(11.3) Christian attitudes towards other religions

(11.3) Christian attitudes towards other religions

All Christians …All Christians …

… believe in religious freedom.

i.e., that everyone has the right to choose to follow any or no religion.

… believe in religious freedom.

i.e., that everyone has the right to choose to follow any or no religion.

However, there are different attitudes to other religions …

Many Christians(e.g. Jehovah’s Witnesses)

believe …

Many Christians(e.g. Jehovah’s Witnesses)

believe …members of other religions should

be respected;members of other religions should

have the freedom to practice their religion;

because Christianity is the one true religion, they have a duty to convert everyone to Christianity.

members of other religions should be respected;

members of other religions should have the freedom to practice their religion;

because Christianity is the one true religion, they have a duty to convert everyone to Christianity.

They believe this because …

They believe this because …

the teachings of Jesus, including: ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one

comes to the Father except through me’ (John 14:6)

Jesus commanded us to love our neighbour. If you love your neighbour, you would want them to go to heaven (so they must be Christian);

When Jesus told his disciples to make disciples of all nations, this means everyone should be converted to Christianity.

the teachings of Jesus, including: ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one

comes to the Father except through me’ (John 14:6)

Jesus commanded us to love our neighbour. If you love your neighbour, you would want them to go to heaven (so they must be Christian);

When Jesus told his disciples to make disciples of all nations, this means everyone should be converted to Christianity.

Many Christians(e.g. Roman Catholics)

believe …

Many Christians(e.g. Roman Catholics)

believe …other religions contain some truth; members of other religions should

be respected, and they may get to heaven;

that because only Christianity is the full truth, Christians have the right to convert everyone to Christianity.

other religions contain some truth; members of other religions should

be respected, and they may get to heaven;

that because only Christianity is the full truth, Christians have the right to convert everyone to Christianity.

They believe this because …

They believe this because …

it is a teaching from the Catechism; Jesus is the Son of God, and he shows the

true nature of God; the Bible teaches that Christianity is the

truth, and only Christians are guaranteed of salvation, although other religions, e.g., Judaism can contact God.

it is a teaching from the Catechism; Jesus is the Son of God, and he shows the

true nature of God; the Bible teaches that Christianity is the

truth, and only Christians are guaranteed of salvation, although other religions, e.g., Judaism can contact God.

Some Christians(e.g. liberal Christians)

believe …

Some Christians(e.g. liberal Christians)

believe … that all religions are equal, and just

different ways of finding God; members of other religions should

be respected;all religions should work together

to help make the world a better and more spiritual place.

that all religions are equal, and just different ways of finding God;

members of other religions should be respected;

all religions should work together to help make the world a better and more spiritual place.

They believe this because …

They believe this because …

they do not believe that the Bible is the literal word of God;

they see members of other faiths living good and holy lives;

they believe God is a force (like gravity) and can be found in different ways;

Jesus taught:‘In my Father’s house are many rooms’ (John 14:2)

This means that there is room in heaven for a variety of religions.

they do not believe that the Bible is the literal word of God;

they see members of other faiths living good and holy lives;

they believe God is a force (like gravity) and can be found in different ways;

Jesus taught:‘In my Father’s house are many rooms’ (John 14:2)

This means that there is room in heaven for a variety of religions.