Truth in Other Religions?

[isilmë]

What’s your opinion of other religions? (both pre-and post Christ)

• Do they contain some truth?
• In what way would God work through those teachings, if at all?
• What about miraculous events occurring in other faiths?

 

[~Anastasia~]

There is some measure of good found in many places, and generally I have heard that we celebrate whatever is good.

I'm not sure I'd use the word Truth, because when it comes down to it, Truth is a Person - Jesus Christ. But then again, maybe it's not wrong to say so, since I suppose He is actually influencing all that is good to be so.

God can work through whatever He chooses. He alone knows to what end effect.

Miracles can be due also to His mercy - He loves all, after all.

 

[Endtime Survivors]

Do they contain some truth?

Definitely. No religion has a monopoly on love or the Holy Spirit. The spirit is like the wind; it blows where ever it wants to.

In what way would God work through those teachings, if at all?

People are born into many different cultures and influences around the world. Sometimes God has to do the best he can with what he has, so a person born into an atheistic household won't get the same background as someone born into a Christian household, but because God works through the spirit (rather than religion), the atheists can still impart some goodness on their offspring though practical actions like loving one's neighbor.

When that person becomes an adult, they may not have been exposed to "good theology" but at least they will have some exposure to the 2nd most important command (i.e. neighbor loving) and that leaves a lot of potential for leading to the first command, (for a sincere person). Since God is the only source of love, then it must be that any person who shows love (regardless of religious affiliation or lack of it) must be responding to the Holy Spirit on some level.

What about miraculous events occurring in other faiths?

I believe it would still be for the purpose of leading toward respect for God in one way or another. We humans tend to be pretty narrow minded; if something doesn't work the way we think it should, then we (usually) conclude that there must be a problem in the formula somewhere, but God isn't like that.

He moves from formula to formula with such ease and frequency that there may as well not even be any formula.

 

[Radrook]

What’s your opinion of other religions? (both pre-and post Christ)

• Do they contain some truth?
• In what way would God work through those teachings, if at all?
• What about miraculous events occurring in other faiths?

God clearly told Israel to avoid certain religions because the practices, such as incest, bestiality, and child sacrifice which they condoned were abominations. So the Christian opinions of such religions is required to be negative.

Proverbs 15:9 - The way of the wicked [is] an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.

Jesus also mentioned that there would be miraculous events performed by those claiming to be his disciples and that he would still classify them as evildoers even though they claimed to perform those miracles in his name.

Matthew 7:21

Do such religions contain truths. Yes, but please keep in mind that the Bible tells us that Satan keeps making himself into an angel of light and that his ministers would also make themselves ministers of light in an effort to mislead.

2Cor 11:
13For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions.…

In what way would God work with certain truths to lead a person to an acceptable way of worship? He might maneuver events in the person's life so that the person might suddenly realize the error or else he might direct those who do worship correctly to that person in order for the person to gain accurate knowledge.

 

[CrystalDragon]

God clearly told Israel to avoid certain religions because the practices, such as incest, bestiality, and child sacrifice which they condoned were abominations. So the Christian opinions of such religions is required to be negative.



Jesus also mentioned that there would be miraculous events performed by those claiming to be his disciples and that he would still classify them as evildoers even though they claimed to perform those miracles in his name.

Matthew 7:21

Do such religions contain truths. Yes, but please keep in mind that the Bible tells us that Satan keeps making himself into an angel of light and that his ministers would also make themselves ministers of light in an effort to mislead.



In what way would God work with certain truths to lead a person to an acceptable way of worship? He might maneuver events in the person's life so that the person might suddenly realize the error or else he might direct those who do worship correctly to that person in order for the person to gain accurate knowledge.

If Satan really does keep making himself into an angel of light (which wasn't in the Old Testament by the way), how do we know that the miracles and healing A and all that are all from God and not Satan?

Also it's understandable that Jesus told hiss disciples to stay away from those other religions, but the world is more widespread now and most religions don't have those sort of things.

 

[Postvieww]

If Satan really does keep making himself into an angel of light (which wasn't in the Old Testament by the way), how do we know that the miracles and healing A and all that are all from God and not Satan?

Also it's understandable that Jesus told hiss disciples to stay away from those other religions, but the world is more widespread now and most religions don't have those sort of things.

Luke 11:1-28

If a born again believer asks God for a miracle with a pure heart, in faith, believing, it will not be satan who answers. God is not in the business of tricking us.

 

[Endtime Survivors]

If Satan really does keep making himself into an angel of light (which wasn't in the Old Testament by the way), how do we know that the miracles and healing A and all that are all from God and not Satan?

Good question. Jesus said an evil and adulterous people would seek after signs and yet he himself performed many miracles. I think it will be an issue of discernment. Paul referred to "lying signs and wonders".

The Revelation includes 2 teams of 2, both performing miracles; there's the two witnesses and the false prophet + Beast. The two witness shoot fire out of their mouths and the FP / Beast call fire down from Heaven. Anyone hoping to discern the good guys from the bad guys based on miracles will almost certainly be deceived.

What we really need to look at is what the person doing the miracles teaches when they are not performing miracles. If what they teach is consistent with what Jesus taught, then the miracles are probably genuine. If what they teach is NOT consitent with the cornerstone, then the miracles are probably lying signs and wonders.

 

[archer75]

For sure there's good stuff. You have to sift it but there's a lot of good. God didn't leave us alone before the Incarnation. The Buddha has a lot of really solid and practical teachings for getting along in the world that have helped millions.

 

[Radrook]

Luke 11:1-28

If a born again believer asks God for a miracle with a pure heart, in faith, believing, it will not be satan who answers. God is not in the business of tricking us.

True. God is not in the business of deceiving us. Satan is.

Revelation 12:9

King James Version
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Please keep in mind that the ones whom Jesus described as being deceived believed themselves pure of heart and followers of Jesus and even though they did they were still called evildoers or workers of lawlessness. So it isn't how we evaluate ourselves because we might be mistaken. It is how God evaluates us. How many of supposedly pure hearts were praying for miracles during WWI and WWII for God to help them to slaughter fellow ""Christians" on the other side?

 

[Radrook]

Good question. Jesus said an evil and adulterous people would seek after signs and yet he himself performed many miracles. I think it will be an issue of discernment. Paul referred to "lying signs and wonders".

The Revelation includes 2 teams of 2, both performing miracles; there's the two witnesses and the false prophet + Beast. The two witness shoot fire out of their mouths and the FP / Beast call fire down from Heaven. Anyone hoping to discern the good guys from the bad guys based on miracles will almost certainly be deceived.

What we really need to look at is what the person doing the miracles teaches when they are not performing miracles. If what they teach is consistent with what Jesus taught, then the miracles are probably genuine. If what they teach is NOT consitent with the cornerstone, then the miracles are probably lying signs and wonders.

One thing is for sure, if a person roles all over the floor, makes garbled noises such as hooting, chirping, ululating and growling, claims to be Jesus as my late aunt used to do, and then proceeds to perform some type of a miracle-you can be sure that such a miracle isn't from God.

 

[Endtime Survivors]

How many of supposedly pure hearts were praying for miracles during WWI and WWII for God to help them to slaughter fellow ""Christians" on the other side?

Heh, what a refreshingly radical question! I find myself wondering, are you referring to the Germans, or the Americans!

 

[CrystalDragon]

True. God is not in the business of deceiving us. Satan is.



Please keep in mind that the ones whom Jesus described as being deceived believed themselves pure of heart and followers of Jesus and even though they did they were still called evildoers or workers of lawlessness. So it isn't how we evaluate ourselves because we might be mistaken. It is how God evaluates us. How many of supposedly pure hearts were praying for miracles during WWI and WWII for God to help them to slaughter fellow ""Christians" on the other side?

God sent lying spirits in the Old Testament though.

 

[~Anastasia~]

I think it's a matter of what question is really being asked.

If we are Christians, we know we should not abandon our faith. We wouldn't leave Christianity for "lying signs and wonders".

But if we see a neighbor who isn't Christian, who nevertheless has a heart of love for people, we know that love is there by the grace of God acting in him.

It's ok to be his friend. It's ok to praise his love. And it's ok, if he is open to it, to show him how love is the right path, and what Christ taught us about love.

But we don't see his love and assume Christianity is thus meaningless.

I'm thinking since you posted in TAW that you want to know the Orthodox stance on the question? This is what the Saints have taught us.

 

[Radrook]

God sent lying spirits in the Old Testament though.

You will find the answer to that at this website where you are provided with several reasons why that this supposed “vision” constitutes the use of irony or sarcasm.

Why did God send a lying spirit? (1 Kings 22:22)

The king Ahab had already been lied to by his false prophets and had already been deceived when the statement was made. The vision itself provides indications with its unusual description of heaven and God needing and asking for and receiving advice that this isn't a literal reference to heavenly proceedings. So Micah's descriptive statement is best viewed as a form of irony or sarcasm and not as a literal description of what was about to occurr..

 

[All4Christ]

The Holy Spirit will blow as He wills. However, there is only one True path to salvation: Jesus Christ.

Some scriptures discussing this:

22 Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; 23 for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription:

TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.

Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: 24 “God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. 25 Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. 26 And He has made from one blood[c] every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ 29 Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising. 30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”

32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, “We will hear you again on this matter.” 33 So Paul departed from among them. 34 However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

While some may not even know of God, He is still present around us. If someone doesn't know that our God exists, yet tries to follow God to the best of his or her ability, will God have mercy on them? I don't know for sure, but I do know He can use the things around them to lead them to truth. My personal thought is if someone cannot learn about God and what Christ did for us, that perhaps when they are at the judgment seat, they will see Jesus and realize that is what they were searching for their entire life. Why? Because Jesus is the one Truth. It's not multiple paths to Salvation.

So can God work through other religions? Sure. Does that mean they are going to be saved? Not necessarily. I'm not going to trust that is the case. I also personally see it as less likely for non-Christians to experience salvation in the regions where people can see authentic Christianity. That's my conclusion based on what I read in Scripture.

 

[CrystalDragon]

You will find the answer to that at this website:
Why did God send a lying spirit? (1 Kings 22:22)

The king Ahab had already been lied to by his false prophets and had already been deceived when the statement was made. So Micah's descriptive statement is best viewed as a form of irony or sarcasm and not as a literal description of what was about to occurr..

It may have been an ironic prophecy as that site states, and a false prophecy from Michaiaj, but even if it was there's still the implication there that God might have deceived him, and no one said anything like "How might the Lord have deceived you? For the Lord cannot lie."

Not to mention, what about these other passages where God deceived people?

Now therefore, behold, the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets. 2 Chronicles 18:22

Ah, Lord GOD! surely thou hast greatly deceived this people. Jeremiah 4:10

O Lord, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived. Jeremiah 20:7

And if a prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the Lord have deceived that prophet. Ezekiel 14:9

 

[Radrook]

It may have been an ironic prophecy as that site states, and a false prophecy from Michaiaj, but even if it was there's still the implication there that God might have deceived him, and no one said anything like "How might the Lord have deceived you? For the Lord cannot lie."

Not to mention, what about these other passages where God deceived people?

Now therefore, behold, the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets. 2 Chronicles 18:22

Ah, Lord GOD! surely thou hast greatly deceived this people. Jeremiah 4:10

O Lord, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived. Jeremiah 20:7

And if a prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the Lord have deceived that prophet. Ezekiel 14:9

Here is a website that explains the concerns you just mentioned in a very comprehensive way:
Does God Deceive People?

 

[ArmyMatt]

Can the non-Orthodox please stop having side conversations on here?

As to the OP, the devil always sweetens his poison. It's easier to keep folks in delusion with some truth mixed in with falsehood. The Church has always known that, so Christians have usually and historically built up what the pagans get right, and use that to correct the errors

 

[isilmë]

I'm thinking since you posted in TAW that you want to know the Orthodox stance on the question? This is what the Saints have taught us.

Yes, exactly - I'm interested in the Orthodox view first and foremost. (But I welcome people from other denominations too, if they want to chime in ).

 

[gzt]

We are definitely not Perennialists/Traditionalists, but we do have to acknowledge that there is some truth elsewhere, that God is knowable in some aspects in His Creation, and that God wants to be known. I would think that it would prepare people for their encounter with the fullness of the Truth - consider the Magi, who, according to our hymnography, "were taught by a star to worship the Orient from on high" ie Jesus Christ. They were seeking truth and when they encountered the Truth, however unexpected and unlike their teaching, they recognized it for what it was.

As for miraculous events, well, we're supposed to be somewhat skeptical of them even within our own faith. God has spoken to us through the law and the prophets and then came to us in the flesh in Jesus Christ, and it we don't believe on account of that we won't believe even if the dead come back and tell us what they see. If we believe solely based on miracles, we're going to have a rough time. The great miracle that is present before us every week (if not more frequently) is that Jesus Christ, who is both God and man, condescends to us and present himself to us to eat (his very body and blood!). Every week (if not more often)! "O magnum mysterium!"