Lesson 9: The Uniqueness of Christianity in a World of Religions
27 min read
by Mark Bird
Introduction
At the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago, a Parliament of Religions allowed representatives from each of the world’s major religions to speak. Speakers from each religion tried to convince the audience that their religion was superior to the others.
The last representative was Joseph Cook, a pastor representing the Christian faith. Just before Cook spoke, the Hindu speaker attacked Christianity as “the worst of all religions” because it called people “sinners.”
Instead of attacking any other religion, Joseph Cook began telling the story of Lady Macbeth from Shakespeare's great play. He told how Lady Macbeth, out of jealousy and ambition, persuaded her husband to murder Duncan the king while he was a guest in their castle.
Soon Lady Macbeth was tormented by guilt. During the day, she was ambitious and bold. But at night, Lady Macbeth would sleepwalk through the palace, repeatedly washing her hands and crying, “There’s a spot. Will these hands ever be clean?”
Joseph Cook asked the representative of each religion, “Is there anything in your religion that can wash the guilt and blood from Lady Macbeth's hands?” No one spoke. No religion could wash the blood from Lady Macbeth’s hands. Rev. Cook then turned to the audience and concluded, “The blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanses us from all sin!”
In this lesson, we will see that Christianity is different than all other religions. The difference between the gospel and other religions is this: we believe that God entered our world in the person of his Son, Jesus, to provide a way to forgive our sins and restore us to his image.
A very common question that Christians face is, “Aren’t all religions the same? They are just different paths to the same goal. As long as you find the path that fits you, it is fine.”
►How would you respond to a Hindu who said, “Christianity and Hinduism are two paths to the same goal”?
The following discussion will help us see better what sets Christianity apart from all other worldviews.
There are five major beliefs regarding the existence and nature of God: Atheism, Pantheism, Panentheism, Polytheism, and Monotheism.
Atheism teaches that there is no God. It denies there is anything beyond the natural world.
Pantheism teaches that there is a divine being, but that this being is not distinct from the world. The pantheistic god is not a personal being who created the universe. He is a Spirit or Mind who is identical to the universe. Hinduism is an example of a pantheistic religion.
Panentheism teaches that God is distinct from the world but that he is dependent on the world for his existence. There is a co-dependence between God and the world.
Polytheism teaches that there are many gods. Mormonism is an example of a religion that is polytheistic. However, the Bible teaches that there is only one divine being.
"Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: 'I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.'”[1]
"Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me."[2]
None of the worldviews just mentioned provides a path to reconnect man and God. These beliefs are contradicted by the Bible and by philosophical and scientific evidence. The evidence we have studied in this course points to a transcendent, independent, eternal, non-physical, intelligent God who created the universe and who interacts with humankind.
Monotheism teaches that there is one transcendent, eternal, personal, divine being. The three largest monotheistic religions are Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. These religions teach that God intervened in the world to bring about our salvation.
Judaism, founded by God through Abraham and Moses, was fulfilled in Christ. Except for Messianic (Christian) Jews, modern Judaism has rejected Jesus as the fulfillment of the messianic prophecies. The Jewish sacrificial system pointed to Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. Modern Jews have no basis for forgiveness if they reject Jesus. They don't even do sacrifices anymore.
Islam was formed during the seventh century in Mecca and Medina. Mohammad created a false religion based on perversions of Judaism and Christianity. There are many common beliefs among these religions since they have common roots, but from its beginning Islam has led people away from the truth of Christ's deity and his death and resurrection.
Islam has no adequate basis for forgiveness because it does not have a substitutionary atonement. In Islam, one can be forgiven only if his good deeds outweigh his bad deeds. However, we know that no amount of goodness, even if we had any, could ever make up for our sins against an infinitely holy God.
Only Christianity has a way for forgiveness of sins. We were in need of a mediator to bridge the gap between man and God. Sin alienated us from God, but a mediator who was both God and man could provide atonement and bring reconciliation.[3] As God, Jesus represented God to man. As man, Jesus represented man to God. He was the divine-human mediator, who through his death and resurrection brought God and man together.
Jesus had to be both God and man to accomplish what he did. A sacrificial death was necessary to atone for sin. Only as a human could Jesus die. And only as God could Jesus be an adequate atonement for our sins against an infinite God. Also, Jesus needed to be divine to destroy death and sin through the power of his resurrection.
The atoning death and resurrection of Jesus the God-man distinguish Christianity from any other religion. Only Christianity provides a way for man to be forgiven of his sins and to be reconciled to God through faith. Only Christianity provided a way to restore man to God’s image. That is why Jesus said that he was the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and that no one could come to the Father except through him.[4]
What are five major beliefs regarding the existence and nature of God? Define each.
What is the difference between Christianity and the other major beliefs?
Is the Doctrine of the Trinity Essential for the Christian Faith?
If Jesus is God, does that mean there is more than one God? No. The doctrine of the Trinity teaches that there are three Persons in the one divine being called God. These three Persons are the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. There are many reasons to defend the doctrine of the Trinity against those who oppose it.
The doctrine of the Trinity (one God revealed in three persons) is a distinguishing characteristic of Christianity. This doctrine distinguishes Christianity from Judaism and Islam, the other two major monotheistic religions.
Islam rejects the doctrine of the Trinity, even though Muslims believe in one transcendent personal God. Muslims say that God can't have a son, so they reject Jesus as the Son of God, or God the Son. Part of the problem is that Muslims think that Sonship implies a natural physical fathering. That is not the Christian doctrine of the Sonship of Jesus. There was never a time when the Son was not the Son. His Sonship is not physical; Sonship refers to a special relationship that Jesus has had with the Father from all eternity. Jesus was Son before he was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary to live among us as a human.
Some non-Christians think that Christians are tri-theists.[1] But that is not the case. Christians are monotheistic. We believe that there is only one divine being, but that there are three Persons within that one being. These three Persons share the exact same nature. They are not separate gods.
The Biblical Evidence for the Trinity
Here is a biblical case for the Christian doctrine that there is one God who has revealed himself as three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The following premises are all taught in the Bible. This forms the basis of the doctrine of the Trinity.
The Father spoke from heaven, saying, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit could not be the same person; they are each acting in different roles at the same time.
Near the end of his ministry, Jesus said he would ask the Father to send us “another Helper”—the Holy Spirit.[8] There are three distinct persons involved in this request.
Conclusion:The one true God of the Bible has revealed himself to exist in three distinct Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is one in nature, but three in Person.
Although the word Trinity does not appear in the Bible, the doctrine of the Trinity is based on clear Scriptural statements. The Bible clearly shows the existence of three distinct Persons. Each of these Persons is identified as the one God of the universe.
This is not a contradiction because Christians do not say that God is both one person and three persons. Christians do not say that God is both one God and three Gods. Instead, Christians say that God is one in essence and three in person.
An Illustration of the Trinity
The universe is one of best illustrations of the Trinity. The entire physical universe (uni = one) consists of three and only three essential aspects − space, time, and matter. If you were to take away any of these three, you would no longer have a universe.
Space consists of length, width, and height – three in one. If you were to take away any of these dimensions, you would no longer have space.
Time consists of past, present, and future – three in one. If you were to take away any of these aspects, you would no longer have time.
Matter consists of energy in motion producing phenomena – three in one. Without energy, there can be no motion or phenomena. Without motion, there can be no energy or phenomena. If there are no phenomena, it is because there is no energy or motion.[9]
The idea of “three in one” is part of the very nature of the universe. Could it be that God made his universe to reflect his trinitarian nature? I believe that God left his fingerprints on creation. Just as the one universe exists as space, time, and matter, the one God exists as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
A Traditional Diagram of the Trinity
The biblical doctrine of the Trinity has been taught by the church since the apostles. Here is a diagram that the church has used to describe the Trinity.
The doctrine of the Trinity is essential to Christian doctrine.
Some say that it is not important to believe the doctrine of the Trinity, but they are wrong. The doctrine of the Trinity is the basis of key teachings that are essential to the gospel. For example, those who deny the Trinity usually deny that Jesus is God. But if Jesus is not God, his death did not provide salvation.
If we deny that Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct, we deny God’s personal or relational characteristics. For instance, God would not be a loving God from all eternity if he had to wait until he created in order to love anyone. But if God is more than one person, these Persons could love one another from all eternity.
The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are Persons living in relationship with each other.
The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not impersonal entities. They each possess personhood and live in personal relationship with each other. We call them Persons because they live in relationship with one another. Each member of the Trinity can refer to himself as “I” and to another member of the Trinity as “You.” Though the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one God, they are distinct Persons who love one another, give to one another, communicate to one another, and live for one another. They are true Persons.
The doctrine of the Trinity affects human personhood and relationships.
The Trinity is the source of our personhood. God made us in his image. Like the Trinity, we are able to relate to one another and to God. We have a mind, a will, and emotions that give us this ability.
The Trinity affects the way we relate to one another, as well as to God. Since the members of the Trinity live in self-giving love for each other, we also should live in loving relationships with others. That is the way that God made us. We were made in the image of God. We were made to love others as the members of the Trinity love each other.
►Can you explain the doctrine of the Trinity to a Muslim who believes that Christians believe in three gods?
[9] For more information, see Nathan Wood, Trinity in the Universe (MI: Kregel Publications, 1984).
Section B Review
What are the three premises and conclusion that show the biblical evidence for the doctrine of the Trinity?
What three aspects of the universe illustrate the doctrine of the Trinity?
How Should Christians Respond to Animism?
In Africa, many unbelievers have great respect and even fear of the spirits. These people often ask a Christian, “Why should I trust a God whom I cannot see when my family has met with the spirits of our ancestors? We have seen their power. We see that they exist. Why should we worship a God we cannot see?”
Whether it is called “Animism” or “Tribal Religion” or “Traditional Religion,” this view provides a great challenge to Christian apologetics. When you try to evangelize among animists, they are unlikely to ask questions like, “What is the manuscript evidence for the Bible?” or “What is the cosmological argument for the existence of God?”
Randall McElwain once asked a group of African pastors, “How do you prove the existence of God to unbelievers?” They responded with laughter. “Everyone in Africa is smart enough to know that there is a God! Only Americans and westerners are foolish enough to doubt God’s existence. Our people do not ask ‘Is there a God?’ They ask, ‘Which god is the most powerful?’”
How should a Christian apologist respond to animism? We will look at four questions:
What is animism?
What is the difference between animism and Christianity?
Can animism and Christianity be blended?
How can we best communicate the gospel to animists?
What is Animism?
Animism pictures natural forces and human ancestors as living beings with distinct identities. “Nature spirits” inhabit objects such as animals, plants, and rocks. “Ancestor spirits” are family members who have died. They are often treated with respect as honored members of the group.
According to most tribal religions, these spirits are limited. Their power comes from their non-physical state. They are often unpredictable and can cause great trouble for humans. They can operate unseen because they do not have a body, but they do not have unlimited power. Because of this, they can be controlled by a witch doctor or other religious figure. They can sometimes be controlled through “magical” phrases or talismans.
Many animistic practices are focused on appeasing the spirit world. Whether it is money burned as an offering to ancestors or sacrifices to the nature spirits, animists try to appease the spirit world.
What is the Difference Between Animism and Christianity?
(1) Fear instead of love
Perhaps the greatest difference between animism and Christianity is the relationship between God and man. In animism, the relationship between man and the nature spirits or the ancestors is one of fear. Animists often live in constant fear of what their ancestors may do. There is no shared greeting or relationship. The goal of most animists is to give enough respect to the spirits to avoid trouble. Offerings and prayers are used to satisfy the demands of the spirits. Sorcerers or shamans are paid to control the spirit world.
By contrast, Christians worship a God who pursues a relationship of love with his people. God walked in the Garden with Adam and Eve. God sent his Son to live among us and to die to pay the penalty for our sin. Christ has already appeased the just wrath of God. Our sin brought God’s wrath, but God provided an atonement through the gift of his only Son.[1]
Because Jesus has already paid the price for our sin, our relationship with God can be one of love, not fear. If we respond to his offer of free salvation, God has promised that we will spend eternity in his presence. We do not have to live in fear. We can live in a relationship of love.
(2) Fatalism instead of hope
Animists see death as a source of terror. There is no promise of life after the grave. There is no promise of reunion with family. There is no hope of a merciful God.
By contrast, Christians look forward to eternity in the presence of a loving God. To the Christian, life is moving towards a future of unending joy.
(3) Remote spirits instead of a personal God
Another difference between animism and Christianity is animism’s emphasis on spirits rather than on God. Even animists who recognize a supreme God give more attention to spirits than to God.
By contrast, Christians should give their attention to God not to the spirit world. The Bible testifies to the reality of the spirit world. However, the Bible gives few details about this world. The Bible teaches us nothing about how to contact spirits (either good spirits or bad). It says nothing about how we can use the power of the spirits to help us. Why? Because God alone is the source of our power and knowledge.
Can Animism and Christianity be Blended?
Some Christians have said, “Yes, Christianity is the true religion. However, we can blend the Christian faith with the traditional religions of animistic people.” The blending of true Christianity and other religions is called syncretism.
Many “independent churches” in Africa have combined a Christian message with African tribal religion. This often started with a sincere attempt to contextualize the gospel for Africans. Some African pastors recognized the failure of many western missionaries to communicate the gospel in Africa without all of the cultural “baggage” of the west. These pastors wanted African Christians to sing African songs, wear African clothing, and worship in a genuinely African manner.
Although these efforts began with good intentions, many churches have adapted practices that are contrary to the gospel. In this “syncretistic Christianity,” God is remote, just as the spirit gods are remote. Ancestors are seen as mediators between worshipers and God. There is little emphasis on Christ’s atoning death. Instead, pastors emphasize power over the spirit world, miraculous healings, and dream interpretation.[2]
If all religions are equal, syncretism would be acceptable. However, as we have seen earlier, there is only one path to God. Humanity can come to God only through Jesus Christ. All other paths are false. They do not lead to God. We cannot follow a false path and the true path at the same time.
Imagine that I offered you a cup of liquid. I said to you, “This cup has two drinks mixed together. One of the drinks in the cup is very healthy. The other drink is a deadly poison that will kill you. I mixed them together, so that you will get some of both drinks.” Would you drink from the cup? Of course not! The poison has ruined the healthy drink.
In the same way, it is impossible to worship God and to worship false religions at the same time. Paul said, “You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.”[3]
In the Old Testament, some people in Israel wanted to worship Jehovah while they also worshiped the false god Baal. Elijah asked them, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.”[4]
In our doctrines, in our worship practices, and in our lifestyle, we may follow Christ or we may follow false gods. We cannot do both.
How Can We Best Communicate the Gospel to Animists?
Because the strongest aspect of animism is fear, Christians must show the power of God over fear. By showing Christian love and by carefully sharing the good news of the gospel, a Christian can help an animist overcome their fear of the spirits. Until that fear is overcome, many animists will be afraid to respond to the gospel. Christians must show, through their love for their animistic neighbors and through their confident faith in a good God, that love for God casts out fear. John wrote, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”[5]
Jesus Christ Delivers from Fear
John Seamands told the story of the Iban tribe in Malaysia. This animistic tribe lived in constant fear of dreams, rodents, and even a certain bird. When a group of Chinese Christian came to Malaysia after the Boxer Rebellion, the Ibans were amazed that the Christians walked through the forest without fear. They asked, “Aren’t you afraid of the evil spirits?” The Chinese Christians answered, “No! Our God is alive. He loves us and he is more powerful than any other force.” Today, there are thousands of Iban Christians. Their first testimony is often this, “Jesus Christ has delivered me from fear.”[6]
Because the gospel is not limited to western lifestyles, Christians must not think the gospel is the same as western culture. In the early twentieth century, some missionaries tried to establish a “little Britain” in other countries. People in western suits and ties sang western hymns while sitting on benches in a western style church with a steeple. We must bring the gospel in a way that communicates effectively to those we are trying to reach.
Finally, because syncretism has often weakened the gospel, Christians must communicate the gospel clearly. We must introduce animists to a personal God who loves them and desires relationship. We must introduce animists to Jesus Christ who died to make atonement for our sins and who rose from the grave in victory over death.
We must not replace the core message of Christ’s life, atoning death, and resurrection with efforts to impress animists with miraculous signs and wonders, or prayer techniques to “force” God to do what we ask. Our God is not a tribal spirit to be manipulated; he is the sovereign of the universe. When we teach that God can be manipulated through prayer techniques and “faith rituals,” we bring him to the level of a tribal god. An apologetic for animists must never weaken the gospel for the sake of impressing an audience.
Jesus Christ Is More Powerful than Evil Spirits
Animists who are hearing the gospel for the first time will often compare the power of the Christian God with the power of their tribal spirits. A powerful apologetic for animists is the demonstration of the power of God. While we must not try to manipulate God into working according to our plan, we should be sensitive to allow his Spirit to work through us to demonstrate God’s power.
A missionary to the Philippines visited a little girl who had come down with a mysterious illness. This girl was from a tribe that had only recently heard the gospel for the first time. Everyone in the village knew that that girl’s sickness was demonic. Satan was attacking the village because the people had responded to the preaching of the gospel.
The missionary said, “I could feel the power of evil.” The missionary and Filipino pastors prayed for the girl in the name of Jesus Christ. They sang songs about the power of Jesus’ name and the power of his shed blood. The girl was instantly delivered. Her healing was a great testimony to this animistic tribe. They saw that God was more powerful than their tribal spirits. They no longer feared the spirits.
[6] Much of the material in this section is adapted from John T. Seamands, Tell It Well, (Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press, 1981).
Section C Review
Define animism. What is the greatest difference between animism and Christianity?
Define syncretism. Why is syncretism not acceptable for Christians?
What about Those Who Have Never Heard the Gospel?
The Bible teaches that Jesus is the only way to heaven. This raises a very difficult question. What about the person who dies without hearing the gospel? Is there any hope for this person? Could they have been saved?
I believe that the answer is yes. My answer is not based on a direct biblical response, but upon a set of biblical truths that indirectly relate to the question. God is a just and loving God who is not willing that any should perish. He provided everyone in the world a way of salvation, and the Holy Spirit is in the world drawing everyone to Christ through various means. I believe that if a person without access to the Bible responds to the general revelation of creation and conscience by seeking God from the heart, God will reveal to him enough information for salvation. This information may come through a missionary, an angel, dreams, or a direct revelation from God.
This special revelation may be limited. There is no biblical teaching that the entire historical content of the gospel is necessary in order to trust in Christ for salvation. The faith that saves can be based on a limited understanding of the content of faith.
The object of this person’s faith is still Christ, though he may not yet know the name of Jesus or the doctrine of the Trinity. This believer may simply understand that the Creator God has somehow provided a way to bridge the gap between man and God. Without a full revelation of the gospel, this seeker may place his faith in the One sent to bridge that gap.
This does not mean that people can believe anything they want. Through God’s grace, the seeker must forsake the false gods around him, recognize his helplessness, and reach out in faith to the true Creator God. When this seeker later learns more about Christ, he must embrace the truths of the gospel. He cannot deny basic Christian doctrines.
The doctrine of prevenient grace is important for this question. Prevenient grace is defined as “the grace that goes before salvation.” The Bible teaches that this grace is extended to everyone in the world. Paul wrote, “The grace of God bringing salvation has appeared to all men.”[1]Prevenient grace is universal, but it is also resistible.
If God’s grace that brings salvation appears to “all men,” this implies that God will provide a way to respond to the grace. If one responds to prevenient grace, no matter how far removed he is from missionary influences, God will give him or her more light and grace.
This grace can enable the seeker to exercise faith in Jesus. This grace is effective even if the seeker has not heard the full message of the gospel or if God reveals the truth through an angel or dreams. God will save anyone who seeks the one true God of creation with his whole heart.[2]
No one will stand before God and truthfully say that it was impossible for him to find the true God and trust in Jesus. If we do not seek God, we will realize at the judgment that we had opportunity to seek the true God. If we truly sought God with our whole heart, we would be given enough truth to trust in Christ for salvation.
Evangelism is still important. Though it is possible for an unevangelized person to cry out to God for mercy, it is still important that Christians actively share the gospel. Hearing the gospel makes it much more likely that someone will respond to the truth. Christians who share the gospel are not just delivering a message; they are speaking to the conscience of sinners. They are trying to motivate sinners to give their hearts to God.
Since God draws everyone to himself, everyone will have an opportunity to seek and find the true God. Response to God is made easier when Christians pray for the lost and actively share the gospel. The doctrine of prevenient grace should inspire us to more evangelism, since we know that God is at work in every heart. If God saves some people apart from our work, how much more will he do if we intercede for the lost and witness to them?
Missionaries have found many cases in which God prepared unevangelized people for the gospel. Missionaries have been able to connect the gospel to elements of the people’s culture. This has made it easier for the people to understand and respond to the gospel. To read more about this, read Don Richardson’s books Eternity in Their Hearts and Peace Child.
► What elements of your culture show God’s prevenient grace preparing the way for the gospel?
Apologetics in Action - The Conversion of Lamin Sanneh
Dr. Lamin Sanneh (1942-2019)[1] was the D. Willis James Professor of Missions and World Christianity at Yale University, where he also served as a Professor of History. Professor Sanneh studied Arabic and Islamic Studies in England and Beirut, Lebanon. He taught at both Harvard University and Yale University.
Dr. Sanneh was raised a devout Muslim in Gambia. He enjoyed the excitement of Ramadan and the opportunity to show his religious devotion during this time of fasting. As a young man, Lamin was a very committed Muslim who enjoyed the discipline of his Islamic faith.
As he read the Qur’an, Sanneh often was drawn to what the Qur’an said about Jesus. It teaches that Jesus was a prophet and a messenger from God, but that Jesus did not die on the cross. Sanneh became interested in the life of Jesus. However, he was afraid that this interest would lead him away from Islam. He prayed that God would protect him from his interest in Jesus!
However, Sanneh’s interest grew even more intense. He could not escape this question, “Who died on the cross?” The Qur’an said that Jesus did not die, but that God put someone else in Jesus’ place. Sanneh wanted to know, “Who did God put in the place of Jesus?” He began to think, “Maybe Jesus really did die on the cross. Maybe God allowed this. If so, why did God allow Jesus to die?”
Dr. Sanneh began to think about his own life. He had experienced tragedy in his family. He asked, “What if God allowed Jesus to suffer as part of our world? What if Jesus died on the cross to defeat death?” He began to realize that the cross was necessary as God’s way to enter our world.
It was much later that Dr. Sanneh received a copy of the Bible. But God’s Spirit had opened Sanneh’s eyes to the need for a Savior. When Sanneh received a copy of the Bible, he began to read Acts and Romans. He learned that God had provided justification not through his rigorous disciplines, but by grace through faith. He began to see that it is only through grace that we can be freed from our inability to please a perfect God.
Professor Sanneh became a believer because God opened his eyes to his need for a Savior. God then used his Word to show Lamin Sanneh the path to God.
[1] Adapted from Lamin Sanneh, “Jesus, More Than a Prophet” in Kelly Monroe, Finding God at Harvard: Spiritual Journeys of Christian Thinkers, (MI: Zondervan, 1996).
Assignments
(1) Apologetics and the Head: Take a test over the review questions from Lesson 9. Study these questions carefully in preparation for the test.
(2) Apologetics and the Heart: Much of the material in this lesson speaks to the questions of animists or Muslims. Do you know people in either of these religions? If so, giving the gospel to them is more than simply preparing a list of questions and answers. To be effective, our witness must be given in the power of the Holy Spirit. Begin to pray that God will
Give you an opportunity to share the gospel with your animist or Muslim friend and
Give you anointing to share the gospel with power and clarity
(3) Apologetics and the Hands: Talk to an animist or Muslim. If you are speaking with an animist, show how God’s perfect love casts out fear. If you are speaking with a Muslim, show how God is Three-in-One.
Lesson 9 Test
(1) What are five major beliefs regarding the existence and nature of God? Define each.
(2) What is the difference between Christianity and the other major beliefs?
(3) What are the three premises and conclusion that show the biblical evidence for the doctrine of the Trinity?
(4) What three aspects of the universe illustrate the doctrine of the Trinity?
(5) Define animism. What is the greatest difference between animism and Christianity?
(6) Define syncretism. Why is syncretism not acceptable for Christians?
Lesson 9:The Uniqueness of Christianity in a World of Religions
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