Khrietuonyü Noudi
Let’s begin the discourse by analyzing what a belief system is. A belief system is usually considered to be a set of principles or tenets which together form the basis of a religion, philosophy, or moral code. Another definition defines a belief system as an ideology or set of principles that helps us to interpret our everyday reality. This could be in the form of religion, political affiliation, philosophy or spirituality among many other things.
Thus, from this perspective, every religion can be viewed as a belief system because every religion has its own dogmas, tenets and principles. Whether it is in Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism or any other religion, there are things which are permissible and which are not.
From a common sense’s perspective, Christianity is no different from any other religion. And it is totally normal for anyone to view all religions as same in one way or the other and that all religions are different paths to the same destination i.e. God. Maybe this was why Mahatma Gandhi said, “all religions are true but all religions have some errors in them”.
From a secular point of view, it is also not abnormal to think that believing in any kind of God will do because God is not concerned with how you pray and worship as long as you are acknowledging the Supreme Being. General human understanding also tells us that there is no contradiction between beliefs in different gods because all religious beliefs are simply manifestations of man’s longing for a higher being.
Historically also, we are made to understand that Buddhism was founded by a man named Gautama Buddha, Islam by the prophet Mohammad, Sikhism by Guru Nanak and Christianity by Jesus Christ and so on and so forth. Thus, it is easy to assume that all religions are the same because they were started by some remarkable historical figures who claimed to have encountered God. It is also easy to assume that all religions are good because all religions advocate universal virtues like love, brotherhood, compassion, humility, forgiveness, repentance, etc. In the same way, all religions preach against evils like adultery, theft, murder, fornication, injustice etc. So from a general perspective, it is easy to come to the conclusion that all religions are basically the same and there is no harm in being the follower of any kind of religion because all religions are noble and righteous.
Another similarity we find amongst religions is that almost all religions have their own respective so-called Holy Book according to which the belief systems are built. For the Hindus, it is the Bhagavat Gita, for the Muslims it is the Quran and for the Christians it is the Bible and so on and so forth.
Likewise, all religions are also built and revolved around its own central figure who at one point of time in history walked upon the face of the earth and revealed God to the people. For instance, the central figure in Buddhism is Gautama Buddha who lived in India around the 6th century BC and is said to have gotten enlightenment after sitting and meditating under a peepal tree for 49 days. For the followers of Jainism religion, it is Lord Mahavira who is considered the divine and holy one. For the Jews, the central figure of their belief system is Abraham. For the Muslims the central figure is the prophet Mohammad who lived around the 6th century AD and is believed to be the last great prophet of God. For the Hindus, the central figures are mythological deities like Krishna, Rama, Shiva etc.
And for the Christians, their whole belief system revolves around Jesus Christ who is considered to be God Himself in the flesh and who lived in the Palestine area some 2000 years ago and who was crucified on a Roman Cross but rose again from death after three days.
Thus, viewed from all the above perspectives and considerations, it is easy to assume that there is not much differences between the religions of the world and that all religions are basically the same and thus there is no point in arguing over religion, considering oneself better than others or trying to convert people of other faiths into one’s own. With this view and understanding, many wise people over the centuries have advocated that humans should respect each others’ religions and learn to live in peace and harmony even while living our lives following different belief systems. And from the general human understanding, this can be considered totally “fair and square” and acceptable.
But the Biblical God says something entirely different and radical from this general worldview. The Bible says that there is only one God who created everything. The Bible says that all other religions are just belief systems and its followers revere and worship non-existent gods created out of man’s imagination. The Bible also says that Jesus is not just a historical figure but that he is the true god who lived amongst men some 2000 years ago to open the eyes of man to the only true God that ever was, is and will be. The Bible also says that all the founders of the other religions who were able to amass massive followers were all false prophets and like blind men leading blind men. The Bible also says that it is not just a reference book for a belief system but that it is the true word of God. It also says that Christianity is not another word for a set of belief system but Christianity is all about coming to know the true and living God through the person of Jesus Christ and having a daily personal relationship with Him.
So, even if anybody thinks that Christianity is just another religion or that Jesus Christ is just another historical figure who came along and founded Christianity some 2000 years ago, it is absolutely normal because, in normal human understanding, it all seems to be just and fine. But for someone who has really understood the teachings of the Bible and encountered God through Christ, Christianity is not just another belief system but something much deeper, higher and marvelous.
So, for a person who has come to truly believe the gospel, all other religions or belief systems are nonsense and belief systems created out of human imaginations or twisted versions of some truths found in the Bible. Of course, there is no denying that the Bible also has many contradictions and many passages which may mean different things to different people.
For me also, there was a time when I viewed and considered Christianity just as another religion. There was a time when I considered Jesus Christ as just another great historical figure who walked upon the face of the earth 2000 years ago and started Christianity. There was a time when a church was no different to me from a mosque or a temple. There was also a time when I wondered how a book like the Bible written so many years ago could still have so much influence and appeal to many people all over the world.
And even today also, there are still many Bible passages which are unintelligible to me. Today also there are still many Bible Verses which seem to be totally absurd, illogical and fantastical.
But today, I must admit that Christianity is something much more than just a mere belief system. It is not just a religion but that it is totally unique and different from other religions. I don’t blame people who view Christianity as just another religion. But for me Christianity is now much more than that. Skeptics also say that Jesus was not different from Buddha or Mohammad but I say Jesus was there even before Buddha and that he is here today even after Mohammad.
Though I still don’t understand the entire Bible, I do believe beyond the shadow of a doubt that man is created in the image of God but because of his selfish and rebellious nature, he fell short of the glory of God. I do believe that Jesus Christ was the Creator who existed before time and came and dwelt amongst men 2000 years ago and died and rose again to show us that death became part of man’s destiny because of his own sinful thoughts and desires but that there is power over death. It’s funny we often wonder why God is invisible to us. But the truth is that when God became visible to us through the person of Jesus Christ 2000 years ago, we crucified him on a Roman Cross. Thus now, as my eyes are opened to all these marvelous revelations through the treasures that are found in the Bible, I have no qualms in saying that Christianity is much more than a belief system…….
