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NolSinkler on 05 January 2013
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DaRev said:
NolSinkler said:

It is because Christianity is the most practiced, most powerful, most financially supported religion in the world. With the dominance of Western society, it is probably the most widely-known religion (as in, people know the most about it). Furthermore, most people on the forums here are from Western countries, where Christianity has historically predominated, has served as the base of much of modern philosophy, and so is prevalent in modern day Western thought. Finally, most other religions are not exclusive in the same way as Christianity. For example, in Islam, what is unforgivable is Shirk - the associating of partners with God (I.E., an active sin), whereas what is unforgivable for the Christian is Blaspheming the Holy Spirit, which is interpreted as an active sin by Christians ('an active resistance to the Holy Spirit') but in all seriousness includes such things as not affirming Christian doctrine as true (I.E. not knowing). Because of the exclusive nature of Christianity, which requires its adherents to conform to a certain specified set of thoughts and to affirm them as true (whilst simultaneously denying the validity of any contradicting ideas) many people no doubt feel the need to examine Christianity while not feeling the same way about other religions.

All of these, and more unstated, are reasons why Christianity is more commonly discussed on these forums (and elsewhere) than other religions.

Love God and Love your fellow man - there's really nothing more to Christianity. So are you saying that this differs from other religions?

Well, yes, this alone differs from other religions, in that many do not recognize a God at all, or their conception of God is far different from that of the Christian.  Which brings me to the point - a Christian, in order to be worshipping God, must have in their mind the correct conception of God; this is what the majority will tell you (and Paul would confirm this).  A correct Christian belief requires acknowledgment of the Trinity (for some, the Trinity is replaced by other doctrines, but these are certainly not the mainstream) and submission to it.  It is to accept Jesus Christ's sacrifice for you, based on faith - this is a part of 'Love God', which is the first part of what you've said is required for Christianity.  Those who do not know about Jesus Christ are unfortunately to be sent to Hell - and so are those who have heard the Truth but reject it or are not sure of it.  This is, of course, Pauline Christianity (which is the only branch of Christianity that was allowed to remain to the present day, the other branches being destroyed as heresy).

The Muslim, therefore, who practices his religion and does not worship Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is destined for Hell, through Christian doctrine.

Now I am not saying that Christianity is correct or incorrect, only that it is exclusive in nature, or rather, that the majority of practicing Christians would hold that it is exclusive.  There are less mainstream groups who would maintain that perhaps a correct belief in Jesus Christ is not necessary, or that the one who has not heard the Word of Truth may be saved, but certainly not the majority, whether scholars, pastors, priests, or laymen.