From [*Lumen Gentium*](https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19641121_lumen-gentium_en.html) chapter II, paragraph 16: > (126) But the plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator. In the first place amongst these there are the Muslims, who, professing to hold the faith of Abraham, along with us adore the one and merciful God, who on the last day will judge mankind. I find this really confusing on two levels. Firstly, this seems to imply that Muslims worship the same God as the Christian God; secondly, perhaps a corollary of the first point, it suggests that Muslims are also given salvation. What does the Vatican actually mean by this?

The earliest Christian writings, notably the writings of Paul in his letters and of Luke in the Acts of the Apostles, address issues of multiculturalism in the relationships, beliefs, and practices of Jews and Gentiles. Based upon extra-Biblical sources and the histories of other religions, what evidence is there to support (or refute) a claim that Christianity was the *first* intentionally multicultural religion?

**[Exodus 20:3](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+20:3&version=NIV)** (NIV) reads, "You shall have no other gods before Me." According to the Tanakh (Old Testament), YHWH / Yahweh / (God) is an individual divine being, and the only God. Some sections of the Scriptures seem to state that He is the universe’s only (truly existing) God; however, others portray him as a supreme god among other gods (that actually exist). [Deuteronomy 4:35](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+4:35&version=NIV) , “YHWH is God; there is **none else beside him**.” [Isaiah 44:6–8](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+44:6-8&version=NIV) , it says, “Thus says YHWH…: I am the first, and I am the last; and **beside me there is no God**… Is there a God beside me? Yea, there is no God; I know not any.” Thus, Yahweh is the *only* God that exists. ---------- But in [Exodus 15:11](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+15:11&version=NIV) , after the Israelites escape slavery in Egypt, they sing, “Who is like you, O YHWH, **among the gods** [Elohim]?” [Deuteronomy 6:14](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+6:14&version=NIV) : "Do not follow other gods, **the gods of the peoples around you**" In [Deuteronomy 10:17](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+10:17&version=NIV) , it says, “For YHWH your God is the **God of gods**, and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and terrible, who does not regard people or take bribes.” In [Psalm 95:3](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+95:3&version=NIV) , it says, “YHWH is a great God, and **a great king above all gods**.” And in [Exodus 12:12](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+12:12&version=NIV) , it says, “On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and smite every firstborn, both man and beast, and **I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt. I am YHWH**.” ---------- What are we to make of this, then? Are there lesser/other gods? Do the words used for god, perhaps, have other implied contextual meanings in some passages?

(I'm going to assume that you're a protestant and don't believe in Purgatory. If you aren't one, please change mentions of heaven in this following para to purgatory) Jack is a good human being. He is a firm Christian who prays to Jesus, attends mass on obligatory days, shares, helps, and loves other human beings. Drew is also a good human being. He shares, helps, and loves others. However, Drew does not believe in Jesus Christ. Both live an almost similar life, and then die. Jack instantly goes to heaven. Will Drew be treated the same as Jack? Only two options are possible here- Yes, No Some background on Drew (any one of these are applicable) Drew lived his life in a very closed country where an idol religion was forced upon him. He grew up believing it was the right religion, and didn't dare think about shifting. (North Korea) Drew lived on an island that has been untouched since the stone age. Thus Drew does not know about Christianity or Jesus. (North Sentinel) Drew was born into a Buddhist family. He once thought about joining Christianity. However, he came to know of many atrocities that Christians used to commit in the name of their God, and was discouraged from joining them, especially since his Buddhist community seemed much more welcoming and peaceful. Drew grew up in a Christian family, but his family and church community detested many things he believed God would like. (Abortions, LGBTQ). His community was very narrow-minded and never let him ask whys. Growing up, he decided to follow Atheism. Drew grew up in a Christian family who let him ask whys, but he was never satisfied with their answers. Something inside him kept telling him that they were wrong, and many of them were indeed wrong. (Martin Luther) Drew decided to leave Christianity, and live a life abiding by rules he thought were right. He supported abortions and treated LQBTQ people equally. Without quoting verses from the bible, without explaining why, pick a choice. God is an infinite omnipotent all knowing being, but even he is restricted by these two choices. I need you to directly pick a choice. A yes or a no. If there's any other choice (I've racked my brain up and down and haven't found any), please do mention it too. There, that is pretty much the simplest I can go. If this doesn't solve it, I'd rather leave this thing altogether and believe in what I feel is right. Well if God does treat both Jack and Drew the same, what's the point of being a Christian on Earth when you can, say, be an atheist? If Jack and Drew aren't treated the same, then isn't God cruel in doing so?

Spiritual experiences can play a very important role in shaping an individual's worldview and religious convictions. Just a single profound mystical experience can dramatically change a person's entire view on life and be the turning point that leads them to embrace an entirely new religious path. Without going too far, the best example in my opinion can be found in Christianity itself, in the conversion of the Apostle Paul, who went from persecuting the Church to becoming the greatest Apostle of all time, all because he had a dramatic "Road to Damascus" encounter (Acts 9). But spiritual experiences are not exclusive to Christianity. People have reported profound spiritual experiences in all sorts of religions. And people who have had these experiences usually interpret them as evidence and confirmation of the truthfulness of the religion they follow. Of course, whether this interpretative leap is justified or not is a whole different question, but the fact remains that many anchor their religious beliefs in profound experiences they've had throughout their spiritual walks. And this brings me to the question in the title: How do Christians approach the evangelization of a person who has deep convictions about a different religion because of profound spiritual experiences they've had while following said religion? How to argue against a strong conviction that comes from a profound spiritual experience someone has had in another religion? _____ ### Appendix: examples of spiritual experiences in other religions ##### ##### 1) Hinduism, Buddhism and Eastern Spirituality in general - [Kundalini awakening](https://psychology.stackexchange.com/questions/26179/explanation-for-the-spinal-energy-and-other-kundalini-awakening-symptoms) - [Samadhi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samadhi) - [Siddhis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siddhi) - [Krishna Consciousness](https://www.yogapedia.com/definition/5821/krishna-consciousness) - [Tummo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tummo) ##### 2) [New Age spirituality](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Age) - [Astral projection](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astral_projection) - [Reiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reiki) - [Communication with spirit guides and other entities](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Age#Spirit_and_channeling) - [Manifesting their own reality (Law of Attraction)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_attraction_(New_Thought)) - Mystical experiences through the consumption of psychedelic drugs: ayahuasca, DMT, mushrooms, etc. (sometimes in the context of [shamanism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shamanism)) ##### 3) Witchcraft & the Occult - [Magic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_(supernatural)) : spell casting, etc. - [Mediumship](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediumship) - Having [spirit spouses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirit_spouse) ##### 4) Mormonism (*) - [Inner witness of the Holy Spirit authenticating the Book of Mormon](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/83925/has-any-latter-day-saint-published-a-very-detailed-description-of-how-the-holy-s) (*) There is some [controversy](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/84344/are-there-any-christian-denominations-that-consider-lds-mormons-to-be-christia) about whether LDS are considered to be Christians by other denominations.

Did the Catholic Church or any of the representatives issued any stance on [Emotional Freedom Technique](http://eft.mercola.com/) (EFT)? I realize it comes from an Eastern religion which is not in line with Christianity, but my question is: what would be wrong with a simple tapping. How can evil spirits enter our life through the tapping on our body? What is the danger? Instead of understanding and accepting the cross we get from a physical pain, we lean to tapping?

I was researching the history of Satan (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satan) and came across the following explanation about Zoroastrianism' influence on Christianity, Is this a debated theory? Is there strong evidence for or against it?

Islam and Christianity has same roots and also some names in Bible can also be heard in Quran. What about Christianity connection with Hinduism? Because so many pastors claiming that connection exists, but in evil way. Example: Hindu goddesses are considered as Satans etc.

I'm interested to make this question after reading Do Catholics view atheism as a sin? , where the answer is : > Yes.
Catholicism states quite clearly that atheism is a sin. **Disbelieving > God** means that you are rebelling against God's commands and therefore > sinning. The bold word is quite difficult for me to understand, because it can raise a question *"whose God ?"*
In other words, the sentence above is the same meaning with this sentence :
> Disbelieving Jesus means that he/she is rebelling against **God's > command** and therefore sinning. But then again, it raise a question *"whose God command ?"* More complicated: > Disbelieving Jesus means that he/she is rebelling against **Jesus' > command** and therefore sinning. A person (who has a religion) doesn't believe Jesus.
So, do Catholics view other religion as a sin?

For example, can a Buddhist prays for a Christian and let the person know like health and peace? If yes/no, where is it written in the Bible.

I am kind of new here. Can Christianity allows to study other religions provided not worship any other God and Obey God's command. I understand multi religions questions seem disallow here but do let know how to edit the question cause i need some helps here. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism_and_science --> Buddhism seems related to science and it's interested subject. Can i just pick up the subject relevant to Buddhism-Science only for knowledge purposes? Buddhism has no God existence yet worship to Buddha statue is not appropriate by the way. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYlQ0UZ1C2I&t=87s I try to understand other culture, avoid discrimination and learn to have mutual respect. I believe misinterpret of Word of Gospel or lack of understanding of other religions could be quite an issue. Kindly provide some general guide what is can and what is cannot example on the matters. I am living in multi culture environment so many of culture is relevant to other religions.

I've been listening to local and far-away Christian radio stations for a long time. What strikes me is that, not even once, have I heard them (any of them) say a single word that could in any way be interpreted as criticism in any manner against Jews, Muslims, etc. If anything, they are very eager to speak about the "people of Israel", etc., in very positive wording, almost as if they were speaking about themselves. There seems to be no question to them whatsoever about the question whether Jesus was a Jew or not; as far as they are concerned, this is 100% established, and not a contradiction in any way. Maybe there is some kind of Christian branch which *does* have such criticism, but if they exist, I have certainly never been able to find them. And I suspect that they must have a very small following/reach if such is the case. But how can this be? One would assume that they would be talking about how the other religions are wrong and theirs is right, but... nope. I almost get the feeling that they actually consider themselves to be Jews, only with a slightly different view on some things. Even just the fact that the Old Testament is the basis of Christianity (expanded with the New Testament) is very strange to me since it only talks about Jews and not Christians. "Back in the day", I get the feeling that they had a quite different perspective. What has happened in recent decades?

Does the Roman Catholic Church consider other religions like Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam evil, demonic, and satanic?

According to this article : Pope Francis signed a document stating: > The pluralism and the diversity of religions, colour, sex, race and > language are willed by God in His wisdom, through which He created > human beings, The article says: > theologian says it must be read in the proper context The context is: > Catholics, Muslims and all who believe in God must work together to > build a culture of love, peace and human fraternity My question is how does the Catholic Church understand it within the context of the first commandment? Is this the teaching of the Catholic Church that diversity of religion is the will of God? > I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out > of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before me. You > shall not make for yourself a graven image, or any likeness of > anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or > that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them > or serve them.3 It is written: "You shall worship the Lord your God > and him only shall you serve."4 Catechism

I know a lot of people who claim to be Christian but practice Yoga. I always thought (and [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoga) seems to back me up on this) that Yoga was about meditation in Hinduism or Buddhism. Is practicing Yoga a sin since you're actually following another religion? Or is it possible to practice Yoga in a Christian manner? Also, if you are able to practice Yoga in a Christian manner, is there a conflict with that and the problem with [the weaker brother](http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%208:9-12&version=NIV) ? Specifically, I'm seeking a [mainstream Protestant](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mainline_Protestant) viewpoint on this. I suspect that they will all be the same, but if they differ, let me know so that I can refine the scope.

From my understanding it is the Catholic view that all people should be baptized and converted to the Christian faith for their own salvation. So, for me it follows logically, that Christians envision a world where Christianity is the only religion and all other religions are eliminated. I'm especially referring to non-abrahamic religions like Buddhism and Hinduism. In other words: Do Christians believe that they have to work for a world where there are no more Buddhist practicioners or followers of Hinduism and Christianity is the only religion? I'm interested in the Roman Catholic point of view. EDIT: My question targets towards the implicit cultural imperialism and the implicit goal of destruction of the religious cultures in Buddhist countries and India by the absolutist doctrine of Christianity as the only "right" religion. From my personal perspective, I cannot imagine that it would be God's or Jesus' will to destruct the incredible rich and deep religious cultures of these non-abrahamic religions.

Are there any denominations in Christianity that believe that one can get to heaven without actually being a Christian?

At least in the Catholic Church (with which I am most familiar), it is stated that Faith is a gift from God. Point 179 in the [Catechism](http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P12.HTM) reads: > 179. Faith is a supernatural gift from God. In order to believe, man needs the interior helps of the Holy Spirit. A [related question](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/15042/is-faith-in-the-holy-trinity-a-choice-or-a-gift) has an accepted answer on the same lines. Now, we know that people from other (even extinct) religions also have faith in their particular god(s). Within those religions, some have more faith than others, and there is also a group which have lost their faith, perhaps because of conversion to a different faith. According to Christianity, is their faith also a gift from God? Why would God give to some a partial/incorrect gift and a complete/correct gift to others? What is the Catholic (and other Christian) teaching on this respect? P.S. This question emerged in the context of a conversation with a Muslim friend. Some of them also believe that faith is a blessing from God (e.g. [here](https://aboutislam.net/family-society/culture/faith-choice-gift/)) . Hence the question of the many but different gifts.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) at one time performed and recognized polygamous marriages. In (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1890_Manifesto) , they ceased performing new polygamous marriages but continued to recognize polygamy (existing polygamous relationships were not dissolved, but no new polygamous marriages could be performed by the LDS church). Did the LDS church ever recognize, or have a procedure for recognizing, polygamous marriages entered into under the rules of another religion? For example, Islam [permits a man to have up to four wives](https://islam.stackexchange.com/questions/40481/does-quran-43-forbid-marrying-more-than-four-wives/40483#40483) . If a polygamous Muslim converted to the LDS faith, was there (or is there) a structure, policy, practice, or principle in place to recognize them immediately as a polygamous Mormon upon conversion, or were polygamous marriages "stripped" from converts in a sense? Marriages performed outside of the LDS church [are](http://eom.byu.edu/index.php/Marriage) recognized by the LDS church as valid (though not eternal), but it is unclear if only *monogamous* marriages are thus recognized or whether they consider any marriage that is not inherently repugnant to the laws of God to be valid. Islam [*does*](https://www.sunnah.com/abudawud/13/67/) recognize non-Muslim polygamy for persons converting to Islam to the extent that the polygamy does not violate the rules of marriage in Islam (in the referenced hadith, a convert to Islam who already had more wives than is allowed in Islam was allowed to choose which wives to keep), so it stands to reason that accommodation of polygamous converts to a faith is a realistic concern. I will admit that mid-1800's Middle America wasn't exactly swarming with polygamous Muslims or polygamous followers of other faiths, so this was not a day-to-day concern, but still someone must have thought about the theory and what would eventually be done if the sphere of polygamous Mormons were to expand across the world. If the LDS church had a procedure for adjudicating the validity or acceptability of a polygamous marriage solemnized outside of the LDS faith, that counts as an answer, even if that procedure was never invoked in any actual cases.

I am a follower of Christ and am going to be a missionary. I am studying the culture and religion of the [Yazidi](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yazidi) (also spelled Yezidi) and I don't understand **al-Hallaj**. According to the Yazidi, is al-Hallaj Jesus or is he *like* Jesus?