by Jessica Barno

Created on: April 29, 2009

Is There Room in Christianity for "Other Beliefs?"

No.

In modern society, to answer "no" to a question such as this may appear to have a certain air of intolerance and closed-mindedness. This is not the case. In fact, if Christianity had room in its ancient and complex history for beliefs other than what have already been accepted and revered in the Bible, then Christianity would quickly no longer be Christianity.

Christianity began as the belief that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ by many Jews at the time of His birth. His teachings quickly spread and His death and resurrection fulfilled Jewish prophecy of the Messiah, or "the anointed one." Fundamentally speaking, there are certain things that were not, and are not accepted by the Christian belief system based on Jesus' teachings. To begin allowing "other beliefs" to cross the fine line between what is acceptable by Christianity and what is not is slowly blurring the line of what Christianity is considered to be. Like a line drawn in the sand, the more it is crossed, the harder it becomes to see.

Similarly, there are things that are fundamentally unacceptable by those of the Muslim religion, as well as things unacceptable by the Buddhist, Hindu, Wiccan, and Jewish religions based on their respective origins and teachings. If there must be room in Christianity for other beliefs, then I believe it is fair to ask that there be room in every other religion for "other beliefs." To exclude "other beliefs" from these religions would be intolerant, would it not?

If formerly objectionable beliefs are allowed to penetrate any belief system or religion, including Christianity, then that religion loses some of its originality and societal value. Conceivably, so many "other beliefs" could be allowed into the realms of orthodox religions that major religions could cease to exist altogether. Each religion would be slowly broken down by "other beliefs" that were allowed to cross into its field of acceptance. The masses would simply hold uncategorizable systems of beliefs that would follow no particular major form of religion. In this form of unorganized religion (although unorganized religion is not necessarily a bad thing) people may lose so much common ground that communication and understanding becomes very difficult, only adding to the problem of societal intolerance.

In essence, no, there is no room in Christianity for other beliefs, just like there is no room for other beliefs in Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Wiccanism, or any other major belief system if its followers wish its legacy to survive. Therefore, it is not necessarily an argument of tolerance, but one of survival of societal change.

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