The question that has been discussed since the dawn of time, is there one true religion? This brings about many of the questions that man has posed since his creation such as, “Is there an absolute truth?” “What am I here for?” “What’s right and whats wrong?” “What defines these?” “Can one religion, one god really answer all these questions?” Indeed there is one religion, one faith that can answer all these questions, and is the source of truth.
Only Christianity is supported from secular sources such as archeological evidence, scientific backing, and secular writings. Archeologists have found that Mesopatamians, Egyptians, and Greeks all record about the Great Flood as mentioned in Genesis 6-8. The Old Testament records also of King Uzziah, of whom archeologists even found his tomb.
Another argument against Christianity is that many have thought that John was inaccurate in his wording of the Gospel because many of the cites and places of which he reported had yet to be discovered. Until recently that is. Places such as Jacob’s Well, the Pool of Bethesda, the existence of Pilate himself even. All of these have recently been discovered by archeologists and therefore account at least a little accuracy to what John had written, obliterating the argument that if John wasn’t faithful in accurately reporting places and people than how could he be accurate on things like the topics of the personality, deity of Christ, or miracles.
It’s often pointed by skeptics that because Luke reports that Jesus was entering Jericho and Mark claims that Jesus was exiting Jericho when He preformed a certain healing, that this must discredit the accuracy of Luke. However often times cities would be rather scattered, existing in many places all at once. If the city was destroyed in one piece of the land and was being built closer to a mountain or to a river the city could have been in both the destroyed place as well as the new city where it was being rebuilt. Both indeed were still the city of Jericho making it possible therefore for Jesus to be both leaving and entering the same city.
As for proof of the Crucifixion “Many of the painters and most of the sculptors of crucifixion, also show the nails through the palms. Historical Roman accounts and experimental work have established that the nails were driven between the small bones of the wrists (radial and ulna) and not through the palms. Nails driven through the palms will strip out between the fingers when made to support the weight of the human body. The misconception may have come about through a misunderstanding of Jesus’ words to Thomas, “Observe my hands.” Anatomists, both modern and ancient, have always considered the wrist as part of the hand.” as said in the article by Dr. C. Truman Davis. Another point in which many skeptics call upon is the fact that Jesus sweat blood at Gethsemane. However, it is indeed a recorded medical condition called hematidrosis. Though not common, it can occur during times of high psychological stress. Considering that Jesus was praying about the upcoming events of the following days He was indeed under a great deal of psychological stress as He prayed.
There are eight leading religions in America today these are as follows: Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Wicca, Buddhism, Sikhisim, and Bahá’í World Faith. Seven of these are flawed and tragic results of man’s rebellion and self reliance. The Way, the Truth, and the Life stands alone as the only faith that is accurate and without self contradiction within its core beliefs. Firstly, reviewing the others sevens undeniable contradictions it will be possible to address the questions of supposed inaccuracy of the Christian scriptures.
Judaism is accurate however it is only half the story of God’s redemptive works within mankind. Old testament scriptures clearly indicate the persecution, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ however the Jews look past what Christians call the first coming of the Messiah, and look towards what Christians call the second coming of the Christ. This theology indicates that, according to the Jewish belief, when the Messiah comes He will restore all things to as they should be and restore all creation to what it was supposed to be before the Fall of mankind. This is the fallacy of the Jewish belief without going into Kabbalisim and Jewish Mysticism.
Secondly, as for Islam it contradicts itself in small and large areas. Firstly it contradicts itselfmultiple times over on exactly how many days it took their deity to create the heavens and the earth. These contradictions appear in verses in Quran 7:54, 10:3, 11:7, where it claims that the heavens and earth were created within six days, yet later we see in verses 41:9-12 that it took eight days to create the heavens and the earth. Another simple error is that it claims that a day to Allah is equal to 1000 years and also 50000 years in verses Quran 22:47 and 70:4. Even going on to a theological level the contradictions within the Islamic faith are astounding. For example, it claims that man was made from blood, clay, dust, or nothing. It claims that man was made from one of these but cites each throughout the Quran.
Next glancing at Hinduism it is a polytheistic religion that worships countless deities that all supposedly control different aspects of life and the world around. There are four main castes in the Indian culture and only the first two are permitted to read any of the random writing that make up the rituals and prayers of Hinduism. Almost all the writings consist of explicit and perverse sexual demands, condoning bestiality, and even rape as seen in “Surely, a woman who has changed her clothes at the end of her menstrual period is the most auspicious of women. When she has changed her clothes at the end of her menstrual period, therefore, one should approach that splendid woman and invite her to have sex. Should she refuse to consent, he should bribe her. If she still refuses, he should beat her with a stick or with his fists and overpower her, saying: “I take away the splendor from you with my virility and splendor” (6.4.9,21). (Brhadārankyaka Upanishad ) All Hindu scriptures are discounted as actual scriptures however most beliefs are passed down through oral tradition as most of the Indians are considered illiterate. There is found no legitimacy to any of their claims through any scientific findings to support their beliefs.
Wicca is the practice of witch craft. Though it is said that it is not Satanic in nature however those who have left the covens testify of the Satanic practices that range from simple ooijia boards, to human sacrifice, and cannibalism. The book of writings they believe in is called the Book of Shadows.
This acts as an instruction manual for the rituals and spells that the Wiccan covens practice, it originates in the 1940’s to the 1950’s by Gerald Gardner who used it in his Bricket Wood Coven as they called themselves. In 2010 a woman was arrested in Albuquerque for human sacrifice in a wiccan cult celebration of spring. Wicca has no scripture of their beliefs and such short history that it is not falsifiable, meaning it can neither be proven or disproven.
Buddhism also has a darker side to it, including a practice by Tibetan Buddhists of going off into a secluded place within the woods where they meditate, or commune with “Awakened-beings”. After getting in to a proper trance state they use the power of visualization to imagine them slicing their own cranium open and walking deeper in to the woods and offering their own brains as sacrifice to be eaten by demons. After this begins they then begin to dismember themselves and offer every piece as a sacrifice. Nearly every single time the person dies, and so does some of the secular reporters who traveled with to record the experience. Those that escape report a strong dark presence in the rituals.
Skihisim is a mix between Islam and Hinduism. Skihits believe in one God, however they also believe in reincarnation. They also believe in only 5 sins: anger, greed, lust, attachment, and pride. Skihits base their beliefs on the teachings of Guru Nanak established Sikhism 500 years ago in the Indian state of Punjab. Bahá’í World Faith was established in 1844, with Baha’u’llah who promised to be the one that all religions and all cultures had been waiting on as a twisted version of a Messiah.
Christianity stands alone as the one true religion. It stand alone because of the authenticity of its writings, because of the confirmation of secular evidence of which all the others lack. It stands alone as the only one of whose miracles and powers cannot be opposed. It is the sole faith in which works does not earn salvation, but in turn that salvation comes and works follows as a result. All the other religions, both listed and unlisted, require some sort of endless amount of works or deeds or sacrifices to obtain the favor of their gods to bring them salvation. Demons require endless sacrifices and rituals, but God came and filled the one sin sacrifice we could not achieve on our own. God took the punishment upon Himself to save us back to Him.
Citations
Mirza, Syed. ” Samples of Quranic Contradictions, Inconsistencies and Errors.” faithfreedom.org. faithfreedom.org, n.d. Web. 17 Oct 2013. .
Slick, Matt “Contradictions in the Qur’an” carm.org, Web 17 Oct 2013
Sikih outreach, . “History, and Beliefs .” http://www.sikhoutreach.org. http://www.sikhoutreach.org, n.d. Web. 23 Oct 2013. .
Maier, Paul L. . “Biblical Archaeology: Factual Evidence to Support the Historicity of the Bible.” equip.org. Christian Research Journal, n.d. Web. 23 Oct 2013. .
