1912 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

THERE ARE MANY religions, and it is amistake that we have perhaps said in thepast that there is no religion but one. Areligion would properly be considered "Anysystem of worship by which any peoplerecognize the Almighty and seek to do Himhonor." We are, therefore, to recognizethe various great religions that are in theworld in the sense that we could not properlyignore them. We have, for instance,the Confucian teaching, the Brahmin teaching, the Buddhistteaching, the Mohammedan teaching, the Jewishteaching and the Christian teaching. These all presentthemselves to us as religious teachings. They all believethemselves more or less rational; they all believe themselvesmore or less reasonable. Every man tries to thinkthat his own theory on any matter is a reasonable theory;and he is proper in so doing.In harmony with our text, we propose to compare thereligion of Jesus with all other religions. In the beginning,we state with the Apostle, "I am not ashamed ofthe Gospel of Christ." Whatever may be said of othergospels, we believe, as Christians, that in the Christianreligion we have that of which no man need be ashamed.There may perhaps be certain features and forms ofcertain creeds of which we might be ashamed--that donot come up to our highest ideals. But the Christianreligion, as presented in the Word of God, should be theStandard of Christendom; and of that we are not ashamed.It will compare with all other religions in the world, andcome off victorious, in every sense of the word. All ofthese various religions seem to recognize that man is inan imperfect, unsatisfactory, sinful condition; therefore,each of these religions seeks to present certain tenets,or teachings, that will help man up out of his imperfectcondition, back into harmony with his God.A COMPARISON OF RELIGIONSIf we consider the teachings of the Mohammedans, wefind that they have certain qualities which are very advantageous,and other qualities which we could not sohighly commend. Their endeavor is not to do injury,but to make man better. Their theory is that mankindare fallen and need lifting up out of their fallen condition.The same may be said of the teachings of theBrahmin, the Confucianist and the Buddhist. They areall more or less presentations of what are supposed tobe cures for man's fallen condition, cures for his unsatisfactoryattitude.Some of these religions pronounce one kind of apenalty for those who will not accept them, and othersdeclare other kinds. Some offer one kind of reward forthose who accept and follow their teachings, while othersoffer other kinds of rewards. But all agree that manneeds to be elevated and lifted up out of his fallen condition,