by Susie M. Arviso

Created on: July 27, 2010   Last Updated: January 24, 2012

World religions as well as Christian denominations divide people when man has his "finger in the pie". Man is not infallible. He is subject to error and failure and capable of sinking to the lowest, common denominator. So if man is less than perfect, we can be sure that world religions are, also.

It would help us all to first understand what "religion" is. World religions are a dime-a-dozen and they come with their own tailored doctrines and beliefs. Some Christian denominations fall into the category of world religion.

Unlike genuine, unadulterated Christianity, world religions are created by man, often with claims of initial, divine inspiration.

Yet man isn't infallible and with all the many religions in the world exhibiting various differences, it sparks confusion to many and questions for others. World religions are man's attempts to feel spiritually elevated or connected to God.

According to the scriptures, Jesus Christ is God's provision and the way to have relationship with God.

God used His relationship with the nation of Israel as a living example to portray to the onlooking world as to who He is; what He wants, desires, requires, how He wants us to live, how He works and operates and how He loves us. His love unites people.

Jesus brings down walls. Man builds them. Even in denominations, we can see the separatist walls between denominations, which is not of Christ.

It's apparent that God's plans were well calculated and deliberate. He knows that when people trust in Jesus Christ His Son, it affords them the opportunity to be restored into fellowship with God.

World religion on the other hand can be misleading or impotent at accomplishing this. If anyone wants the truth and wants to have relationship with God, it will be Jesus they are confronted by.

The question is: "Does religion divide or segregate people?" Yes, it most definitely can and does. It is divisive in that - members must believe and keep the tenets of a religion's particular doctrines and standards.

Many religions forbid having any relationships outside the members of their own religion. Some religions instruct their members to turn their backs on their own family if they aren't "cutting the mustard" in keeping to the rules.

Jesus didn't come to start a new, world religion, nor did He instruct His followers to separate and and build walls of separatism in Christian denominations. He came to save all from the penalty of sin and make it possible for us to have personal relationship with

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