Evidence for Christianity being the true religion?

[RedAppleSpice]

Good morning. Not looking for any debates but is there any evidence that proved the Christianity is the only way to god? I want to find a reason to have faith.

[tariki]

Hi, I'd say that if there was indeed any totally incontrovertible evidence for a particular expression of the Christian Faith being the "only way" then faith could be dispensed with. 

Of course, there is no such evidence. 

 

 

[romansh]

4 hours ago, RedAppleSpice said:

Good morning. Not looking for any debates but is there any evidence that proved the Christianity is the only way to god? I want to find a reason to have faith.

I would say no; and I would say you are "begging the question", in the original sense of the phrase.

[RedAppleSpice]

But what would be the reason for being a christian instead of other religions?

[tariki]

7 hours ago, RedAppleSpice said:

But what would be the reason for being a christian instead of other religions?

There are within the Christian Faith a wide varieties of theologies. Looking at the Catholic Tradition and you find the "outside the Church there is no salvation" - but then there are various ways of understanding among its theologians of exactly what "the Church" represents, ways that allow the Hindu's and Buddhist's in, even our atheist friends!

There is of course the Fundamentalist cry of "one way" but serious study shows that such is itself a virtual Modernism born of the Reformation, the printing press and mass literacy and not grounded in a true Biblical hermeneutics. 

If the causal basis of "salvation" (call it what you will) is Grace, and not our own "decision" or personal allegiances, then really your questions are answered. 

Universalism, as taught by very many of the Early Church Fathers, is the way to go. It places "salvation" into the hands of pure Love and Mercy, where it has always belonged.

As a supplement to this, from my own Pure Land perspective, some words here giving the view of one of its founding fathers, Shinran:-

According to Shinran, salvation is entirely a matter of the Vow* (Grace). It does not hang on events and conditions of time and space, or the imposition of man and society. Salvation cannot rest on chance factors. Shinran makes it clear that the reality of Grace requires nothing from the side of man, including the act of faith, as the causal basis for birth in the Pure Land. Otherwise the emphasis on the Vow (Grace) would be devoid of meaning and significance. Our residual karmic bondage may influence the point in our experience when we become aware of Amida's compassion, but it is not a factor in determining whether or not we actually receive that compassion.

We are suggesting that from the standpoint of Grace (the Vow) all are equally saved even now, despite the presence or absence of the experience of faith itself. The reason for this is that salvation depends on Grace and not on any finite condition.

Someone may ask then what is the point of being religious, if we are saved in any case? This is an important question. However, it reflects the virtually universal notion that religion is a means to an end. We get the benefit of salvation from being religious. For Shinran, however, religion becomes the way to express gratitude for the compassion that supports all our life. It is not a tool for ego advancement or gaining benefits.

The point of being religious for Shinran is that when we come to have faith in the Original Vow (Grace) and live in its light, we truly become free to live a full and meaningful existence in this life.

Shinran's perspective permits a person to see deeply into their life to detect the springs of compassion which sustains it; it allows them to participate and associate with all types of people despite their unattractiveness or difficulty because they understand the potentiality that works in their very being. In perceiving the compassion that embraces all life, the person of faith can themselves become an expression of that compassion touching the lives of others.

 

(From "Shinran's Vision of Absolute Compassion" by Alfred Bloom, contained within "Living Within Amida's Universal Vow" )

 

So, what IS the point of it all for you? Saving your own skin? Living in the certitude of being "right"? 

All the best

 

Edited May 1 by tariki

[romansh]

16 hours ago, RedAppleSpice said:

But what would be the reason for being a christian instead of other religions?

The reason would be human beings have evolved to be in groups, various sects fulfill this group need; as do fan clubs, sports teams, chess clubs, etc. Societies provide a raft of opportunities for affiliation, and there is societal pressure to join a Christian sect in the West.

There is a pressure to join a religion never mind a Christian one.

[PaulS]

On 4/30/2024 at 8:37 PM, RedAppleSpice said:

Good morning. Not looking for any debates but is there any evidence that proved the Christianity is the only way to god? I want to find a reason to have faith.

Simply put, no - there is no such evidence.  But of course, everyone has an opinion and as you well know, there are plenty of Christians (and Muslims, and Jews, and Hindus) who will all tell you their religion is the right one to follow.

On 5/1/2024 at 7:47 AM, RedAppleSpice said:

But what would be the reason for being a christian instead of other religions?

Largely cultural and social context I guess.  As humans, generally we like 'community', we like to fit in.  Hence largely Muslim countries have largely Muslim believers and largely Christian countries continue to have Christian believers.  India propagates Hinduism, and Israel largely Judaism.