by Thomas Bailey

Created on: January 24, 2008

Unity. Peace. Understanding. Tolerance. Cooperation. These are things which

all, or at least most, of us want in our world. I'm in favour of all of the above. However, what I'm about to write is going to sound intolerant and probably politically incorrect.

Recently, World Religion Day was observed. There is a reason why I have annually chosen not to take part in this event. It isn't because I hate any particular person or group. I follow a risen Saviour who has taught me to love other people. But love does not necessarily mean promoting or affirming all ideas and teachings as equally valid. Now, I do realize that the intentions of those involved in efforts such as World Religion Day are pure: " to foster the establishment of interfaith understanding and harmony by emphasizing the common denominators underlying all religions". Sounds good. Sounds positive. Sounds comfortable for everyone concerned. Unfortunately, comfortable messages, while good to hear, aren't necessarily true. Those "common denominators" only go so far, and there's very little that underlies all religions.

Now, of course, there is some amount of wisdom to be found in all faiths. However, it's dangerous to imagine that all faiths are equally valid ways of getting to God. Jesus said "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). Not everybody believes that. What I'm getting at is: how can I put my faith in Christ as the Son of God, and the only way to God, and still affirm every other faith at the same time'? It just doesn't fit. Pretty intolerant, isn't it?

Why do I believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of the Living God, and more than just another prophet? Because He's the only one who died in my place so that I could live for eternity with Him, and He's the only one who rose again from the dead. Muhammad may have been wise, but he didn't do that. Neither did Baha'ullah, Zoroaster, Gautama, Abraham, or Moses. Wise and enlightened people they were, but none was God in the flesh, except Jesus Christ. And none other has offered salvation as a free gift rather than something to be earned.

One might say that the claims Jesus made about Himself are terribly arrogant. Not if they're true. Proclaiming one belief system as superior to others sounds intolerant. Not if it's true. And while unity of all mankind is a noble goal, which I share, I also believe in truth. There are three basic ways to achieve unity. One is to compromise and water down all the

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>