Christian Universalist FAQ > How Should We View Other Religions?

How Should We View Other Religions?

by Eric Stetson

V. asked Eric by email (June 2, 2005):

What is your view of other religions like Islam, Baha'i, Buddhism, etc....

I believe some religions other than Christianity have some degree of divine inspiration. However, I believe the perfect philosophy of life was taught by Jesus Christ. The greatest spiritual teacher other than Jesus was probably Buddha, in my opinion. Like Jesus, Buddha taught charity, nonviolence, love and compassion for all beings. These are the most important spiritual teachings. Buddha did not talk much about theological doctrines, and for good reason, because he felt those things are less important. I don't really think Jesus cared that much about doctrines either. He was more interested in how people live their lives and their personal relationship with the Higher Power.

Jesus was not only a great philosopher and man of wisdom, however, he was also the incarnate Lord. Jesus had supernatural powers to perform miracles, and was the only person ever in human history to be resurrected from the dead and transformed into a spirit-body that can operate both in the spiritual and physical worlds. This shows that he is divine. Nevertheless, if a person follows another spiritual teacher such as Buddha, Gandhi, or whoever else who teaches a similar philosophy as Jesus, one could achieve significant spiritual growth. Some non-Christians who live in a truly Christian way may actually be more Christian in Jesus's eyes than some so-called Christians who are not trying hard to live up to their faith and who do not have enough love for their neighbor. But there is great power in Jesus that is not to be found in any ordinary human being, because Jesus was more than just a man. That is one reason why it is preferable to follow Jesus.

You asked about Islam and the Baha'i Faith. I was a Baha'i for four years, and left that faith in 2002. I have a website discussing my view of the Baha'i religion and my experiences when I was a member, located at Bahai-Faith.com. Baha'is believe that all the world's major religions were revealed by the same God and are equally valid, but the problem with this view is that there are irreconcilable contradictions in the teachings of different religions that go beyond mere cultural differences and the needs of the time when each religion was founded. Therefore, even though the Baha'i Faith may be attractive to universalists, it cannot be true. Overall, I believe there are some good spiritual teachings in the Baha'i Faith -- especially as an improvement over Islam which was the root of Baha'ism -- but also there are a lot of terrible errors. The biggest error is Baha'u'llah's claim to be the "Supreme Manifestation of God" ever since Adam and for the next 500,000 years. Baha'u'llah claimed to be superior to Jesus Christ, yet Baha'u'llah's body rotted away in the tomb like all other men, whereas Jesus was raised from the dead in a supernatural miracle, proving his divinity. Therefore, I believe Baha'u'llah was a reformer of Islam with a lot of good ideas, but who got carried away (probably because of some real spiritual experiences and visions he may have had) and became a megalomaniac, fixated on self-glorification and telling everyone they must follow him and his own religion and cult of personality.

As for Islam, I believe that its original, fundamentalist form according to the Islamic scriptures and traditional texts (Quran and Hadith) is a barbaric religion that emphasizes military jihad against nonbelievers, brutal punishments, and inequality and abuse of women. Although Muhammad taught some good principles on a few issues, such as being charitable towards the poor, by and large I think he was a warrior, obsessed with sex, and created a religion of harsh legalism that is completely unlike the peaceful and compassionate teachings of Jesus Christ. Some moderate Muslims are very good people, but Muhammad's religion according to the Quran teaches a belligerent attitude towards non-Muslims, no separation of church and state, and discrimination against women that is incompatible with modern progressive civilization. For example, consider these quotations from the Quran:

"Fight those who believe not in God nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by God and His Apostle [Muhammad], nor acknowledge the religion of Truth [Islam], even if they are of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued." (Quran 9:29). "People of the Book" means Jews and Christians. The "Jizya" is monetary tribute, a special tax that was imposed upon non-Muslims by Muslim conquerors and rulers.
"I will instil terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers: smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger-tips off them. This because they contended against God and His Apostle [Muhammad]" (Quran 8:13).
"Marry women of your choice, Two or three or four" (Quran 4:3).
"Your wives are as a tilth unto you; so approach your tilth when or how ye will" (Quran 2:223). In other words, women are regarded as sexual objects in the religion of Islam.
"As to those women on whose part ye fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them, refuse to share their beds, and beat them" (Quran 4:34). Wife-beating is promoted by the Muslim scriptures.
"If any of your women are guilty of lewdness, Take the evidence of four witnesses from amongst you against them; and if they testify, confine them to houses until death do claim them" (Quran 4:15). "Lewd" women can receive a punishment of lifetime house arrest.
"The woman and the man guilty of adultery or fornication,- flog each of them with a hundred stripes: Let not compassion move you in their case, in a matter prescribed by God" (Quran 24:2). It even says not to have compassion, but to punish mercilessly.
"As to the thief, Male or female, cut off his or her hands: a punishment by way of example, from God, for their crime" (Quran 5:41).

These are only a few examples, but it is clear that the prophet Muhammad taught moral principles that are far different than the peaceful and merciful faith of Jesus Christ. I would strongly urge anyone who wants to know the truth about Islam to read this compilation of quotes from the Quran that I put together and is available on my ex-Baha'i website: Islam Uncensored: Sex and Violence in the Quran. I would also recommend reading the material on these two sites:

Islam: Sex and Violence by ex-Muslim Anwar Shaykh
Prophet of Doom: Islam's Terrorist Dogma in Muhammad's Own Words

If you have any further questions about any issue, please don't hesitate to ask.

Peace in Christ,
Eric

Feel free to send comments or questions to Eric Stetson by email: info@christian-universalism.com

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