A mini comparative religions course
July 2, 2015
I dare you to compare the bible to any other religious book!
It is light-years ahead of all of them put together!
First, let’s take a look at the book of Mormon, chapter 8, verse 12.
Book of Mormon 8:12
And whoso receiveth this record, and shall not condemn it because of the imperfections which are in it, the same shall know of greater things than these. Behold, I am Moroni; and were it possible, I would make all things known unto you.
So the book of Mormon openly admits it has imperfections in it.
Points to ponder:
- Since the word “imperfections” is in the plural, by definition, there has to be at least 2 errors in the book of Mormon. but there could be 19 or 163 or several hundred or…
- The book of Mormon does not specify where they are, causing doubt [a sign of weak believing], confusion or fear in any thinking person
- Nor does it tell us how severe they are either, so the errors could be minor technical errors or major ones that could make the difference between whether or not we are saved!
- but at this point it doesn’t really matter because its too late already. The book of Mormon has openly admitted to being a flawed book.
- Here’s a quote from Joseph Smith, the translator of the book of Mormon, in 1830: “I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.” (History of the Church, 4:461.)
- Joseph Smith knew of its errors when he proclaimed that the book of Mormon “was the most correct of any book on earth” making it a deliberate fraud.
Compare to the bible:
Romans 12:2
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Titus 1:2
In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
Hebrews 6:18
That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
Psalms 12:6
The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
The number 7 in the bible is the number of spiritual perfection. The bible was spiritually perfect when it was originally given.
To be honest and objective about this, all current bibles are imperfect since we don’t have any original bibles, so why should we trust them? Because God says we can get back to the truth of his original word.
Everybody knows that with all the translations out there, the incongruity of translating language x to language y, you often lose something in the translation. And how about all the copies made of copies, made of other copies, etc? And there are also many known, proven forgeries in the bible as well.
II Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
God wouldn’t command us to rightly divide his word if it wasn’t possible. With all the thousands of different manuscripts available, plus the knowledge of how the bible interprets itself, and using the laws of logic, plus sound scientific and historical data, it is absolutely possible to get back to the original, God-breathed word without having to become a scholar of advanced study.
So now the question is: do you want to trust in the bible that at least was perfect when it was originally given, or in a book that states its imperfect? For more information, go here: 3 research articles on the book of Mormon
Doing due diligence between the different religious books isn’t rocket science. Comparative religions is simply comparing one verse of a religious book to another verse in another religious book. Sooner or later, you have to decide which one to use as a standard of truth, or to believe that there is no truth to begin with.
Next!
What about the Koran? The Muslim religion has been in the news more often in the past few years, so how can we know if its the right book to follow? Good question.
As this link from the University of Michigan library shows, the Koran consists of 114 different books, the first one is called “the opening” [The final written version, considered the authoritative account, was completed under the direction of Caliph Uthman ibn Affan, the third leader of the Muslim community, in about A.D. 650, and was distributed to the main cities under Muslim rule].
Here is the entire first book:
The Opening
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
[1.1] All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.
[1.2] The Beneficent, the Merciful.
[1.3] Master of the Day of Judgment.
[1.4] Thee do we serve and Thee do we beseech for help.
[1.5] Keep us on the right path.
[1.6] The path of those upon whom Thou hast bestowed favors. Not (the path) of those upon whom Thy wrath is brought down, nor of those who go astray.
So far, so good. Now let’s do a very simple examination of the very first verse in the very first book of the Koran.
[1.1] All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.
Notice the similarity to a verse in Corinthians.
II Corinthians 4
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.
What else can we find out? The dictionary will help us.
Definition of Lord
Look at definition #8.
8. (initial capital letter) the Supreme Being; God; Jehovah.
Therefore, based on definition #8, the first verse of the Koran could accurately read:
All praise is due to Allah, the God of the Worlds.
So now let’s do a direct, line by line, word by word comparison of the first verse in the Koran and II Corinthians 4:4.
Koran: All praise is due to Allah, the God of the Worlds.
Bible: [KJV] —————–In whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not [the bible], lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
In the bible there is a strong, clear, distinction between the “world” and the “earth”.
Earth refers to the planet that God created back in Genesis 1:1.
World refers to systems of mankind on the earth.
Matthew 11:25
At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
Notice the great precision in Jesus’ use of words. God, the creator, is Lord of heaven and earth, but never the Lord or God of the world.
James 4:4
Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
Colossians 2:8
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
James 1:27
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
II Peter 1:4
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
II Peter 2:20
For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
I John 2
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
I John 4:4
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
I John 5:5
Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
So who is Allah and do you trust him and the Koran or God and the bible?
Next!
How about the apocrypha? You know, those lost books of the bible that are in some versions, but not in others.
Definition of apocrypha
a poc ry pha [uh-pok-ruh-fuh]
noun [often used with a singular verb]
1. [initial capital letter] a group of 14 books, not considered canonical, included in the Septuagint and the Vulgate as part of the Old Testament, but usually omitted from Protestant editions of the Bible.
2. various religious writings of uncertain origin regarded by some as inspired, but rejected by most authorities.
3. writings, statements, etc., of doubtful authorship or authenticity. Compare canon 1 [defs 6, 7, 9].
Origin:
1350-1400; Middle English – Late Latin – Greek, neuter plural of apokryphos hidden, unknown, spurious, equivalent to apokryph- [base of apokryptein to hide away; see apo-, crypt] + -os adj. Suffix
Definition of spurious
spu ri ous [spyoor-ee-uhs]
adjective
1. not genuine, authentic, or true; not from the claimed, pretended, or proper source; counterfeit.
2. Biology – [of two or more parts, plants, etc.] having a similar appearance but a different structure.
3. of illegitimate birth; bastard.
Look at that! The definition of the name alone [apocrypha] already proves:
- It is of uncertain origin
- It is of doubtful authorship or authenticity
- It is a counterfeit
- It is not true
- It is not authentic
- It is not genuine
- It is not from the proper source
- It has already been rejected by most authorities
Definition of counterfeit
coun ter feit [koun-ter-fit]
adjective
1. made in imitation so as to be passed off fraudulently or deceptively as genuine; not genuine; forged: counterfeit dollar bills.
2. pretended; unreal: counterfeit grief.
noun
3. an imitation intended to be passed off fraudulently or deceptively as genuine; forgery.
4. Archaic. a copy.
5. Archaic. a close likeness; portrait.
6. Obsolete . impostor; pretender.
Therefore, by definition, a counterfeit is inferior to the genuine.
II Peter 1:16
For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
So, how do the lost books of the apocrypha correlate or contrast to the bible? See the entire research report here
You cannot tell that a counterfeit is a counterfeit by only studying the counterfeit. You must compare the counterfeit to the genuine in order to distinguish the difference and decide what that difference means.
The closer the counterfeit is to the genuine, the more effective it is.
Next!
Ever hear of a course in miracles? I know some people who have taken it, so its to our advantage to observe and analyze it & then compare it to the bible.
How a course in miracles came about
The voice
“It talked about a system I don’t know anything about, and confused me no end. I’m still cross-eyed.”
What does God say about confusion?
I Corinthians 14
33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
James 3
14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
Now were going to examine confusion in more detail and see its spiritual consequences and true purpose.
Greek lexicon of I Corinthians 14:33 From here, go to the Strong’s column, link #181
Definition of confusion
Strong’s Concordance #181
akatastasia: instability
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Phonetic Spelling: (ak-at-as-tah-see’-ah)
Definition: disturbance, upheaval, revolution, almost anarchy, first in the political, and thence in the moral sphere.
HELPS Word-studies
181 akatastasia (from 1 /A “not,” 2596 /kata, “down” and stasis, “status, standing,” cf. 2476 /histemi) – properly, can not stand (remain steady); unsettled, unstable (in tumult); (figuratively) instability bringing on disorder (disturbance).
181 /akatastasia (“commotion”) generates confusion (things being “out of control”), i.e. when “up for grabs.” This uncertainty and tumult inevitably generates more instability.
Ephesians 6
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith [believing], wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
The word “stand” is used 3 times in this section, and “withstand” once, so 4 times we are told to stand or withstand against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Therefore, according to I Corinthians 14:33, if we are confused, by definition, we can’t stand against Satan, so we must eliminate confusion if we are to be successful Christians in the spiritual competition.
Confusion is a psychological weapon that Satan uses to prevent believers from standing against him with God’s superior power. Beware of confusing doctrines!
Confusion also contradicts the characteristics of God’s wisdom, the 9 fruit of the spirit, and the very nature of God himself.
See the whole story about the course in miracles
So, there you have it: this is your mini comparative religions course that compares the bible to the book of Mormon, the Koran, the apocrypha, and a course in miracles.
Obviously, there are hundreds, perhaps thousands of other comparisons that could be made between the bible and some other religion or man-made system of thought, but we don’t have the time or space to check all of them out 🙁
So here is a partial checklist, a guide to go by when comparing the various other religious books to the bible:
- Does it give you true life and blessings?
Deuteronomy 30:19
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
Keep in mind that as a christian, I don’t believe in blind faith, which is actually a contradiction of terms. I want power and proof!
- Does it offer any proof?
Acts 1:3
To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
I can speak in tongues anytime I want & I’m in complete control. Its a language I don’t know anything about, but I still have the power to do it. Go ahead, speak in a language you have never even heard of, much less spoken before! Its impossible for a human to do that on their own. Therefore, they must have an external source of power in order to do it, so where does that power come from?
I Corinthians 14:22
Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
Does your religion offer undeniable power, undeniable proof and is it from the one true God, the creator of the universe, the father of the Lord Jesus Christ?
- Does it match the characteristics of God’s wisdom?
James 3
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
- Is it confusing or simple and logical? The trinity is impossible for any human to understand and its very contradictory. Therefore, it can’t be from the one true God. The bible, when rightly divided, is actually a simple logical book.
- Has it stood the test of time? The bible has been around for thousands of years and has a ton of archeological, astronomical, historical and many other valid sources of evidence.
I Peter 1:25
But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
- Was it written before the bible or afterwards? If afterwards, and it sounds religious, like the bible, then be suspicious because it could be a counterfeit of the bible. The book of Revelation was the last book of the bible written, [approximately 100AD], so if it was written afterwards, then take notice. The bible is God’s final revelation. I’ve read about other religious books & religions who say that their book is God’s final revelation. Make sure you read the last 4 verses of the bible at the end of this article so you don’t become the next victim deceived.
- Who is getting true worship?
John 4
23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
To truly worship God with the gift of holy spirit is to speak in tongues. Anything else is just man-made religion.
Compare God’s way of worship to the devil’s.
Luke 4
5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
The devil bribes people to worship him indirectly, since idolatry is to worship anything other than the one true God.
- Is the founder or writer of religion x still alive? Even after almost 2,000 years, Jesus Christ is still alive and well, doing God’s will as his only begotten son, intercessor, mediator, high priest, and a whole bunch of other things.
Ephesians 1
19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working [energizing]of his mighty power,
20 Which he wrought [energized] in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
- Does religion x ever change or waver? If so, then you may want to put your trust into something that will never change because the bible was made right the first time. It will always be there for you when you need it the most.
Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Malachi 3:6
For I am the Lord, I change not…
And note the very last 4 verses of the bible. Please use this as a guide when choosing which religious book to believe in.
Revelation 22
18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
