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If you want broad answers to
these and similar questions without wading through hefty volumes,
you're in the right place. Just read the following short introduction,
then, below it, click on the topic you're interested in.
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Read This FirstWhat follows makes no claim to be a comprehensive treatment of this vast subject. It is no more than a brief summary of (1) the main branches of Christianity, (2) the most popular cults and (3) the major world religions. If you want to dig deeper, you will find at the end a list
of books that you can refer to for further details. But to begin
with, there are a couple of cautionary points to note. First, it is vital to distinguish clearly between systems
and people. For example, I personally have little time for the Roman
Catholic Church as an organisation and doctrinal system. I see
it as alien to the kind of Christianity taught in the Bible.
But I count several Roman Catholics as my personal friends and
have no doubts at all about the genuineness of their faith in
Christ and the reality of their experience of the Holy Spirit's
presence and power. |
Some will say, 'But if you reject my church you reject me.' Not at all. You must insist at all costs on distinguishing systems from people. In the end it is people who stand accountable to God, not systems. And it is with people, not with systems, that as humans we relate. We can—and must—warmly accept the one without condoning the other. Second, Christianity makes exclusive claims. Referring to Jesus, Peter affirms: 'Salvation is found in no-one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved' (Acts 4:12). On that basis there is no salvation through, say, Buddha, Mohammed or the Hindu gods. But that does not mean that those other religions contain no truth at all. Their teachings contain some wise and valid insights into life and the human condition, and acknowledging these could well be a starting point for witnessing to their adherents. Now make your selection below,
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