Why do Christians believe they are the only true religion?

Question

If christianity is the only religion then what happens to all of the other people in the world that are not christians? Are they going to hell? What about all of the people who haven't even heard of christ or christianity are they going to hell? Some people say that these people will be saved out of ignorance since they were never given a chance to become christian. If that's true then isn't it unfair to the people who have heard of christianity? Missionaries, then, in a sense, are damning people to hell by exposing them to christianity. Also if there are societies that don't know a thing about christianity why is it so important to "God" that he be worshiped by those of us who have heard the story? Wouldn't it be more important to show the people that don't know of God the Truth? You know, that's all it would take would be one single appearance, one that can be documented, of God for everybody to believe. Any claimed appearances such as in the Bible cannot be proved.

Answer 1

All is fair in love, war and God's Holiness.

Answer 2

To answer your first question I would say that all religions are mutually exclusive, not just Christianity. Unless you're talking about wishy washy religions, you can't have all of the principles of one faith be true at the same time that all of the principles of another faith are also true. That's simply not logical.

The second issue I will answer as a Catholic. God is not sitting on a throne damning people to hell. The bible teaches that although God is infinitely just, He is also infinitely merciful. And as such, I believe, that the only real way to go to hell is if you completely reject God throughout your life.

What most people don't think about, with respect to salvation, is how they accept God without even knowing it. As God is an omnipotent being, from which all good things come, one cannot do anything good without first accepting God's grace to do it. So any time you do something good you are actually accepting God's grace first. It stands to reason then, that even belief in God is not an absolute necessity to enter heaven, because you can still accept His grace. I believe, that on judgement day, God will take into consideration how you accepted Him in your life, regardless of what you believe.

Answer 3

With the wide diversity of religious expression that has developed around the world over the past 6,000 years, it is at least educational and mind broadening to understand what others believe and how their beliefs originated. And it might also open up vistas of a more concrete hope for your future. In many countries now, owing to immigration and population movement, people of different religions share the same neighborhood. Therefore, understanding one another’s viewpoint can lead to more meaningful communication and conversation between people of different faiths. Perhaps, too, it may dissipate some of the hatred in the world that is based on religious differences. True, people may strongly disagree about their religious beliefs, but there is no basis for hating a person just because he or she holds a different viewpoint.—1 Peter 3:15; 1 John 4:20, 21; Revelation 2:6. The ancient Jewish law stated: “You shall not hate your kinsfolk in your heart. Reprove your kinsman but incur no guilt because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against your countrymen. Love your fellow as yourself: I am the LORD [Jehovah].” (Leviticus 19:17, 18, Ta) The Founder of Christianity stated: “But I say to you who are listening, Continue to love your enemies, to do good to those hating you, . . . and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind toward the unthankful and wicked.” (Luke 6:27, 35) Under the heading “She That Is To Be Examined,” the Qur’ān states a similar principle (surah 60:7, MMP): “It may be that Allāh will bring about friendship between you and those of them whom you hold as enemies. And Allāh is Powerful; and Allāh is Forgiving, Merciful.”

Answer 4

They have a superiority complex they size of Asia. Of course they think they are the "best". They have used it as an excused to commite some of the most horrifying war crimes known to man and say its all "for the sake of God". Honestly if I where God, I would be ashamed of the monsters I created.

Answer 5

Have you meet any religion that didn't believe it was the only true religion ?
All religions believe they have the true and only path to God why are you picking on the Christians ?

Answer 6

All religions maintain religious exclusivity; there would otherwise be little point in sustaining a religion. It is interesting that you single out Christianity.

Answer 7

Your question assumes that all Christians share a common belief. Far from it. Catholics, JWs, Mormons and evangelicals all believe that only "their" form of Christianity is the only true way. When they cannot agree amongst themselves it is no wonder they are intolerant of other religions.

Answer 8

Star for you.

Christians believe what they have been told and what the Bible says. Some of them don't bother to think farther than that. Fortunately most of them have thought of things like this and have come to a more moderate view of their religion. Rationality will do that.

Answer 9

There is plenty of evidence for Christianity. I suggest the book The Case For Christ by Lee Strobel, or Evidence That Demands A Verdict by Josh McDowell

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6, who gave Himself a ransom for all...

Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ?He is Antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.John 2:22

Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God. Luke 12:4

John 3:17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but He who does not believe is condemned already, because He has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Hebrews 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God.

Romans 1:18 - 22 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and righteousness of men, who supress the truth in unrighteousness,because what may be known of God is manifest in them.for since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because although they knew God,, did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful but become futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man...

Psalm 14:1 The fool has said in his heart,"there is no God."

Answer 10

Jesus is the one who said "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by me." Christians don't just go around and make up that kind of stuff.

Jesus was VERY exclusive in his claims. Just as a buddhist will quote buddha, and a muslem will quote the koran, likewise, Christians quote Jesus.

But as far as hell is concerned, people don't go to hell for not being a Christian. People go to hell because they have broken God's Laws and deserve the penalty. (I don't want to get into the meaning behind the penalty at this time, otherwise this will become extremely long).

But, if we are honest within our own hearts, we will have to admit that we have lied, we have taken things that's not rightfully ours, we have looked at other people with sexual desires (which Jesus said is the same as adultery in your heart), we have been so angry that we wanted the other person dead (which Jesus said is the same as murder in our hearts), and we have used God's name in a manner not worthy of His Name. He is Holy, and we have dragged His name through the mud, and we have used God as a swear word.

If we can get honest with ourselves, we would have to admit that these things are true about us, and that makes us lying, thieving, adulterous, murderous blasphemers. Ultimately, sin is usurping God's rightful authority, tantamount to high treason, which is worthy of death.

We have a problem though: We are ALL guilty, and we ALL deserve the punishment - every single last one of us!

But God did something about that. He came to earth as Jesus Christ, and paid that penalty in our place. When Jesus was tortured and nailed to a cross, He took our place.

Jesus said, "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life."

He went on to say, "When God sent His Son into the world, it wasn't to condemn the world, but to save it."

He finished off by saying "Whoever believes in the son of God shall NOT be condemned. But whoever does NOT believe in the Son of God is condemned already."

God is offering us a way out of hell by accepting the vicarious death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ in our place.

If we but confess and admit our guilt, renounce and turn away from all known sins, and ask God to forgive us (based on the work of Jesus on the cross), then God can, indeed, forgive us, we can be reconciled back to God, He will change our hearts, and adopt us into His Forever Family.

And then, when all is said and done, after He has done all that, He turns around and says to us, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant" as though WE did something wonderful, when all WE did was give cause for Jesus to die!

If that isn't love, then I don't know what is!

And if you can turn your back on that kind of love, then you deserve the penalty!

As far as God making an appearance, read the Bible - there are MANY times that God revealed Himself in one way or another. But in these last days, He has made Himself known through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Answer 11

God gave man a free will. Basically, you can do whatever you want - it's your decision. If you've been taught of Christianity, you can decide whether or not to buy into it. But if you choose against it, there's a price to pay and that's eternity in hell. Plain and simple, really.

And while I don't believe the Bible addresses this issue, I personally believe that people who have not heard about Christianity may be spared eternity in hell. But it is the job of Missionaries - and all Christians, really - to spread the word.