Why is this so different?

Thousands of years ago there were the Egyptians, the Romans, the Greeks, all had gods. They worshiped and prayed to these gods, and knew for a fact that they existed. Today we do the exact same with Christianity and I want to know. What makes this so different? What's there going to be 1000 years from know when people of the future look back at once was? Will this religion that everyone KNOWS is true, just like the civilizations of past KNEW it was true, be looked at curiously, puzzled by the archaic nature of it all? Will the Bible be a relic looked at in museums whilst lectured about how we worshiped the sun? Why is Christianity so different? And what about all the other religions, Mormon, Jehovah's Witness, Buddism! Are they all wrong? Will the millions of people on the other side of the world who have never even heard of "Jesus Christ" go to hell, as will all the other nonbelievers? Why is this so special? I have been searching for the answer to this question for a long time, but have never come across a straight answer. Bring it on

Originally Posted by L. Ron Hubbard

Thousands of years ago there were the Egyptians, the Romans, the Greeks, all had gods. They worshiped and prayed to these gods, and knew for a fact that they existed. Today we do the exact same with Christianity and I want to know. What makes this so different? What's there going to be 1000 years from know when people of the future look back at once was?

The primary difference is obvious--our God is a LIVING GOD, not an inanimate object such as the various "gods" you have mentioned above. In a relatively short period of time--historically speaking--people figured this out for themselves and veneration of the stone, wood, and metal images which were the center of Egyptian, Roman, Greek, etc. pseudo-"god" cults died out. Where are they now? In museums--objects of curiosity.

Where is the LIVING GOD whose unblemished track record goes back to the beginning of time and has been chronicled in the Bible for approximately 6000 years? He is alive and well and activily abiding and working His Loving Will in the hearts of millions who have opened the door to allow Him entrance. How else could a religion which began with a small group of semi-illiterate fishermen have grown so quickly that it consumed the mighty Roman Empire along with its so-called "gods" and spread from a backwater environment in the middle of nowhere--far out of the world's mainstream--to become the Body of Christ--a Church of global proportions?

1000 years from now? Should the Lord tarry that long--which i personally doubt--i am sure that the TRUTH and its LIVING SOURCE will be alive, well, and stronger than ever. "The light shines in the darkness, yet the darkness cannot overcome it."(John 1:5)
As God Himself states, "As I live, saying the Lord, every kneee will bow to Me, and every tonue will give praise to God."(Romans 14:11)

A BOND-SLAVE/FRIEND/BROTHER OF OUR LORD/GOD/SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST,
ephraim

__________________

In a thousand year will any of this really matter to you? Then why look at what others do with our legacy? If You have truly found your answers and your peace.. Then I say be content with it. and let those who seek more, do so.

Christianity as been a staple for 2000 years, and the Legacy of the one true God another 3000 before that. The work and record that can be found through Judaism is one of the most detailed accounts of history man has. We may have other records and fragments of civilization detailing one king or even partial descriptions of dynasties, but nothing as complete and as acknowledged by so many..

The Idea of the God of Israel has stood the test of time. Can you name any other religion still practiced or observed or any other God that is worshiped Like The God of Abraham is? This man and his God, are acknowledged by Christianity, Jewish, and the Muslims communities..

So let me ask why isn't this special?

Especially given the "scientific alternatives" Where what is true 20 years ago is scoffed and laughed at as much as not believing what the popular belief is today. Where will some of today's corner stone scientific "facts" be in a thousand years? What scientific truths remain from the last thousand years? We in the last 150 years have just put into place a solid unified system of recording, observing and experimentation.. Now with only 150 years of data collection (And the first 100 year of that effort is questionable by today's standards) and speculation we have claimed to have unlocked all facets that the fields of science cares to encompass. from the sub atomic to galactic phenom so far away we don't even have a system of measurement to properly/accurately convey the distance..
Not only that, we have been able to determine by looking as some rocks here and at some "space rocks" We can claim we understand The very nature of time and space itself...

Now out of the Trillions and trillions of years it took to bring us to this point, in less than an proverbial cosmic blink of the eye "your church of science and speculation" Has it all figured out.. Or at least to the point to make fun of or pressuring those who do not readily drink your brand of Flav-o-Aid.
But at the same time can't accurately figure out or predict whether the planet is warming up or cooling off...

So let me ask you the same Question. Why is science so special? What makes you think in 100 years or maybe even in your life time, That what you believe now will still be there? (Did you hear about Pluto?) My confused brother, the burden of "proof" is on you. Especially because your "religion" demands it! Ours is content with us just having faith.

Hi Ron --- nice to meet you ---

Originally Posted by L. Ron Hubbard

Thousands of years ago there were the Egyptians, the Romans, the Greeks, all had gods.

They were shown to be false gods too. In fact, the God of the universe even went so far as to demonstrate His mastery over these false idols with, for example, the Ten Plagues --- all leveled at Egyptian deities.

Originally Posted by Numbers 33:4

For the Egyptians buried all their firstborn, which the LORD had smitten among them: upon their gods also the LORD executed judgments.

It's a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Originally Posted by L. Ron Hubbard

They worshiped and prayed to these gods, and knew for a fact that they existed.

They did it mainly because the government made them do it. Worshipping false idols was tantamount to paying homage to the government.

Originally Posted by L. Ron Hubbard

Today we do the exact same with Christianity and I want to know.

No, we don't. We don't worship God via the government. In fact, He is not even mentioned in our Constitution.

Originally Posted by L. Ron Hubbard

What makes this so different?

Well, for one thing, our government can't tell us who to worship. It doesn't tell us when we should go to church, and we don't tell it what the speed limit should be (by way of examples).

Originally Posted by L. Ron Hubbard

What's there going to be 1000 years from know when people of the future look back at once was?

The same thing as when we look back 1000 years at what once was --- the worship of the true God of the universe --- and His Son.

Originally Posted by L. Ron Hubbard

Will this religion that everyone KNOWS is true, just like the civilizations of past KNEW it was true, be looked at curiously, puzzled by the archaic nature of it all?

Nope --- it is founded upon a Rock ---

Originally Posted by Hebrews 13:8

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

God doesn't change.

Originally Posted by L. Ron Hubbard

Will the Bible be a relic looked at in museums whilst lectured about how we worshiped the sun?

No --- our Bible is a living Book, and unless and until God has It translated again, Its pages will continue to turn daily.

Originally Posted by L. Ron Hubbard

Why is Christianity so different?

For one, it is the only organization whose members are not qualified to be in it. It accepts those who are unqualified, and rejects those that claim they are qualified.

Originally Posted by L. Ron Hubbard

And what about all the other religions, Mormon, Jehovah's Witness, Buddism! Are they all wrong?

Yes.

Originally Posted by L. Ron Hubbard

Will the millions of people on the other side of the world who have never even heard of "Jesus Christ" go to hell, as will all the other nonbelievers?

Yes, but keep this in mind. No one is going to go to Hell that doesn't deserve to go --- no one.

Originally Posted by L. Ron Hubbard

Why is this so special?

Because we are redeemed, not just by blood, but by the precious blood of the Lamb of God, who loves us, and gave Himself for us.

Originally Posted by L. Ron Hubbard

I have been searching for the answer to this question for a long time, but have never come across a straight answer.

Your search is over --- you've come to the right place. Simply pray and acknowledge the fact that you are not a righteous person, and ask Jesus Christ to accept you in your current condition, and to be your Saviour. You can do it right now in the privacy of your thoughts and heart.

Originally Posted by Romans 10:9-10

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

I assure you --- it's painless --- Jesus took all the pain for you.

Originally Posted by L. Ron Hubbard

Bring it on

If you've got the guts, He's got the glory.

__________________

Religions in general fall into one of two camps in their foundational stuff. Either, like Islam, they have a set of supposedly timeless, eternal, truths. Or, like most of the rest, they have a set of narratives - but those narratives even at the time they were compiled were always of a mythical character - they happened "a long time ago in a land far away to heroic beings". The early Christians are just about unique in having their entire focus on what they claimed was a real historic event, that happened to a real historic identifiable person in a real historical identifiable place on a real historical identifiable date in the immediate past. The resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth is the event on which their entire worldview hangs, the event that reshaped their entire view in otherwise inexplicable ways and which they said had changed completely the nature of all creation. There is nothing close to that in other religions. 2000 years later were inclined to fudge that historical question - but Christianity makes a unique claim to be in real history, not a-historical (like Islam) nor mythical (like most of the rest).

__________________
Goodness is stronger than evil,
love is stronger than hate,
light is stronger than darkness,
life is stronger than death,
victory is ours through him who loved us.
(++Desmond Tutu)

In other mythologies, gods were made in man's/woman's image. YHWH imposed himself on Abraham and through him created the nation of Israel. YHWH is beyond our human comprehension and lacks the corruption of false gods and religions, like this one, for instance, L.Ron Hubbard:

Why is Christianity so different? And what about all the other religions, Mormon, Jehovah's Witness,

First if I may clear up a misconception you have. Both the Mormons, "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints" and Jehovah Witnesses believe in Jesus Christ as their savior and the son of God. They follow the teachings of Jesus in preaching the good news.

Thousands of years ago there were the Egyptians, the Romans, the Greeks, all had gods. They worshiped and prayed to these gods, and knew for a fact that they existed.

They knew they existed because they made them.

2 Kings 19:18 and Isaiah 37:19
and have cast their gods into the fire; for they [were] not gods, but the work of men's hands--wood and stone. Therefore they destroyed them.

Let me use an example from the book of Jonah where such people prayed to their gods and nothing happened.(notice the lower case which even you used) and because they saw the true mighty works of the Lord, the God of heaven they converted.

Jonah 1:5-9, 14
Then the mariners were afraid; and every man cried out to his god, and threw the cargo that [was] in the ship into the sea, to lighten the load. But Jonah had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, had lain down, and was fast asleep. So the captain came to him, and said to him, "What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God; perhaps your God will consider us, so that we may not perish." Then they said to him, "Please tell us! For whose cause [is] this trouble upon us? What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?" So he said to them, "I [am] a Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry [land]."

Therefore they cried out to the LORD and said, "We pray, O LORD, please do not let us perish for this man's life, and do not charge us with innocent blood; for You, O LORD, have done as it pleased You." So they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice to the LORD and took vows.

The book of Jonah is not just about a man swallowed by a big fish it has a wealth of information sometimes overlooked.

Will the millions of people on the other side of the world who have never even heard of "Jesus Christ" go to hell, as will all the other nonbelievers?

Jesus himself said everyone will have an opportunity to learn before the end of times. He also said what would happen to non-believers.

Matthew 24:14
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

John 8:24
Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am [He], you will die in your sins."

John 16:7-11
Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

Why is this so special?

Because El Shaddia is merciful just as he was merciful to Jonah for not heeding his call to serve. He gave Jonah a couple days to think about the importance of warning Nineveh to repent. When Jonah followed the request of God he not only saved himself but those of Nineveh.

__________________
All God's Blessings.
Chosenpath


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2 Samuel 22:17
“He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters".

Originally Posted by chosenpath

Why is Christianity so different? And what about all the other religions, Mormon, Jehovah's Witness,

First if I may clear up a misconception you have. Both the Mormons, "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints" and Jehovah Witnesses believe in Jesus Christ as their savior and the son of God. They follow the teachings of Jesus in preaching the good news.

MY SISTER--Not to be argumentative, but i have been involved with both the Mormons and the Jehovah Witnesses in the past while seeking the Truth, and neither one is Christian, neither one accepts the reality of the Trinity as taught in Scripture, and neither one considers Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of God, eternally equal with the Father and the Spirit--the Jehovah Witnesses consider Him "a god" and the Mormons consider Him as separate from the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Please be aware that all is not what it seems with these two pseudo-religions!

A BOND-SLAVE/FRIEND/BROTHER OF OUR LORD/GOD/SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST,
ephraim

__________________

Chosenpath,

I strongly agree with ephraim...

__________________
" As I see the developments all around, I burn with jealousy for the truth we have. It makes us, in its practice, a people rejected by all, but who have the bread that all need."
P. J. Loizeaux

A man isn't a sinner because he sins. He sins because he is a sinner. Thats the trouble with him. That's why he needs to be born again. Thats why John the Baptist came saying, "Cut it down completely. Let there be a new thing altogether." The axe is laid to the root of the trees.
H. A. Ironside

If I may make my apologies to the OP for answering both Ephraimanesti and Marantha27. I honestly believe this is not going off topic because it has to do with answering the difference of other religions.

No, I don't consider either of you being argumentative. I appreciate your concern I wouldn't expect anything less.

Ephesians 4:10-16
He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) And He Himself gave some [to be] apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ-- from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.


This scripture has great meaning. Over the centuries the churches have broken off from one another I won't get into the history (that would take several pages), but due to this we have the Baptist, Pentecostal, Catholic, Nazerene, etc....... In the past their has been divisions among them just as Paul warned:

1 Corinthians 13:1
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long [and] is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether [there are] prophecies, they will fail; whether [there are] tongues, they will cease; whether [there is] knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these [is] love.


2 Corinthians 12:20
For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and [that] I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest [there be] contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults;


We still need to be cautious and not tossed to and fro and carried about by every wind and doctrine as cited in Ephesians, but to as 1 John 4:1 justifies: Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

If you have tested me and found me approved, not that I am a prophet, but what I base my beliefs on then I would say my knowlege of the Word came from studying with the Jehovah Witnesses and If I know how to pray it is because I was taught by the Roman Catholics. I Believe in God the father in his only begotton son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit which is sent out among us. I was baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I believe in the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ for our sins and no he is not a "god" but the only begotton son of Jehovah born of the Holy Spirit!

__________________
All God's Blessings.
Chosenpath


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2 Samuel 22:17
“He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters".