Craig Finnestad: World Religions

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

World Religions

I have an interesting sermon this week on Christianity and it's relationship to other world religions. I asked people to come up with questions they wanted responses to. I probably won't be able to cover all the questions in 30 minutes, but here are some of things I'll be thinking about:

Why in the Catholic Church, can't the priest get married but in the other denominations and religions the pastors can?
Do Jewish people go to heaven?
How did Islam start? Aren’t its origins in the Bible?
What is the basic belief system of the Jehovah Witnesses? Do they believe in Christ? Why don’t they believe in blood transfusions? Why don’t they believe in holidays, including birthdays?
Is Christianity is the one true religion? Does that mean that all the other religions are not true?
Can you be a Christian and believe and/or practice things from other religions?
Will people who follow other religions go to hell?
Why are there so many different religions that claim to be right?
What are the major differences between the different Christian denominations?
What is tolerance?
How do we get along and respond to people of other religions without appearing arrogant?
Why do some religions advocate violence? I cannot understand how some extremists justify violence against another human.
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) Does this mean that only Christians can be with God when they die? What happens to people of other faiths or no faith?
Can a person be practice Hinduism and Christianity at the same time? Is it a practice, a way of life, or a religion? Is it in conflict with Christianity?
How should we live alongside those of the Muslim faith? Should we pray for them? If so, how should we be praying?
As a Catholic when we got married me promised (we even signed papers) that we would raise our kids Catholic. How do I get over that guilt?
What are the similarities and differences between Buddhism and Christianity?
Why do Catholics feel that Protestants can not get into heaven even though we’re also Christians?
How, if at all, is the Islamic concept of “jihad” related to what in Christianity is sometimes called "spiritual warfare" or the war against the flesh?
A number of religions claim the same things. How can we know which of their claims are true and which claims are false (or at least heavily embellished)?
Is a Mormon a Christian?
How do Taoism or Hinduism relate to Christianity?
Jehovah's' Witnesses believe that only believe 144,000 people can go to heaven. Assuming it's full, where do they think they're going when they die?
What do the ordinary every day believers of Islam think about the suicide bombers and terrorists?
What is Scientology and why is Hollywood so addicted?
What is purgatory?
If the Jews are the chosen people why do we think their religious beliefs are wrong?