AREN'T ALL RELIGIONS BASICALLY THE SAME?

We've both worked with students a long time, and this question
is one that we've heard over and over again. It's a good question.
One that deserves an answer: NO! Now, that may sound a bit harsh,
but it makes total sense when you stop to think about it.

Almost nothing in this world is "all the same." When you go to
Baskin-Robbins to get ice cream, the flavors aren't all the same.
You have 31 different types of ice cream to choose from! Starbucks

sells all kinds of coffee. You can get a one-dollar cup of plain ol' stuff
or pay five dollars for one with mocha, caramel, and whipped cream.
Try going to a bike shop and saying, "I'd like to buy a bike, please.
Any bike will do since they're all the same." The mullet-headed,
nose-pierced, bike-shop-owner dude would look at you as if you
looked weird or something.

Religions aren't all the same, either. They may have some things
in common, but they aren't all the same. Some of the ways religions
are different from each other include what they teach about God, what
they teach about Jesus, what they teach about getting to heaven, and
what they teach about the Bible. There are other differences, but
those are the biggies.

Another question we hear a lot is, "Are all religions true?" Again,
another good question that deserves an answer: NO! The reason all
religions can't be true isn't just because they're different. Different
types of coffee are still true coffees, and different ice cream flavors
are still true ice creams. The reason all religions can't all be true is
because they all hold different beliefs that they claim as truth...beliefs
that are totally opposite from each other. If beliefs about the same thing
are opposite from each other, they can't both be true.

A simple example is how somebody gets to heaven. Christianity
says that heaven is a free gift. Many other religions believe a
ticket to heaven must be earned. Christianity believes that the
gift of heaven is given to us through Jesus, God's Son. Many
other religions believe that Jesus was a good guy but wasn't God's
Son and has nothing to do with heaven. How can both be true?

Another difference between Christianity and other religions?
Christianity isn't just a religion. Most religions make a big deal
out of making sure you say the right stuff, do the right stuff, and
stay away from the wrong stuff. Most religions focus on looking
good on the outside. And while Christianity holds outward behavior

as important, it's not the most important thing--it's about friendship
with Jesus. And a true friendship with Jesus doesn't have a whole
lot in common with religion.

**

Taken from "My Faith" by Kurt Johnston and Mark Oestreicher,
copyright 2006, Youth Specialties/Zondervan. Used by permission.
Order the book here.
https://shop.youthspecialties.com/store/product.php?productid=323

Also available in your local Christian bookstore.