LeeBuhrul

Other than Christianity obviously?

It is my understanding of the 3 religions with a common beginning (Islamic, Jewish and Chistian) that only Christianity claims its prophet (Jesus) as a deity (the son of God) and claims salvation is only achievable by acceptance of that claim.

Is this correct? If not which and how do the others do so?

:huh: Where am I headed with this? Hell some would say... :devil1:

Seriously, I mean to make the point (likely not the first) that it is the single most important reason for it's explosive growth through the centuries (and I use the word explosive with an intended double meaning)

RGD

You will have to clarify what you mean by through a prophet. Many variants on Buddhism hold that the incarnations of the Buddha can be regarded as deities.

And most religions hold that salvation is only achievable through acceptance of their various claims.

LeeBuhrul

Christianity specifically claims that "salvation" is only "through" Christ... in other words, no matter how good one is, unless you "accept" Christ you're going to hell

(revisionist apologists notwithstanding that is exactly the claim and that is exactly what fundamentalists go back to every time they get on the pulpit)

Besides, Budhism is entirely different and reincarnations are not the same as prophets.

LeeBuhrul

Still hoping for some interest for this topic...

Chili

There is, but you wont find much argument here because you are asking Christians and atheists alike if they are devil worshipers. Christianity is not a religion but is the end of religion except for the possessed who either promote it as a religion or are trying to tear a down as a religion (kind much in the way "John say the multitude," I guess; or "those who gather while others scatter").

The point here is that the idea that Christianity is a religion already is equal to worshiping the Antichrist.

Toto

You've limited this to three religions. Islam does not make belief in Mohammed the source of salvation, and is more strictly monotheistic than Christianity, but it does elevate Mohammed above other prophets and otherwise makes similar claims.

But I doubt that belief of any sort is responsible for the growth of Christianity, which is not "explosive" in terms of comparative religious studies.

And I think this might get more response in GRD.

Chili

More to the point, are there any other mythologies where we must die first before anything good can happen to us? :banghead:

:devil1: :devil3: :angry:

:rolling: :rolling: :rolling: :thumbs: :down:
Ps, my grandson's added smilies.

LeeBuhrul

My use of the word explosive is relative.

My point is that the belief in "salvation" only through acceptance of a prophet (JC) is the one single characteristic that differentiates Christianity's political and social influence from all other religions and the driving force behind its unique zeal to seek converts which is the cause I attribute to it's political growth.

Why is this significant? because it has been explored by demagogues and politicians through time, (current US administration included) to lend moral justification to war, conquest, subjugation of others and ultimately... genocide!


PS: I don't recall a jewish or moslem knocking ever at my door with "the great news"...

JerryM

The more fundamental distinction of Christianity (at least the traditional version) is that Jesus is not seen just as a prophet. He is considered to be God. The actual Supreme Being incarnate. The second "person" in the Christian trinity. Salvation comes not merely by following his teaching, but by truly accepting Jesus as God. Mohammed, Buddha, Joseph Smith, the various Hebrew prophets, etc. are all revered by their believers as teachers--to whom God made divine revelation--but they are not to be worshipped as God him/herself (some forms of Buddhism excepted.)