When addressing Christianity there seems to be a difference of opinion on whether or not it is simply just another religion.
Religion is defined by Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary as: (1): the service and worship of God or the supernatural (2): commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance (3): a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices (4) archaic: scrupulous conformity: conscientiousness (5): a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith.
By these definitions I suppose that it is. If we accept Christianity as nothing more or less, than there is no reason whatsoever not to accept other religions. They are just as valid as Christianity is, insomuch as other cultures and beliefs have validity compared to our Western culture and beliefs. Whether the religion is based upon ancient traditions that predate Christ by thousands of years or have more contemporary origins within the last century, they are all valid in their own right. I might even go so far as to say my consumption of coffee every morning is so committed that it could be seen as religious. I could set up an altar in my kitchen strewn with coffee beans and begin by worshipping Java every morning. I am good with my religion, you are good with yours, and we all will get to heaven in a great big tugboat together in our own way.
However.
Christianity is in actuality far more than merely a religion. It is a relationship with Jesus Christ. It is more than just a codified set of rules to live by, or an ideal to ascend to, or something or someone to have faith in. It is a daily walk, a renewing of the mind, a reshaping of the heart, a quickening of the spirit, a salvation from eternal death that awaits us all. It is a restoration to the presence of our Heavenly Father that we would simply not have were it not for the priceless gift of His son, Jesus, who bore the weight of our sins on a cross more than 2000 years ago.
If we, as Christians, believe this to be true than by default we must accept certain immutable, fundamental tenets of truth. The Christian faith has Christ and His life, death and resurrection as the lynchpin, the cornerstone of our belief. As such there is no other path to salvation but Christ Himself: "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (Jhn 14:6) He came to bring us restoration to our Heavenly Creator, who made us and desired fellowship with us. He wants no one and nothing else to take His place in our lives: "I [am] the LORD thy GodThou shalt have no other gods before me." (Exd 20:2,3)
The world will distract us and lie to us, and do its best to draw us away from our Heavenly Father. It will tantalize us with earthly desires, tempt us with wonton lusts, and lure us with sparkling jewels. The world will even try to lull us to sleep with complacency, apathy and a false sense of peace and passivity, all in the name of tolerance. [Jesus said,] "Wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Mat 7:13-14)
The gift of salvation is an amazing, miraculous gift of Grace. And we are by no means to horde it, keeping it selfishly for ourselves. We are to "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, [even] unto the end of the world." (Mat 28:19, 20) We are to make disciples of men, sharing with all nations and all people the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ.
This is not, as some would have you believe, a message of intolerance. This is a heart-felt cry to all nations and cultures and beliefs: you can secure the fate of your eternal soul through salvation. Your Father in Heaven, like the shepherd who leaves the whole flock just to find the one lost sheep, has sent this message to you. He wants you back, sitting at His banquet table, in fellowship with Him and all His children.
As followers of Christ, we are called to love all people, regardless of their color or creed. But truly loving them means that you care for them enough not to leave them in their fallen, sinful and broken condition. Just as the Good Samaritan cared enough for the man lying on the roadside to take care of his broken body, we as Christians are called to take care of our fellow humanity's broken soul. We are called to bring the message of salvation to the entire world. It will not make you popular: as a matter of fact it will be a "stumbling block" (1Cr 1:23 ) to most everyone, especially if they hold to a different faith or religion.
But ask yourself: do you care enough for someone to tell them they are living in sin and doomed to eternity in Hell if they don't take Christ as their Savior? Or are you more concerned with just getting along with everyone?