What is Comparative Religion?

Comparative religion is the branch of the study of religions involved with the systematic comparison of the doctrines and practices of the world’s religions. With an interdisciplinary approach, Comparative Religion utilizes the working methods and insights of a number of social scientific disciplines such as anthropology, sociology, psychology, archaeology, history, geography, philosophy and even political science, to yield a deeper understanding of the fundamental philosophical concerns of religion including morality, ethics, metaphysics, and aspects of salvation.

There are about 4 broad categories of religions namely: Abrahamic (Judaism, Christianity, Islamism); Dharmic (Buddhism Hinduism Jainism, and Sikhism); and Taoic (Taoism, Confucianism, Shintoism, Chinese Ancestral Worship), African Traditional Religions (ancestral Worship) and other animist religions.  Considering that there are more than 4000 different religions in the world, it is very vital for Christians or each believer to their respective religious faiths to understand at least the generalities of how these other religions relate to or differ with theirs. This has never been so urgent for the Christian faith or religion. Comparative religious studies are meant to give you a richer and more sophisticated understanding of human beliefs and practices, particularly with respect to the consideration of the divine and its interaction with nature – both seen and unseen.  

Importance of Comparative Religious Studies

1. It helps us understand the differences in core ideas of several belief system
2. It helps us avoid making generalized statements and see deeper into the impact of certain decisions
3. It helps us develop vital knowledge relevant in bridging gaps (without compromise) and in building peace with people of different worldview.
4. For Christianity, it helps you see more aspects of the Truth Proper to the Word of God, as hidden in other faiths and cultures.

In Candlelighters, with our partners, we strive to provide pointers on how to study or engage these various religions, with the right tools. We will also serve as a unifying platform for leading voices in the various religious faiths, particularly from a Christian perspective. To the best of our ability possible, we will make available, or direct you to key materials relevant in your studies.

Our target is to get YOU involved, don’t be ignorant of your responsibilities. Don’t live a passive life making general statements. If all of us try to be and expert in one religion, then it will be easier for us all to share and strengthen one another.

You must remember this!

THE BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH A COUNTERFEIT IS TO IMMERSE YOURSELF IN THE ORIGINAL. YOU CAN NOT DEAL WITH THESE RELIGIONS IF YOU HAVE A SHALLOW KNOWLEDGE OF CHRISTIANITY.

In Candlelighters, we particularly focus on helping you develop your knowledge and understanding of Christianity and the Christian Doctrine to a point where you could take these other religions head-on. We will provide you with the platform to do just that.

Some Selected Religions

Judaism: What is Judaism? Do Christians and followers of Judaism worship the same God? What is Judaism’s understanding of Jesus Christ? Both religions believe in one God, but why does one see Christ as the Messiah and the other doesn’t? Both accept the Old Testament as authoritative and the Ten Commandments. Both believe that all human beings have broken God’s law. One teaches that salvation is through keeping the law. The other teaches salvation is a gift. READ MORE

Islamism: What is Islam? Is Islam a religion of peace? What is Jihad? What is the difference between Christianity and Islamism, between the Bible and the Qur’an, between the Cross and the Crescent? What does Islamism say about Muhammad and Jesus? Islam vehemently denies that Jesus was divine or the Son of God. Why? READ MORE

Hinduism: What is Hinduism and what do Hindus believe? What do the terms Brahman, Maya, Atman, Karma, and Samara mean? How is Hinduism linked with Yoga? What does it mean that the Hindu’s religion and worldview of Pantheism (all is God, God is all) is totally different from a Western idea of God being separate from His creation? READ MORE

Buddhism: What is Buddhism and what do Buddhists believe? Who is Siddhartha Gautama? Did such a person ever live? What is the difference between Hinduism and Buddhism? Is Buddhism atheistic or pantheistic? What is the difference between Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism? How does it differ from Zen Buddhism? What is the difference in how Buddhists and Hindus view reincarnation? Do Christians believe in the same concept of enlightenment? Buddhism in the West. READ MORE

Other Taoic Religions: namely Taoism, Confucianism, Janism and Shintoism, what are their differences? What is Tao? What do they believe? How does it differ from Christianity? How does it influence social living? How does it differ from Christianity’s influence in the society? READ MORE

 African Traditional Religion: refers to the indigenous religions of the African people. It deals with their cosmology, ritual practices, symbols, arts, and society. What is its connection with ancestral worship? how is it similar to other traditional religions worldwide, and how is it similar? Do they have doctrine? Why so attached to rituals, ceremonies, and practices? READ MORE

Scientology: What is Scientology? Is it a religion? How does it differ from Christianity and other religions? What are its beliefs and practices? Who started Scientology? Why are movie star celebrities Scientologists? Why are they against drugs? READ MORE

Mormonism: Also known as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Who founded it? What do they believe? How does it differ from Christianity? Why do they usually evangelise in pair of twos? What does it say about who God is, who Christ is, and what is their message? Do they permit polygamy? READ MORE

Jehovah’s Witnesses: Who are these people, the Jehovah’s Witnesses? What do they believe? How does it differ from Christianity? What is the Watchtower Society organization? What does it teach about Jesus? They have their own bible and how does it differ from the Christian Bible? Who is the founder? READ MORE

New Age Movement: What is the New Age Movement? Is it astrology? Are we now living in the Age of Aquarius? What does it involve? What is spirituality within the New Age context? How does yoga, alternative medicine, and other spiritual ventures align with the New Age philosophy? What does its followers believe or practice? What are the various New Age Practices? Why does Christianity stand in complete opposite to New Age beliefs and practices? READ MORE

Atheism: What does it stand for? Does it require faith to believe that there is not God or gods? Does this make Atheism a religion? What are the main arguments against the Christian God? How does it differ from Agnosticism? READ MORE