Comparitive Theology and World View of Christianity and World Religions

1. Comparitive Theology and World View of Christianity and World Religions

2. Key Theological Questions • What is the nature of God? • What is the nature of creation/the physical universe? • What is the nature of the relationship between man and God? • Where does Jesus fit into all this (Christology)

3. One Point of View: “Wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” -Jesus of Nazareth (Matthew 7:13-14) I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Jesus of Nazareth (John 14:6)

4. Another Point of View: Different Paths to the Same Goal? God Islam Ba’hai Mysticism Buddhism

5. Jesus Christ: “I came to testify to the truth.” Pontius Pilate: “What is truth?”

6. Outline • Theology: ideas about God • World View: What is man’s place in the world?

7. Definitions • Animism: Anima = spirit. A religious system which includes the belief that spirits inhabit inanimate objects and phenomena. • Polytheism: Poly = many. A belief that the universe is governed by many gods. • Pantheism (monism): Pan = all. A belief that a spirit fills the universe. God is the universe, and we are part of God. • Panentheism: God is in everything (stoicism) • Dualism: A belief that the universe is governed by nearly equally matched forces of good and evil. (Zoroastrianism, Manichaeism, Taoism)

8. Definitions (cont.) • Deism: A belief in a distant, uninvolved God who is creator, but does not interact with his creation. (Epicureanism) • Monotheism: A belief that the universe is created/governed by a single omnipotent/omniscient/omnipresent spiritual being. • Asceticism: A belief that enlightenment or a close relationship with deity is obtained by an extreme denial of worldly pleasures and possessions. Associated with monasteries, monks, nuns, etc.. • Mysticism: A belief which sees enlightenment and spiritual power coming through meditation/direct personal experience of God. Mystical experience may be gained through use of drugs, drumming, dance, etc. A highly individualized form of religion.

9. Are all religions simply “different paths to the same goal? • There is some similarity between most or all religions. • All man-made religions contain truth. • But…. On the most basic level of theology, all other religions (except Judaism?) are incommensurate with Christianity • If Hinduism is right, then Jesus Christ is a deceiver and an enemy of truth.

10. The Bible and Other World Views • If Genesis 1:1 is true, then animism, polytheism, pantheism, dualism, naturalism, deism, postmodernism and every other ism is false. • Conflicting world views cannot be accommodated with one another. Biblical theism is incompatible with all these other world views.

11. B. Christianity: The Christian World View • One's world view is the perspective one uses to process and interpret information received about the world.  • James W. Sire put it this way, "A world view is a set of presuppositions (ie. assumptions) which we hold about the basic makeup of our world."  • James W. Sire, The Universe Next Door (InterVarsity Press, 1997) A Jain World View

12. A “Good” World View Defined A. It is true. It is consistent with reality. It is consistent with what we know to be true from experience. It works. B. It answers satisfactorily the questions people really want answered. What is prime reality/the ultimate cause/the nature of God?) What is the nature of external reality-the world around us? What is a human being? What happens to a person at death? Why is it possible for us to know anything at all? How do we know what is right and wrong? What is the meaning of human history? What is my purpose? What is the nature of my relationship, with the "prime reality?" C. It causes those who hold to it to be better people than they would otherwise have been if they held to competing alternative world views.

13. The Christian World View 1. The physical world is: a. real b. created out of nothing (ex nihilo) and c. essentially good. 2. There exists an unseen spiritual reality which is not limited to or defined by the physical reality. Human beings have a spiritual aspect to their nature. 3. The creator of both the physical and spiritual realm is the God who reveals himself in the Bible. 4. Human beings have both a physical and a spiritual nature, The spiritual nature is more essential as it is eternal. 5. God is not easily defined but he can be characterized by certain qualities. God is a person. God is love, God is just, God is holy, God is omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent.

14. The Christian World View (cont.) 6. Although all God’s creation, including the physical world is good, evil does exist. Such evil is the result of freedom of will given to created beings and their subsequent decision to use that freedom to rebel--to “sin” 7. Because of God’s justice and his holiness, those who choose to rebel against him will ultimately be judged and separated from God for eternity. 8. The solution to evil, to sin and its eternal consequences is provided by God through the atoning substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

15. Biblical Theology • In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1 • By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. Hebrews 11:3 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son….

16. Hindu World View • Maya. The physical world is an illusion. • Brahman. Universal soul. • The goal: Nirvana; oneness with the universal soul which is within yourself. • The Hindu world view has man looking inward, not outward.

17. The Four Noble Truths of Siddhartha • Suffering is not getting what one wants. • The cause of suffering is desire which leads to rebirth. • The way to end suffering is to end desire. • The way to the end of desire and of suffering is the eight-fold path. • Buddhism encourages dispassion, not compassion.

18. The eight-fold path to bodhi/dharma/nirvana/lack of suffering • Right viewpoint (the four noble truths). • Right values. • Right speech. • Right actions. • Right livelihood • Right effort • Right mindfulness • Right meditation

19. So, What is New Age, Really? • You are God, I am God, the trees are God, we all are God! • New Age is Western pantheism • New Age is a syncretistic blend of Gnosticism, Hinduism, Spiritualism, Mysticism, Buddhism and Paganism. • New Age is Monism! God is everything I am God!!! “Once we begin to see that we are all God, then I think the whole purpose of life is to re-own the God-likeness within us.”

20. Islamic Worldview: God is very distant from mankind In Islam, Allah determines everything, even who will choose to follow him. 2:142, 6:39 6:125 Inshallah God willing. It is God’s will that people suffer. .

21. Islamic Theology “Surely good deeds take away evil deeds” (11:114). Salvation by own effort (40:9, 39:61, 7:43) Charity atones for sins (2:271,277) • Earn grace. • Earn favor of Allah. • Earn salvation. • Earn paradise.

22. Salvation by own effort (40:9, 39:61, 7:43) Charity atones for sins (2:271,277) • Earn grace. • Earn favor of Allah. • Earn salvation. • Earn paradise.

23. Islam: Salvation is earned through the efforts of those who were pre-selected by Allah to inhabit a very sensual paradise. Christianity: Salvation is granted by the grace of a loving God to those who, through faith and repentance and baptism accept that love.

24. A Question: Who reaches out to whom?

25. Initiative Human approach Truth God God Mankind Mankind

26. Works Salvation: Man reaches out to God. Islam Hinduism Jaina Sikkhism Gnosticism New Age Buddhism? Salvation by Grace: God reaches out to man. Judaism Christianity

27. The Biblical World View • The physical world is real and it is good. Genesis 1:31 • Only Islam agrees with this conclusion. • This world is not our home. • But, compassion… James 1:27 Micah 6:8 • Christian groups are responsible for virtually all the world’s efforts to deal with poverty and human suffering in general and to work for social justice.

28. Christianity: The Inspiration of the Bible is Confirmed By: • Historical Accuracy • Fulfilled Prophecy • Scientific Accuracy • Internal Consistency. Many authors, one theology. • Types, prefigures and foreshadows in the Old Testament which are fulfilled in Jesus Christ • The public miracles of Jesus which confirm his claims • The resurrection of Jesus from the dead

29. According to the Old Testament, the Messiah must: • Be born in Bethlehem • Be raised in Galilee near Nazareth • Be despised and rejected by men • Be meek and silent before his accusers • Be “pierced” • Be crucified • Have his garments divided and gambled over • Be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver • Come to Jerusalem to make atonement for sin in about AD 33 • And many more…. Was all this an accident, or did God plan all along for the Passion of the Christ for forgiveness of sins? What do you think?

30. Summary • The theologies of world religions are fundamentally and diametrically opposed to one another. Many paths to the same God is a ludicrous philosophy. • The world view of Christianity is radically different from any other religion. They cannot both be right! • The truth of the Bible is confirmed by • Clear evidence of inspiration (fulfilled prophecy, types and foreshadows, historical accuracy, scientific evidence, etc…) • Public miracles worked by Moses, Elijah and others, and especially by Jesus Christ (Hebrews 2:3,4).

31. How, then, should we interact with members of other religions? • Find common ground. • Give respect where respect is due. • Acknowledge the good and do not make personal attacks—especially toward revered people. • Highlight distinctions in world view/theology and introduce them to Jesus Christ. • This is EXACTLY what Paul did in Acts 17:22-34

32. The Bible and Other World Views (cont.) • Acts 17:16-34 Paul shares the gospel by arguing for the Christian World View. • v. 22-23 Paul finds common ground. • v. 24-28 Paul argues for the superiority and the truth of the Christian world view as opposed to Epicureanism/pantheism and Stoicism/deism • v. 28 Paul quotes from Aretas a Stoic philosopher. “ For we are his offspring.” • v. 29-31 Having laid the groundwork, Paul points them to Jesus. • v. 32-34 Some, but not all were converted.

33. Acts 17:16-34 Paul confronts Greek World Views • God is Creator. He exists outside creation. • Disproves pantheism/Stoicism. • God is close to us. • Disproves deism/Epicureanism. • God is personal and has given us an individual purpose. • God will bring all of us to judgment. Evil will be defeated • Disproves dualism/Gnosticism.

34. Greek Background to Christian Theology • Pythagoreanism/Platonism • Gnosticism • Stoicism • Epicureanism Epicurus

35. Intro to the History of Christian Theology • Trinity and the nature of God • Christology • Nature of sin, grace and redemption

36. Early Motivations to Christian Theologians • Apologetics: Response to Greek philosophical criticism • logos • Heresy: Orthodox response to heterodox theology Origen of Alexandria AD 185-254

37. Heresies • Adoptionism • Ebionites, Theodotus, Artemon • Modalism (Jesus and Holy Spirit modes of God) • Gnosticism • Cerinthus, Valentinus • Docetism • Arianism

38. The Orthodox Response • Use of Greek terms, modes of argument • Polemical Writings • Against Heresies Irenaeus • Appeal to apostolic (later church) authority • Creeds • Councils

39. Doctrine of the Trinity • Tertullian AD 160-220 • The Father and the Son are different “not in condition, but in degree; not in substance, but in form; not in power, but in aspect”

40. Creeds • A second century Roman creed (said at baptism) • I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, and in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord, and in the Holy Ghost, the holy church and the resurrection of the flesh.

41. Church Councils • Nicaea AD 325 • Arianism Jesus homoousios With the Father • Constantinople AD 381 • Nicene Creed Holy Spirit also homoousious • Ephesus AD 431 • Nestorianism condemned, Pelagius anathematized. • Calchedon AD 451 • Define the “two natures” of Jesus • Constantinople II AD 553 • Monophysitism • Constantinople III AD 680 • Monothelitism • Nicaea II AD 787

42. Nicene Creed We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance (homoousios, of the same substance, consubstantial as opposed to homoiousios) with the Father, by whom all things were made. Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end. And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets. And I believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen. Is this what we believe?

43. Chalcedon AD 451 “In agreement with the holy fathers we all unanimously teach that we should confess that our Lord Jesus Christ is one and the same Son; the same perfect in Godhead and the same perfect in manhood, truly God and truly man, the same of a rational soul and body; consubstantial with the Father in Godhead and the same consubstantial with us in manhood; like us in all things except sin; begotten of the Father before all ages as regards his Godhead and in the last days the same, for us and for our salvation, begotten of the Virgin Mary, the theotokos (as opposed to the Christotokos of the Nestorians) (the God-bearer, the mother of God) as regards his manhood; one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, only-begotten, made known in two natures without confusion, without change, without division, without separation…

44. Chalcedon (cont.) “Without confusion and without change” to oppose monophysitism/Coptic Christianity Monophysite = one nature “Without division, without separation” to oppose Nestorianism Q: Are we splitting hairs here?

45. Constantinople AD 553 • Anathematized Origin • Constantinople III AD 680 • Opposed monothelitism “one will” • Nicaea II AD 787 • Iconoclasm. It is heretical to say that one cannot be aided in worship by using an icon.

46. Sin, Redemption, Salvation • Augustine!!!!! • The City of God • Total depravity • Monoergism • Predestination • Original Sin • Infant baptism required for salvation • Sacramentalism • Transubstantiation • City and State • Opposed Donatists Augustine of Hippo (from 6th century)

47. Pelagius AD c. 354-430 Works Salvation?

48. Thomas Aquinas 1225-1274 Aristotle Revelation by reason Scholasticism Arguments for existence of God Natural Theology “Summa Theologica”

49. Thomas Aquinas: “God, therefore, is the first cause, who moves causes both natural and voluntary. And just as by moving natural causes He does not prevent their actions from being natural, so by moving voluntary causes He does not deprive their actions of being voluntary; but rather is He the cause of this very thing in them, for He operates ineach thing according to his own nature.” In other words, Aquinas believed in free will and not a strict monergism.

50. Question: Do you believe in Predestination?