Final ways to judge between religions and worldviews

In previous blogs I have discussed a couple of ways a person can judge religions to see which one would be the best. The first way was to look at the factual evidence (manuscripts, history, archaeology, anthropology, founders of each religion). The second way was to examine each set of beliefs for logical inconsistencies. For this blog I would like to examine a final two areas -- religions as they deal with ethics/human nature and the satisfaction they can bring.

Some religions are simply weaker when it comes to ethics and human nature. Think about Eastern religions with their focus on karma compared to Christianity. Under the concept of karma, a person suffers because of past-life sins, so he/she must work out and pay for these moral shortcomings. If you see somebody suffering, just keep going and don't interfere with his/her karma. Christianity, on the other hand, from its very beginning was focused on helping the poor, the needy, the sufferers. The Roman world was amazed and impressed at how early Christians took care of those unwanted by their society. I don't think there is any doubt that the Christian system is superior here in its care for other humans.

Christianity strikes me as the best religion when it comes to understanding human nature. For example, it is the only religion that understands the weaknesses of humanity. Why do I say that? Christianity is the only one not based on works. All others tell their adherents to complete task after task, which leads to frustration and feelings of guilt or inadequacy. None of us can live up to the standards and requirements other religions burden us with. In addition, it's only Christianity that says humans are a mixture of good and evil. This belief explains the wonderful things we can do as well as the horrific deeds that we can inflict on each other. It explains our low self-esteem since we are honest with ourselves and know our shortcomings, no matter what sort of face we put on for the rest of the world. It also explains why we feel guilty.

Christianity is also superior for the way it deals with morality. Unlike other religions and cults, Christianity says morality is from God. Standards of right/wrong are outside us rather than made up by us as we go along. This is far more satisfying and saves us from the trap of relativism in which each person generates his/her own set of principles, a recipe for anarchy, frustration, and social upheaval.

Finally, a fourth way to judge religions has to do with subjective satisfaction. For example, we can live the Christian life -- we eliminate guilt and the sense of frustration when we fall short of ethical and moral standards. Compare this to other religions -- we can't live Christian Science (we know death is real), Scientology (it's a fantasy based on money), Eastern religions (all is maya, an illusion??), Mormonism (no factual basis). In addition, Christianity provides a sense of awe. Consider some of its claims -- God is a three-personed being, He created all out of nothing, He came to earth for us, He rose from the dead, He cares about each one of us. Christianity also satisfies in the things it declares to be real -- miracles, resurrection, prayer, existence of the soul. It explains many things--pleasures that never totally satisfy, our refusal to be amoral, and our longings for truth and beauty.

One other thing about Christianity that is satisfying is how it unites the two-story house modern man lives in. There is a lower story in which humans are told the only thing that counts is science and facts. So here dwells the idea of people as machines/products of mindless evolution. This level says there is no point to life. So we can't really live there. Instead, people escape to a second story where meaning, freedom, values, ethics, and wishes exist. People who have ignored Christianity have been trying to live in this schizophrenic way. But the Christian faith says we can have it all and integrate both stories due to the existence of a God who cared enough to come into our world and save us from ourselves.

So when someone says we can't judge between religions, let him/her know there are several ways--how the religions correspond to reality, whether they are logically consistent, what they say about ethics and human nature, and whether they are satisfying to us in deep ways. I never wanted to be part of a religion because it "resonated" with me. I wanted to follow a religion that was true.