those groups. You would have a basic understanding of teachings, ceremonies, and maybe some of the culture that is behind it.

What you would not have is proof that any of those beliefs are correct or incorrect.
You would probably come away with the conclusion that while you might not agree with all of each, you may find some comfort and moral guidance in each. If you try to compare the teachings of one against another, your only measure would be does it seem appropriate for you. Would you expect to find proof that one is true and the others are all false? Do we not believe that our way is right? How then can we prove that we are right and the others are wrong?

When comparing religions we need to look for that which can be proved. Not for what we have in common. And so let us look at some of these and prove or disprove what they believe is true or false. I am sure that you are sitting there reading this and saying; well I know that one or that one is not true. Why? Because you know it isn’t. Then what is it that makes it not true? It is only in looking at what can be proved that we can understand why we do believe that which we say we believe.

We are going to look at these beliefs and see were they were founded, and exactly what there beliefs are. Some we will glance briefly at and others we will go more in depth. Sit back and get ready for Religion 101. I believe you will be surprised at what you find out.

I want us to start by looking at the following scriptures and remembering them as we look at the beliefs and traditions of these religions.

His Word never changes
Hebrew 1:8 But unto the Son [he saith], Thy throne , O God , [is] for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness [is] the sceptre of thy kingdom.
1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

The only way to God is through His Son Jesus
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

We have angels to guide and protect us but even they tell us not to bow down to them.
Psa 91:11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
Rev 22:8-9 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I feel down to worship before the feet of the angel which showed me these things.
9) Then saith he unto me, see thou do it not; for I am they fellow servant, and of they brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
Rev 19:9-10 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, "These are the true sayings of God.
10) And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not; I am they fellow servant, and of they brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

We shall have no other god's before Jesus
Exodus 20:3 Thou shalt have on other gods before me.

We are not to take or add to the Word of God
Rev 27:18-19 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book. If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book
19) And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

God Bless
rECj/LJG