What makes Christianity special?

[alien444]

If Christianity is the one true religion of the one true God, and the perfect philosophy by which to lead one's life; then it should certainly contain a uniqueness that could not be found in other religions or a secular view of the universe.

Can anyone name one moral precept, ethical statement, principle, or value that is not present in any other religion or secular worldview?

Is there anything that Christians do that non-Christians do not do that makes them a more moral individual?

Even more specifically, is Jesus credited with creating any moral precept that was not already thought to be important for humanity?

 

[OrdinaryClay]

Your first mistake is that you seem to think Christianity is about "what's in it for me". Christianity is about God - The Creator. We gain salvation through His love, true, but if you ask "How can I benefit from becoming a Christian" then you are asking the wrong question.

That said ...

Jesus answered, The first is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God, the Lord is one: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. The second is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
(Mar 12:29-31)

 

[OrdinaryClay]

Is there anything that Christians do that non-Christians do not do that makes them a more moral individual?

They worship and adore The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

You miss the point. No human can do anything to make themselves more righteous. Righteousness is a gift from God.

 

[Freodin]

An ofter heard answer to such a question:
"Christianity is the only faith where God reaches out to humans instead of vice versa. In Christianity, you don't have to do anything to be saved, God saves you."

...usually followed by the list of thing to do in order to be saved.

 

[PsychoSarah]

They worship and adore The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

You miss the point. No human can do anything to make themselves more righteous. Righteousness is a gift from God.

Yay, a religion of learned helplessness. because that is so appealing.

 

[alien444]

Your first mistake is that you seem to think Christianity is about "what's in it for me". Christianity is about God - The Creator. We gain salvation through His love, true, but if you ask "How can I benefit from becoming a Christian" then you are asking the wrong question.

That said ...

Jesus answered, The first is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God, the Lord is one: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. The second is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
(Mar 12:29-31)

I think you are hearing something that I am not saying. I never asked what is in it for me or anyone else. I am simply asking what makes it morally unique?

Regarding Mar 12:29-31----The first part is only relevant if you believe in the Christian God. Other Gods command that they be loved as well.
"Love thy neighbor" was a moral precept in some form or another long before this was written. I mean, "love each other" might be good advice, but it is not an original idea.

 

[alien444]

They worship and adore The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

You miss the point. No human can do anything to make themselves more righteous. Righteousness is a gift from God.

Well, I would say that no religion can do anything to make people more moral because morality is part of human nature.

 

[OrdinaryClay]

I think you are hearing something that I am not saying. I never asked what is in it for me or anyone else. I am simply asking what makes it morally unique?

Or perhaps you are thinking something you're not writing.

Regarding Mar 12:29-31----The first part is only relevant if you believe in the Christian God.

Astute observation.

Other Gods command that they be loved as well.
"Love thy neighbor" was a moral precept in some form or another long before this was written. I mean, "love each other" might be good advice, but it is not an original idea.

Please provide an example of a religion that we can compare.

 

[PsychoSarah]

Or perhaps you are thinking something you're not writing.
Astute observation.
Please provide an example of a religion that we can compare.

A religion in which people are advised not to be nasty towards their neighbors? Easy, Buddhism and Ancient Greek and Roman polytheistic religions. Both emphasize not only being descent to other people you know, but also being charitable towards strangers.

 

[OrdinaryClay]

A religion in which people are advised not to be nasty towards their neighbors? Easy, Buddhism and Ancient Greek and Roman polytheistic religions. Both emphasize not only being descent to other people you know, but also being charitable towards strangers.

You only covered half of what Christianity requires.

Also, I don't believe your claim that "Ancient Greek and Roman polytheistic religions" taught peace.

 

[PsychoSarah]

You only covered half of what Christianity requires.

Also, I don't believe your claim that "Ancient Greek and Roman polytheistic religions" taught peace.

You asked for ones that taught people to love their neighbors, not ones which preached peace. Btw, preaching peace doesn't matter if no one actually practices it.

If a religion taught literally everything Christianity did, it would be Christianity. However, none of the points made by it are exclusive to Christianity really.

 

[OrdinaryClay]

You asked for ones that taught people to love their neighbors, not ones which preached peace.

One follows from the other, but I still don't believe your claim.

If a religion taught literally everything Christianity did, it would be Christianity.

The subject is the distinctions. If you disagree with the OP then you should bring it up with him.

However, none of the points made by it are exclusive to Christianity really.

I demonstrate the distinction here.

 

[Rubiks]

I once heard someone say "Religion is man's way of finding God. Christianity is God's way of finding man."

In other words in religion, if you do good stuff, you get God. However in Christianity, God comes and gets us, we just have to accept him by faith.

 

[alien444]

You asked for ones that taught people to love their neighbors, not ones which preached peace. Btw, preaching peace doesn't matter if no one actually practices it.

If a religion taught literally everything Christianity did, it would be Christianity. However, none of the points made by it are exclusive to Christianity really.

All true. All religions preach to ideals that are rarely realized. What's more, the ideals change over time.

 

[alien444]

I once heard someone say "Religion is man's way of finding God. Christianity is God's way of finding man."

In other words in religion, if you do good stuff, you get God. However in Christianity, God comes and gets us, we just have to accept him by faith.

See Freodin's post #4

 

[Rubiks]

See Freodin's post #4

The relationship between faith and works is still completely different.

Christians believe that works are required for salvation only in the sense they are EVIDENCE of true saving faith. They don't contribute to salvation, like religion teaches.

 

[Sunshine Locket]

James 2:26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.



There were many faiths prior to Christ and his coming. As there are many faiths that endure today. Christianity isn't for everyone. Scripture tells us this.


Luke 13:23-31

23 Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?”

And He said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ 26 then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ 27 But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’


Jesus said his sheep know his voice. Animals in his time were incorporated into stories, parables, so as to communicate a deeper meaning to that story, that parable. Something the people would identify with in their experience as sheep herders, goat herders, etc... and would therefore understand the import of a story's message due to their understanding of the animal used in that story.

Not all who hear of Christianity, or who read scripture, or even sit through a sermon in church, feel the resonance of God's truth inside themselves. And that is as it should be.

God predestined the world for all time to be and become all that he planned.

Don't worry. All is well.

If Christianity is the one true religion of the one true God, and the perfect philosophy by which to lead one's life; then it should certainly contain a uniqueness that could not be found in other religions or a secular view of the universe.

Can anyone name one moral precept, ethical statement, principle, or value that is not present in any other religion or secular worldview?

Is there anything that Christians do that non-Christians do not do that makes them a more moral individual?

Even more specifically, is Jesus credited with creating any moral precept that was not already thought to be important for humanity?

 

[Huntun]

There are other religions which teach that salvation, or the ultimate religious goal, isn't the result of human effort. Some forms of Pure Land Buddhism reject self power all together. They teach that you can't earn your own liberation and that it instead comes from a source beyond your own finite ego and human power. It all comes from Buddha Nature and manifests in a natural effortless manner. You're just along for the ride so to speak. In some ways it makes since a view like that would eventually arise in a religion that rejected any sort of final existence to a seperate self in the first place.

 

[juvenissun]

If Christianity is the one true religion of the one true God, and the perfect philosophy by which to lead one's life; then it should certainly contain a uniqueness that could not be found in other religions or a secular view of the universe.

Can anyone name one moral precept, ethical statement, principle, or value that is not present in any other religion or secular worldview?

Is there anything that Christians do that non-Christians do not do that makes them a more moral individual?

Even more specifically, is Jesus credited with creating any moral precept that was not already thought to be important for humanity?

Christianity has ALL answers to ALL questions about religion.
You may not agree with the answer, but it has all the answers.

That is unique.

 

[alien444]

Christianity has ALL answers to ALL questions about religion.
You may not agree with the answer, but it has all the answers.

That is unique.

Well, I guess that settles it.