Rev M Bresciani

Comparative Religion 101 – What They Won't Tell You in That Class



Posted: Monday, October 24, 2005

by
Rev Michael Bresciani

Almost every four year liberal arts college has at least one comparative religions course. These courses are meant to touch the surface of each major religion and illustrate the basic differences or similarities. Are these courses effective, or should we say, are they even honest?

If your view of religion is like most people, you think that religion is a list of do’s and don’ts or a set of rules, laws or other directives that should be guiding your behavior. What is taught in comparative religion courses is based on this simple premise. New Testament Christianity is thrown into this generalized heap usually by people who are not Christians and have no understanding of what Christ stands for. You might say I am making an excuse for them, but I am not. The result of this assumption can produce the greatest loss any man could ever endure.

If rules and ordinances are what makes a real religion then New Testament Christianity would barely make it into the list. It has only two outward or ceremonial ordinances and neither of them can produce salvation. They are water baptism and the communion or breaking of bread. What Jesus said was that he came to give men life (John 10:10), not another religion. Thank God he knew we already had enough of them. Here is one of the major differences between Christianity and every religion that came before or after it. When God sent his Son into the world to die for our sins, then resurrect him from the dead he was in effect saying, knock it off! He doesn’t require our feeble attempts to placate him with our endless religious hokey pokey. Essentially God was saying, stop trying to please me with those things you dream up and I will show you who I am and exactly what I want. What small child can possibly think of the best way to please his Dad? No child should have to decide what that is a decent father sets the parameters and makes them known to his children. He already loves them because they are his, why would he require them to perform to make him love them more.

That real Christianity is not a religion but a way of life is given more credence by another little known fact. The Bible uses the word “religion" only five times and only once is it given a definition. That definition (James 1:27) offers no list of do’s and don’ts, no nine fold path, no Mosaic burdens and no stifling ceremonial ordinances. No one could give the New Testament a serious read and say Christ started a new religion. What he started was a way to deal with our sins, both now and for all eternity.

Most religions are like doors that keep men out until they have done the work, performed the rituals, jumped through the hoops, cleaned up their act or something even harder than all that. Jesus who said he was the door (John 10:7) has become the passage into Gods presence both now and for eternity. He requires repentance and then a dedication to Him and his words but, and I do mean but, he never sets up any religious rules, codes, or requirements. There are no ceremonies, liturgies, or imaginary scales in the sky that are there to measure your goods and bads on a daily basis.

God said there are no other Gods he alone made all there is including us. He isn’t jealous of other Gods, there aren’t any other Gods. He revealed himself through the patriarchs and prophets and finally through his Son. The history of man is cluttered with mans feeble and mistaken attempts to create God or a whole pantheistic slew of them from his own imagination or worse, with the help of the God of this world. (Satan) God has provided a clearer and far more approachable path to take the nonsense and guesswork out of it. But alas, mans propensity for religion is second only to his propensity for sin.

We would rather build shrines and cathedrals we would prefer a set of rules and regulations rather than accepting a free gift from God. He offers the gift quite apart from any thing we could dream up hey that’s why it is called a gift. Picture Peter, James and John looking at what most of will never see until the second coming of Christ. Jesus magnificently transfigured before them in a glowing radiance. Instead of standing in awe or quietly gazing and listening perhaps to learn something, instead they decide to build a shrine or a “Tabernacle" (Mt. 17:4) Jesus doesn’t reply to Peter who suggested the tabernacle but God the Father does. In one short reply God sums up the matter of shrines, tabernacles, laws, codes ceremonies, liturgies and all the other religious notions of men. He said…"This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased hear ye him." Mt. 17:4b

That some of the religions that are compared in a comparative religions course are ancient and perhaps predate Christianity is often the argument for their veracity. The Bible says that God winked at mans former idolatries but after he sent his Son, those excuses would no longer stand. That man has held onto religions that do not lead to God for so long is only proof of our penchant for idolatry. Lots of things are ancient, that says nothing about their usefulness. Why should religion be any different?

Before Mohammed died he said some truth had been revealed to him. Before Buddha died he exclaimed that he was still searching for the truth. Jesus said quite clearly that he was the truth, John 14:6. The last time I checked the shortest distance between two points was still a straight line. I prefer the straight line when it comes to my entire future don’t you. Jesus is the straight line to God and as far as putting him along side others in a comparative religions course, there is little hope of making comparisons with one who sets the definition of incomparable.

Rev Bresciani is the author of two books and has many articles both online and in print. Visit his website at www.americanprophet.org

This Article has been viewed 2,798 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)
» left by Job
from Oregon 4 years 244 days ago.
I am studying to challenge the Introduction to Religion course by taking a DANTE test. This article is spot on at describing salvation and God's Forgiveness of our sins. As Paul said, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (KJV, Eph. 2:8-9)
» left by Rev Michael
from Bresciani 4 years 243 days ago.
Job, Excellent, I often refuted things that I learned in college that I took exception with. I once told my historical geology teacher that I would give him the answers I knew he wanted to see on each quiz or test. I added that I didn't believe one word of what he was saying. We respected each other to the end and were fully aware of our disparaging views. Unfortunately someone could get severly reprimanded, failed or expelled in the present climate. Tolerance it seems, is for Christians to learn. Others are free to be brazenly intolerent in the name of PC, liberalism, education or just "we have always taught this." (which they have not) Students are still encouraged to question everything and especially authority. I'm sure that this call to question stops at the desk of the prof or school admin. It would have to get through a barrage of snickering students who have questioned nothing so far. I wa sglad to get of secular studies and into the seminary. One of the best experiences of my life. Be strong, brother MB
» left by GK
from Brooklyn 2 years 33 days ago.
Sir, You're essentially saying you would rather not take into account any other religion but rather be narrow-minded in your approach to religion, something you probably were brought into when you were born, not willingly. In no way do I mean to offend you or attack you, and in no way am I attempting to ridicule/attack your beliefs.
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.