do all religions pray to the same God?

“All religions pray to the same God”

President Bush recently made this statement again. I don’t know our president personally but I’ve heard he’s a born again Christian. I’m not trying to dissect his faith here and drill down to exactly what he believes. But an idea like this, especially coming from our nation’s leader, needs to be tossed around a bit. A popular notion behind comments like this is that all religions are pretty much the same. Pragmatists point out that all religions accomplish the same thing; greater morality and more peaceful societies.

There are striking similarities between religions; this no one can deny. For example, the Chinese philosopher Confucius (551-479 BC) said “Never do to others what you would not like them to do to you” (Analects of Confucius 25.23; cf. 12:2). Sound familiar? It should. Jesus said the same thing 500 years later in Matthew 7:12; “In everything do to others what you would have them do to you”. This powerful moral compass can be found in many cultures throughout history.

Now we need to put our detective caps on. Like a good CSI, we need to start with our known facts and then construct a theory that best explains them. Only by understanding the overall context from which these facts come can we truly make sense of them. At first many theories are considered, but as more details come to light, we can pin down what really happened. For instance, if we encounter a scene that includes a dead body holding a pistol, our theories would include #1 suicide and #2 murder made to look like a suicide. It would take more analysis to determine the real story.

When we do this with the fact that all religions have similar moral systems, there are two common theories people have. The first one is very popular right now because it’s politically correct and attempts to keep the peace in our religiously charged world. This theory is that all religions stem from the same “higher power”. All the great religious leaders such as Moses, Buddha, Confucius, Jesus, and Mohammed were just different manifestations of the same divine essence. All of them were just encouraging us to be more loving and compassionate. The usual conclusion of this theory is that a sincere follower of any of these religions will make peace with what many call “God”.

This theory is called pluralism, relativism, or being inclusive; three terms that each describe a different attribute of the same core idea; that all religions lead to the same place. Some who believe this vigorously defend their view. They say the only absolute truth is that there is no absolute truth. But wait a second. Is it “appropriate” for them to claim that their view, which is that there is no absolute truth, is absolutely true to the exclusion of other views?

A little detour is necessary here. Just because someone thinks that what they believe is true, and what someone else believes is false, this doesn’t make them an intolerant jerk. Tolerance doesn’t mean you agree about everything. The very idea of it presupposes a difference that needs to be “tolerated”. Instead tolerance refers to the attitude you have when discussing your different opinions; that you do it in a kind and respectful way. You can believe the exact opposite of someone else and yet still be tolerant as you lovingly share with them why you believe what you do and why you think their belief is wrong. Being arrogant or demeaning about it; now that’s what is ugly.

Again, we’re evaluating theories that would explain why different religions all across the world have similar moral underpinnings. In the melting pot we live in, this first theory is very convenient and practical. But is it correct? Consider another theory, the Christian worldview.

The Christian Worldview

The Bible says humans were created in the image of God, meaning that we are, more than any other part of creation, similar to our Creator. Yes, there are differences; we are finite, He is infinite. We are material, He is Spirit. He is the Creator and we are the created. But still, within every human being lies the fingerprint of God; i.e. the morality He’s placed within us. Christianity teaches that the reason we all come to the same moral conclusions is because these things are written on our hearts. People know what is right or wrong instinctively because God has given us all a conscience.

All societies then establish similar moral systems, codes, and guidelines to describe, not what we actually do, but what we all know people SHOULD do. We know what is right and wrong in spite of the fact we don’t really do it. We know it not because of how we actually treat others but because we know how we want others to treat us. If anyone argues that there is no such thing as right or wrong, then that very evening break into his home and steal his most prized possessions. At once he will disprove his argument by declaring your act of burglary unkind and unfair! We can know what is right and wrong simply by observing how we react instinctively to what people do to us.

This takes us right to the heart of Christianity. We all know what were supposed to do because we know how we want others to treat us. But no one performs consistently at this ideal standard. We’re all hypocrites! Why do we fail? God did not make us this way at all. The Bible says we’ve all individually chosen to go astray from the state of perfection He created us in. Nobody always does what they know they should. We live a double standard. We can easily justify why we should cut out in front of someone; I’m late for my kids’ soccer game! But when someone else cuts us off, watch out!

Don’t despair, there is good news! It’s the best possible news you could ever get; God still loves you. Even after we turned on Him and made Him our enemy, He went and provided a way for us to be forgiven. That is our only hope. The Bible says we can’t fix our predicament. We can’t make peace with God but He has made peace with us! He sent His Son Jesus Christ to earth to live the perfect life in our place and then pay for our mistakes by dying on the cross. Our only responsibility is to receive this free gift by putting our faith in Jesus alone.

All religions have the same moral structure because of the common moral compass God has put within all of us. But moral codes are not the defining purpose of religion; they are just a by-product. The purpose of religion is to restore a broken relationship with our Creator. Many religions have been developed to try and do this but they all fail because the burden is put upon our own efforts to make things right again.

When you stop trusting in your own ability to please God by being good, admit your failures, and trust Jesus’ goodness instead of yours, then the Bible says your sins are wiped clean and you’re restored back to a right relationship with God. All other religions are attempts to earn forgiveness by keeping rules and laws, trying to earn His favor, a pursuit Jesus said is impossible. No other religion offers this free mercy; unmerited grace with no strings attached. That is how Christianity is truly unique. I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. – John 14:6

George W. may be Master in Chief but he is not the theologian in chief! His eternal destiny is between him and His creator. I am not the judge of His soul. The Bible says if he has placed his faith in Jesus alone then all of his sins are forgiven. What I can say, and I do based on the authority of the Word of God, is that he was wrong when he said “all religions pray to the same God”. But don’t take my word for it, here’s what God says.

Romans

For when Gentiles (people who aren’t Jewish) who do not have the Law (commandments God gave to Moses) do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them. – Romans 2:14-15, comments mine

That which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful.

Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. And we know the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things. – some verses from Romans 1:19-2:2

Through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by faith. For we maintain that a man is justified (forgiven) by faith apart from works of the Law. – some verses from Romans 3:20-28, comments mine