(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.