I'm asking this question inspired by a recent anecdote told by someone I trust, but the point is to go beyond the anecdote and ask a more general question. The anecdote is as follows: My mother is a widow, but she's seeing a man who is also a widower. My family has a very good relationship with him. He is Catholic. He recently told us about a supernatural/paranormal experience he had before his wife died of cancer. At that time, he was desperate to find a solution for the cancer his wife was suffering from. A friend of his told him he had had a successful experience with a healer who cured him of stomach cancer several years earlier, and he shared the contact information and address. He coordinated an appointment with the healer and went there with his wife. He was really surprised to find that a lot of people were in line waiting for their turn, as if, through word of mouth, people who had a successful experience with the healer would recommend her (it was a she) to their friends and acquaintances, and those to theirs, and so on. So it was clear that this healer was well-known and in demand. The man and his wife went in. The healer examined the wife and noticed that the cancer was in an extremely advanced stage, and said there was nothing she could do for her at that point. However, the man himself was struggling with a strange skin condition that had started a few years earlier, where he would get stains and protuberances, like cysts, in several parts of his upper body, including a few that were quite noticeable and painful when he touched them. Since he was already there, he took the opportunity to arrange a healing session for himself. If I remember correctly, he had about three meetings with the healer. He said something along the lines of this: he was in the same room with several other people who were also seeking healing, and they all had to pray some Catholic prayers that the healer guided them through. But at certain points the healer would utter words that no one else in the room could understand (maybe she was "speaking in tongues"?). Then, probably in the last session, she asked each person in turn to visualize the route to their homes, because that night someone would visit them in their room to perform the "operation" to heal them. He visualized the exact route to his house, and he felt like the healer was able to read his mind while he was doing it. After that, she instructed him to go to his bedroom, sleep early, leave a candle burning and a glass of water, and wear a white blanket. He did as instructed, and he remembers that at some point during the night, while he was asleep, he felt like entities visited him and started moving him around in bed, but he perceived it as if it were part of a dream. But he heard a voice that woke him up saying, "Turn off the candle," just before the candle was about to be fully consumed. He did so, and immediately fell asleep again. A few hours later, he woke up, drank water from the glass, and then checked his skin for the presence of the stains, protuberances, and cysts, and they were gone. The skin condition was completely healed. And I trust this man. He's a very honest, hard-working man, and he's been going out with my mother for several years now. He inspires trust, and he disclosed this experience to us in the context of telling us what he experienced while trying to save his now deceased wife from cancer. For me, the way he described the healer sounded a bit like an esoteric, occult, witchy healer, and yet the fact that he was healed from this skin condition from one day to the next is undeniable for him. However, if these things truly happen in the world, one would need to make sense of them and fit them within a Christian worldview. Does Christianity accept the occurrence of healing miracles outside of Christianity? How does Christianity make sense of experiences like this one? --- --- # CLARIFICATION While the man is Catholic, I never mentioned the healer's (who is female) religious background. I suspect she may be involved in some form of esoteric or syncretic tradition. I consulted an AI about this story, and here is what it suggested: > **Kardecist Spiritism (Espiritismo)** > > The healer's practices align most closely with **Kardecist Spiritism** > (known as *Espiritismo* in Portuguese-speaking countries like Brazil), > a spiritualist doctrine founded by Allan Kardec in 19th-century France > and highly adapted in Latin America. It's not a traditional religion > but a philosophical-spiritual movement blending Christianity, > reincarnation, and mediumship, widely practiced in Brazil. Here's why > this fits best, matching key elements: > > ### Core Matching Elements: > - **Group healing sessions with prayers**: Spiritist centers (*centros espíritas*) often hold collective "passes" (energy transmissions) or > healing sessions where mediums guide participants in > Christian/Catholic prayers (e.g., Our Father, Hail Mary), as Jesus is > central to Spiritism. This respects the man's Catholic faith while > incorporating mediumship. > > - **Speaking unknown words ("tongues")**: Mediums in Spiritism channel spirits (*incorporação*), sometimes uttering languages or sounds > incomprehensible to attendees, akin to glossolalia but attributed to > discarnate entities rather than Holy Spirit baptism. > > - **Visualizing home route for "night visit"**: A hallmark of Spiritist *cirurgia espiritual* (spiritual surgery). The medium > psychically "reads" the route and dispatches spirit doctors/surgeons > to perform invisible operations during sleep. This is routine in > Brazilian Spiritism—no physical tools, just mental direction. > > - **Home ritual preparation**: Instructions like early sleep, burning candle (for spirit attraction/light), glass of water (to absorb > "spiritual fluids" or toxins from the "surgery"), and white blanket > (symbolizing purity/protection, like a shroud) are textbook. The > dream-like sensation of entities moving the body, voice commands > (e.g., extinguishing candle for safety), and post-wake > checkup/drinking water match countless testimonials. > > - **Rapid, complete healing of chronic condition**: Spiritist healings claim to remove "perispiritual" blockages or cysts via spirit > intervention, often overnight. Long lines and word-of-mouth fame are > common for popular mediums (*médiuns curadores*). > > - **Advanced cancer untreatable**: Spirits reportedly refuse "karmic" or terminally advanced cases, focusing on reversible ailments. > > ### Why Not Other Options? | Alternative | Why Less Likely | |-------------|-----------------| | **Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR)** | Includes tongues, group prayers, healings—but no home "entity surgeries," route visualization, or candle/water rituals. More prayer-focused, less mediumistic. | | **Pentecostalism/Evangelical** | Tongues and healings fit, but rejects "entities" visiting homes (seen as demonic); emphasizes faith healing in church, not dream operations. | | **Umbanda/Candomblé (Afro-Brazilian)** | Similar rituals/home works, but heavier African deities/orixás, less Catholic prayers; often involves offerings/herbs, not pure visualization. | | **Folk Catholicism (e.g., benzedeira)** | Prayers and blessings common, but typically hands-on with herbs/oils; no spirit surgeries or tongues. | | **New Age/Reiki/Shamanism** | Lacks Catholic prayers; more energy work/crystals, less structured spirit teams. | | **Filipino Psychic Surgery** | Physical fake incisions, not dream-based; no Catholic prayer emphasis or home rituals. | > ### Christian Worldview Fit > Spiritism claims compatibility with Christianity: Spirits are evolved souls (including biblical figures), > healing honors God's laws via reincarnation/karma. Many Catholics > participate syncretically in Brazil (e.g., 3-4% identify as Spiritist, > millions more blend it). Critics (orthodox Catholics) view it as > occult, but practitioners see it as divine aid. The man's trust and > healing don't contradict faith—he framed it as supernatural help > during desperation. > > This is probable, not certain—regional variations exist—but the ritual > details are a near-perfect match for documented Brazilian > *Espiritismo*. If you have more details (e.g., location), it could refine this.

I realized today that when I used the word "demons" I was thinking of evil spirits of all varieties, including human beings that work evil from the spirit world. But others believe the word "demon" only applies to non-human spirits such as fallen angels or perhaps evil deities of some sort. In the Bible, Jesus refers to the "unclean spirit" [or spirits] that possessed the man who called himself Legion because he was tormented by so many evil spirits. > [Jesus said] “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” And Jesus > asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion; for we > are many.” And he begged him eagerly not to send them out of the > country. Now a great herd of swine was feeding there on the > hillside; and they [the spirits] begged him, “Send us to the swine, let us enter > them.” So he gave them leave. And the unclean spirits came out, and > entered the swine; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed > down the steep bank into the sea, and were drowned in the sea. (Mark > 5:9-13) But elsewhere, Jesus heals various people possessed by "demons." > That evening they brought to him many who were possessed with demons; > and he cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick. I'd like to know more about how various Christian denominations and other religions view those who do evil in the spiritual realm, and especially: do they believe that the term "demons" includes evil spirits who were once human beings. Rather than personal opinions, a good answer will provide the perspectives of several religions or experts. I would not rule out spiritualists in the latter category.

>In his letter dated 28 March 1941 addressed to the believers throughout the West, Shoghi Effendi emphasizes: As to the position of Christianity, let it be stated without any hesitation or equivocation that its divine origin is unconditionally acknowledged, that the Sonship and Divinity of Jesus Christ are fearlessly asserted, that the divine inspiration of the Gospel is fully recognized, that the reality of the mystery of the Immaculacy of the Virgin Mary is confessed, and the primacy of Peter, the Prince of the Apostles, is upheld and defended.... ("The Promised Day is Come", rev. ed. (Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1980); p. 109) With regard to the resurrection of Jesus, they believe that although there was no physical bodily resurrection, “His Spirit... ascended to the presence of God and continued to inspire and guide His followers and preside over the destinies of His dispensation.” - [Resurrection of Christ and the Bible](http://bahai-library.com/uhj_resurrection_bible) . I would like to know the perspective of Christian denominations (any who subscribe to the Apostles Creed, the Nicene Creed or the Athanasian Creed) on the beliefs of the Baha’i Faith (especially with regard to the person of Jesus Christ).

Are not all Gods in different religions the same one? Same God given different names being praised in different ways according to different customs and traditions but the message is the same! The Ten Commandments are present one way or another in all holy books of all religions. Aren’t we all praying to the same God?

Many Christians emphasize the importance of having an actual *relationship with God/Jesus* as opposed to merely being *religious*. The previously asked question https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/69228/50422 attests very well to this fact. But what about when people from other religions claim to have similar personal relationship experiences with their deities? For example, a Muslim claiming to have a personal relationship with Allah, a Hindu claiming to have a personal relationship with Brahman, a Hare Krishna claiming to have a personal relationship with Lord Krishna, a New Ager claiming to have a personal relationship with the Universe, their spirit guides, their higher self, etc. Qualitatively speaking, what sets the Christian *relationship with God* apart from *relationship* experiences that people claim to have in other religions? What makes the Christian *relationship with God* special and unique? Are people in other religions just having counterfeit, deceitful experiences? ____ Related: - https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/84362/50422 - https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/86124/50422

There are a number of Christians (groups that believe in Christ and name themselves "Christian") who don't believe in the Trinity. Many of these are broadly considered Christians. Muslims are non-Trinitarians, but they believe in Jesus and claim that they follow his teachings. Why won't Muslims be considered Muslims and Christians at the same time in the sight of God?

Jesus in Matthew 12 appears to give a compelling argument against the possibility of demons casting out other demons: > 22 Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. 23 All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?” > > 24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.” > > 25 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. 26 **If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself**. How then can his kingdom stand? 27 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 28 **But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you**. > > [Matthew 12:22-28, NIV] In other words, demons are cast out by the power of the Spirit of God, and in the case of Christians, in the name of Jesus. That said, according to the Wikipedia article on [Exorcism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exorcism) , exorcisms have been practiced since antiquity in other religions. And I find this problematic, because if we think about it, non-Christians do not have the power of the Spirit nor the name of Jesus to drive out demons during an exorcism. And they can't be using the power of Satan either, as per Jesus' argumentation in Matthew 12:22-28. So there appear to be no other options left, and we are faced with a dilemma. **Question**: How do Christians make sense of exorcisms in other religions? Are exorcisms in other religions compatible with a Christian worldview? ____ *Note: I'm not sure if I should request answers from a specific denomination or Christian group for this one. I would imagine that most Christians believe that demons exist and can be cast out, and I'm not sure if there is a specific denomination with an official position regarding exorcisms in other religions. But in any case, if this question needs editing, feel free to let me know or go ahead and edit it yourself.*

This paper [*The Priority of Mandaean Tropes Generally Considered Derivative of Christian and Islamic Influences*](https://www.academia.edu/32005295/The_Priority_of_Mandaean_Tropes_Generally_Considered_Derivative_of_Christian_and_Islamic_Influences) seems to show that [Mandaenism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandaeism) influenced a lot of Christianity and Islam, as we see many parallels between the texts, instead of the reverse claim (which the paper calls "standard model") that Islam and Christianity influenced the *Ginza Rabba* text. **How would Christianity evaluate whether this claim is correct?**

Whereas Jehovah's Witnesses believe Jerusalem was destroyed in 607 BC, historians, many evangelical Christians, and most others who write on such things believe it was destroyed in either 587 or 586 BCE: this is the general consensus outside of the confines of the JW world. Is there any Biblical evidence to support either of the two dates 587/586? What other evidence supports either of these dates? Please give evidence, either Biblical or extra-Biblical, not just statements of belief. All except JWs are invited to answer - JWs have their own related question - https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/78706/23657 - as long as you declare your doctrinal/denominational position. Even a reference to your stack exchange profile would be fine, as long as the profile describes your doctrinal/denominational position. A question asking for evidence in favour of 586 BC rather than 587 BC, or vice versa, is asked here: https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/96158/was-the-destruction-of-the-first-temple-in-586-bc-or-587-bc

**Can a Buddhist monk or a yogi be a Holy Spirit?** As far as I understand, they're masters in doing deep breathing and meditation.  For me, there are only a few monks/nuns who have mastered the technique above. Unfortunately, I cannot find any Christians, pastors, or priests who know anything about it, but normally they will respond by citing [*Sola Fide*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sola_fide) (faith alone) or with the advice to just pray everyday so eventually the skill will be awakened by itself. Not even psychologists, psychiatrists, or regular medical doctors know about it, or they only have very basic knowledge. A few high level monks I *did* find meet all 11 personal characteristics of the Holy Spirit listed in [this article](https://get.tithe.ly/blog/characteristics-of-the-holy-spirit) , placing a nice bow on this topic: 1. He’s referred to as a Person (John 6:63; 14:26; Rom. 8:11, 16, 26; 1 John 5:6). 1. He speaks (2 Sam. 23:2; Acts 1:16; 8:29; 10:19; 11:12; 13:2; 21:11; 28:25–26; 1 Tim. 4:1; Heb. 3:7–8; Rev. 2:7; 14:13; 22:17). 1. He witnesses (John 15:26). 1. He searches (1 Cor. 2:11). 1. He can be grieved (Isa. 63:10; Eph. 4:30). 1. He loves (Rom. 15:30). 1. He has a mind (Rom. 8:27). 1. He has intelligence (1 Cor. 2:10–11). 1. He can be tested (Acts 5:9). 1. He can be resisted (Acts 7:5). 1. He has a will (1 Cor. 2:11; 12:7–11). **Can I get their advice and learn their technique of deep breathing and meditation, providing I do them under the conditions below?** 1. The technique is not related to religion but rather to science or logic. 2. I am not required to worship any form of Idol or Gods (only the Mahayana version of Buddhism may have a theology of worship, but the original Shakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism, didn't mention anything about worshiping). 3. I am not being invited or forced into Buddhism.  **They also don't try to convert me, but instead**: 1. They praise and respect Christianity. 2. They wish me well in Christianity and allow me to share the Gospel in the Monastery. 3. They offer help whenever there is a need, such as co-operating in doing charity work. 4. Buddhism members are willing to join my cell group to learn about or even to one day (soon?) join Christianity. 5. Buddhism members are willing to cooperate in a mission filled with Sharing the Gospel activities when my church needs additional man-power.

As we know, Judaism, Christianity and Islam are the main 3 monotheistic religions. Quran says: > Surely, those who believed in [God], and those who are Jews, and Christians, and Sabians, -whosoever believes in [God] and in the Last Day, and does good deeds - all such people will have their reward with their Lord, and there will be no reason for them to fear, nor shall they grieve. [*Surah Al-Baqarah* 62](https://quran.com/2/62?translations=18,84,85,21,22,95,101) By the way [Sabians](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabians) are also a from a monotheistic religion, John the Baptist was a prophet of them. From Islam point of view, if you believe God is one and do good deeds then you shouldn’t worry about your salvation. Is it like this also in Christianity, or is salvation exclusively for Christians?

Does Christianity teach anything resembling soul transfer as in Hinduism's understanding of The Journey of the Atman ?

I would like to delve into the Christian perspective on whether God can be credited for the healing process of an individual who, initially not a Muslim, converts to Islam and undergoes genuine spiritual renewal, or at least claims to undergo such a renewal, based on their self-reported experience. One can find many such testimonies on the web ([example 1](https://youtu.be/4-l7cemjwyI?t=605) , [example 2](https://youtu.be/nwjJS6wfv-s?t=547) , [example 3](https://youtu.be/Ertxy9kMB7M) , [example 4](https://youtu.be/8jNuBgSqYks) , [example 5](https://www.youtube.com/@MuslimConvertStories)) . I want to understand the Christian viewpoint regarding divine involvement in the well-being and spiritual growth of individuals who undergo a religious transformation, particularly in the context of the conversion of a non-Muslim to the Islamic faith. Is it conceivable that God plays a role in the spiritual development of a Muslim convert? **Are there any Christian denominations that believe this is possible in principle?** Or are all Christians denominations necessarily committed by theological reasons to ascribe any improvement and healing experienced by a Muslim convert to psychology, sociology, the influence of deceptive spirits, or any combination of these factors? *Note*: While this question can be broadly applied to individuals reporting healing and spiritual growth in various religions, my primary focus is on Islam, given its close association as an Abrahamic faith, alongside Judaism, with Christianity.

Jews had prophets and received Scriptures from those prophets. Later, came Christians who had apostles and through them received Scriptures. Still later, Muslims come along and they have one prophet Muhammad and through him they received Quran. Muhammad claimed that he belongs to the prophetic line of the Judeo-Christian tradition. In the Quran, the book Muhammad gave as the Scriptures, he quotes many familiar names and stories from the Bible. Why don't Christians, mainly Protestant Christians, accept the Islamic prophet Muhammad as a true prophet of God? If they don't, why? An already discussed question in this forum has been offered as an answer to this question. Here it is: https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/87277/50422 However, the above question and the responses it gathered do not answer my question as I explain below. My above questions in the OP do not seek general reasons to test all those who claim to be the prophets of God, rather they focus only on the Islamic prophet Muhammad and his claims. Furthermore, none of the answers given in the above link examine Muhammad's teachings in the light of the Biblical teachings.

I remember once saw a Youtube video of some Christian priest mentioned about a specific difference between Christianity and other religions, namely in all other religions the messengers or founders had won battle with Satan, but only Jesus Christ as God transformed human flesh died and crucified for Satan (or by Satan, I cannot clearly recall), thus Satan would always fight back. I'm not entirely clear about the implication of such narrated difference. Is there any well known conclusion or school of thought of Christianity discussed this topic in depth?

Matthew 5:44 KJV >But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; In Buddhism, it is taught that you should love your enemies because, at some time in the infinite sequence of rebirths, it was certainly the case that your enemy was once your mother. Therefore, hating your enemy is as irrational as hating your mother. This isn't a true explanation, but it is a rational justification for loving your enemies. But in Christianity, everyone is an atom created by the Creator, completely detached from everyone else. In light of this, **why is it rational to love your enemies?**

Christians see Jesus as the only Son of God who incarnated as a human being to redeem mankind from sin in fulfilment of the prophesies made in the Old Testament. The Qur'an refers to Jesus as one of the greatest prophets and accepts his Virgin Birth and Second Coming. Jews on the other hand, question the divinity of Jesus and consider his as the 'prophet of disaster'. They do not accept that Jesus fulfilled numerous prophecies of the OT. Although Christianity from its side treats Judaism as its source (Jesus himself having been a Jew in human form), and reveres the forefathers such as Abraham and David, it is doubtful if the Jews reciprocate the respect and the regard Christianity pays to Judaism. Of course, the political alignment has its own course in so far as Christian, Jewish and Muslim believers are concerned. One is however inclined to believe that in so far as religious belief is concerned, followers of Islam have more affinity to Christianity than the Jews have. **My question therefore is**: Has any comparative study been made on the perception of Christianity held by Judaism *vis-a-vis* that held by Islam?

It's well-known that in the Bible God mentioned all about Israel and its people like Judaism. Judaism and Christianity believe in the same Bibles also. So Judaism is an ethnic religion according to their claim. If anyone wants to be Jewish, he can't be. One must be from that ethnicity to be Jewish. It's same for many African, Indian, Chinese and so many other ethnic religions. But in case of Islam we see that God never said "O people of Arab". Qur'an is all about people of the world. God always talked about all humankind. So in case of Christianity, it seems an ethnic religion like all other ethnic religions. But why Christians claim it to be universal religion? Did Jesus or God say that the Bible is for all humankind or Christianity is for all humankind? **What is the logic of Christianity being different from other ethnic religions?**

[Apostasy](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostasy) >Apostasy (/əˈpɒstəsi/; Greek: ἀποστασία apostasía, 'a defection or revolt') is the formal disaffiliation from, abandonment of, or renunciation of a religion by a person. It can also be defined within the broader context of embracing an opinion that is contrary to one's previous religious beliefs. One who undertakes apostasy is known as an apostate. Undertaking apostasy is called apostatizing (or apostasizing – also spelled apostacizing). The term apostasy is used by sociologists to mean the renunciation and criticism of, or opposition to, a person's former religion, in a technical sense, with no pejorative connotation. ~ Wikipedia [Heresy](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heresy) >Heresy is any belief or theory that is strongly at variance with established beliefs or customs, in particular the accepted beliefs of a church or religious organization. The term is usually used in reference to violations of important religious teachings, but is also used of views strongly opposed to any generally accepted ideas. A heretic is a proponent of heresy. ~Wikipedia Is it possible to be a heretic and not an apostate and vice versa? What about in other religions like Islam?

I was reading a *Tampa Bay Times* article published on 5 March 2005, [Jewish, Catholic, Protestant commandments differ](https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2005/03/05/jewish-catholic-protestant-commandments-differ/) , which prompted my question: **Why is Judaism's ten commandments different from Catholicism's**?