Treatment of Religions (Pt. 5 - final post)

In comparison the writers, both of Christian backgrounds, offered their specific flavor to interpretations of other world religions. Corduan’s, “So you meet a…” sections at the end of every chapter were of great value and often times taught much more than one can experience on one’s own. Additionally Corduan’s premise of Original Monotheism, again, helps to bolster the whole book and therein provides the reader a more substantial understanding of the historical nature and progression of all religion while still providing the facts of specific religions. Dickson’s chapter, “What’s Wrong With Jesus” furnishes the reader information that they would not normally consider especially if they were of a Christian upbringing or background. Herein lies the power of Dickson’s book, attempting to show each of the five religions regarded in their own specific light and therefore letting the reader get to know the unadulterated state of a religion as best as a Christian writer can do given his preconceptions.

            If asked to recommend one of these two books as a resource of another believer to learn about other religions, Corduan’s work would best suit the believer. While it offers many more religions to learn about this is not the primary case for choosing this book (but it does not hurt). The main reason Corduan’s book is more helpful than Dickson’s is completely based on the Original Monotheism motif, which runs the course of the book. In so doing it gives the read a deeper and richer understanding of the historical sense as well as equips them for the, now seemingly, inevitable conversation they will have with an Atheist about their faith.

            What remains after this? That Christ is the Savior of his Church and the Church is the herald of that glorious news. As Christians it is part of their purpose to know, to the best of their abilities, how to speak the gospel into other people’s lives. Therefore Christians are the bearer of wonderful news with cunning minds, able to see the myths of other belief systems (and unbelief systems) for what they are and, by the grace of God for the glory of God, proclaim,

“O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free Thine own from Satan's tyranny; from depths of Hell Thy people save, and give them victory o'er the grave… O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer; our spirits by Thine advent here; Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death's dark shadows put to flight. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.”[1]

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[1] Emanuel Veni. translated by John M Neale. O Come, O Come Emmanuel. Mediaevel Hymns, 1851

Treatment of Religion (Pt. 3)

The former part of contrasting and comparing the two assigned books of Winfried Corduan’s Neighboring Faiths A Christian Introduction to World Religions and John Dickson’s A Spectators’ Guide to World Religions An Introduction to the Big Five and their treatments of religions is to be accomplished in two main ways. First, that of the how a Christian in a Post-Christian society might be able to best use these resources and the information they contain; and second the Christian approach of both books in presenting other world religions.

The Post-Christian world is a steadily increasing mindset in America. A recent study by the Barna Group shows some ninety-six cities are listed as having higher than 10% post-Christian tendencies with the highest being 63% Post-Christian having been rated on a scale of fifteen factors of unbelief (from atheism to lack of local church attendance) . Therefore it is an ever-growing necessity to learn how to be an effective disciple of Christ in a land that is becoming increasingly ignorant and intolerant to the views of Christianity. Part of doing this is aiming at understanding the arguments, which stand as fundamental to the atheistic mindset. 

Corduan explains well the mindset, which demands our understanding, “The Evolutionary Approach,” which, “many scholars assume… rests on two assumptions. The first… is a general commitment to an evolutionary view of life and culture… The second assumption has to do with the anthropological method.” That culture and subsequently religion has moved from, “mana and magic,” to, “animism, polytheism, henotheism, and finally monotheism,” begging the question that atheism is the next move in mankind’s religious and cultural evolution.

Within this same chapter Corduan explains the merits of Original Monotheism over and above the Evolutionary Approach. In it’s most basic form, “Original monotheism locates the beginnings of religion in God.”  The first form of religion would looks something like: a God of personhood referred to in masculine terms; living in heaven; great in power and knowledge; creator; author of the standards for good and evil; causing mankind’s purpose as his creatures to be obedience to his laws; an alienation of mankind because of their disobedience; and the provider of a way of overcoming said alienation.  This is the idea of Original Monotheism Corduan sets forth at the beginning of his book. 

[1] Barna Group. The Most Post-Christian Cities. http://cities.barna.org/the-most-post-christian-cities-in-america/.

[2] Winfried Corduan. Neighboring Faiths A Christian Introduction to World Religions. P 24-32. InterVarsity Press IL, 1998.

[3] Ibid

[4] Ibid

Treatment of Religions (Pt. 1)

The list of world religions, both major and minor, is an extensive list wherein many billions of people’s hopes, ideals and aspirations are found. Truly a study of these religions is sobering and saddening whilst also being encouraging. For in the study of other religions it becomes clear the claims of Christianity must be considered valid and truthful for they are the only claims, which rise out of the dross as pure. But, however, the treatment of some of the major and minor world religions accomplished by Winfried Corduan in Neighboring Faiths A Christian Introduction to World Religions and John Dickson in A Spectators’ Guide to World Religions An Introduction to the Big Five ought to be compared and contrasted in so far as they are related; additionally it shall be noted as to the prospects of any persons from any religion outside of Christianity becoming a faithful servant of Jesus Christ.

Beginning with the latter and moving to the former what are the prospects of a person converting from another religion to Christianity? In this area arguments made by Richard Dawkins about the origin of a person as the determining factor of their beliefs must be examined in order to gain a fuller understanding of the prospects of faith in Christ for non-Christians. “If you had been born in India I daresay you’d be saying the same thing about lord Krishna and lord Shiva; if you had been born in Afghanistan I daresay you’d be saying the same thing about Allah…”[1] It is this idea, which must be confronted when considering the hope of one’s salvation from another religion.

At its heart this argument assumes that all religions are the same, with all their claims and pageantry, their attempts at saving man’s soul. In so doing it creates a straw man fallacy, rather than facing each religious claim on their own merit (or folly) it bundles them all into a neat scarecrow made of straw and proceeds to topple them over. But, however, this is stripping Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and all other religions of their religion-specific claims. For there are many something’s[2] which differentiate Christianity from the rest of religion, many doctrines that separate it from the straw man. “…While many of the religions are superficially alike, most of them are fundamentally different.”[3] To be sure karma and grace are at odds; mercy and enlightenment are at odds; Jesus the Messiah and the missing Messiah are at odds; the triune nature of God and the oneness of Allah are at odds.

Therefore, because these religions are not the same and because their fundamental claims, hopes, and aspirations are different, it becomes clear that to assume the birthplace of an individual is the final factor in their belief is rudimentary ignorance on the part of the arguer. It would be as one comparing Mozart and The Rolling Stones declaring them the same.  What is more is this argument discounts the power of God (True, it is made by an atheist and therefore is made in the sense of discrediting God).

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[1] Richard Dawkins. Richard Dawkins cruelly answers audience question.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKGtcVoBhBQ

[2] I use the word “something’s” intentionally for it is often the word used when describing the uniqueness or the under current of Christianity.

[3]John Dickson. A Spectator’s Guide to World Religions: An Introduction to the Big Five.  P. 209