So What's the Difference - Islam

While not intended to be inclusive, the following chart provides a basic summary for comparison and discussion.  

                                                Biblical
                                         Worldview                                     Islam

Authority              The Bible, the Word of God              Allah, Koran & Muhammad, his
                            The only infallible source of truth        Prophet
                                                                                      Writings - Hadith, Sunnah (Path) 
                                                                                                   & Shariah (Law)

View on Bible      Only source of truth                           Accept the Old Testament, but are
                              2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16                         taught that Christians have 
                              Romans 1:16                                    corrupted it.
                              John 1:1-5,14                                  Taught that Christians view the Trinity
                              Matthew 4:4                                       as God the Father, Jesus & Mary

Core Beliefs         1 Corinthians 15:1-3  Jesus              Allah - One God, transcendent,  
                                was crucified, died, buried               impersonal and powerful.
                                & rose from the dead.                    Four God inspired books: Torah,  
                                                                                        Zabur (Psalms of David), Injil   
                                                                                        (Gospel) of Jesus, & the Qur'an                             Ephesians 4:4-6 - one Body            28 Prophets including Adam Noah,  
                               (church composed of all                  Abraham,Moses, David, Jonah,
                                believers), one Spirit, one               Jesus & Mohammed being the last 
                                hope of your calling (heaven),         & greatest.  
                                one Lord, one faith, one baptism,  End times
                                one God & Father of us all.            Predestination (kismet)  

Salvation by          Faith in Jesus Alone                          Five pillars - Statement of belief,    
                                John 3:16, 14:6                                 Prayer 5 times a day, Alms,
                                Acts 4:12                                           Ramadan, Pilgrimage to Mecca.
                                Ephesians 2:8-9                              Each person must take care of  
                                Romans chapter 3, 10:9,17               their own sin.

Life of faith            Loving God & Others (Luke 9:27)      Born with a clean slate
 characterized by  Living for Jesus (the walk) &              Sin is overcome by acts of the will
                                imitators of His life                         
                                Ephesians chapters 4 thru 6          
                                Colossians 3:1-4:6                           
                             Telling others of Jesus 2 Corinthians 5

Afterlife belief       Millennial kingdom - Jesus will           Hell - all Muslims go there first 
                              return & reign for 1,000 year as          (unless died as a martyr).  
                              promised.   Revelation 20:4               Allah judges and decides the fate
                            Heaven, paradise, the New                   of each Muslim and if and when
                              Jerusalem - eternal                              they can go to Paradise.
                              Philippians 3:20-21, Revelation         Heaven is a place of sensual
                               chapter 21 & 22.                                 pleasure.
                            Hell - place of eternal suffering            Hell for those who oppose Allah
                              for those who rejected God &              & his prophet Mohammed.
                              Jesus.  Revelation 20:10-15

So What's the Difference - Judaism

While not intended to be inclusive, the following chart provides a basic summary for comparison and discussion. 

                                                Biblical
                                         Worldview                                     Judaism

Authority              The Bible, the Word of God                Scriptures, primarily the Torah, &
                            The only infallible source of truth          the Prophets in the Old Testament
                                                                                        Mishnah, Talmud & Tradition 

View on Bible      Only source of truth                             Old Testament only is accepted as   
                              2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16                           the Word of God, although much of 
                              Romans 1:16                                      it is not well known or understood.
                              John 1:1-5,14
                              Matthew 4:4

Core Beliefs         1 Corinthians 15:1-3  Jesus                One God  
                                was crucified, died, buried               Looking for the coming of the  
                                & rose from the dead.                       Messiah, and the promised                                                                                                         Kingdom     
                                                                                          
                             Ephesians 4:4-6 - one Body              
                               (church composed of all                 
                                believers), one Spirit, one                
                                hope of your calling (heaven),           
                                one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
                                one God & Father of us all.

Salvation by          Faith in Jesus Alone                         Good moral living      
                                John 3:16, 14:6                              Good deeds / works  
                                Acts 4:12                                       
                                Ephesians 2:8-9                               
                                Romans chapter 3, 10:9,17            

Life of faith            Loving God & Others (Luke 9:27)     Decent moral behavior   
 characterized by  Living for Jesus (the walk) &            
                                imitators of His life                         
                                Ephesians chapters 4 thru 6          
                                Colossians 3:1-4:6                           
                             Telling others of Jesus 2 Corinthians 5

Afterlife belief       Millennial kingdom - Jesus will           Kingdom & heaven for those who
                              return & reign for 1,000 year as          did the best they could.  
                              promised.   Revelation 20:4              
                            Heaven, paradise, the New                
                              Jerusalem - eternal                             
                              Philippians 3:20-21, Revelation       
                               chapter 21 & 22.
                            Hell - place of eternal suffering            Hell - for those who did not.  
                              for those who rejected God &
                              Jesus.  Revelation 20:10-15

So What's the Difference - Eastern Orthodox Church

While not intended to be inclusive, the following chart provides a basic summary for comparison and discussion.  

                                                Biblical
                                         Worldview                                     Eastern Orthodox Church

Authority              The Bible, the Word of God              Church & Traditions of Church
                            The only infallible source of truth      Patriarchs
                                                                                      Bible

View on Bible      Only source of truth                           Church preceded the Bible, and
                              2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16                          provided the Bible, so the Church
                              Romans 1:16                                     is the primary authority.
                              John 1:1-5,14                                   Apostolic Succession
                              Matthew 4:4                                     

Core Beliefs         1 Corinthians 15:1-3  Jesus              It is the One True Church
                                was crucified, died, buried             Patriarchs speak for God
                                & rose from the dead.                    Apostolic Succession    
                                                                                      Sacraments    

                             Ephesians 4:4-6 - one Body             Theosis - the process of individual 
                               (church composed of all                   deification.
                                believers), one Spirit, one                
                                hope of your calling (heaven),       Icons - a source of revelation equal    
                                one Lord, one faith, one baptism,    to the Bible
                                one God & Father of us all.

Salvation by          Faith in Jesus Alone                      Works to show your worth and   
                                John 3:16, 14:6                              goodness to God.  
                                Acts 4:12                                     Theosis - becoming deified (like God)  
                                Ephesians 2:8-9                          Obey the teachings of the Church       
                                Romans chapter 3, 10:9,17            

Life of faith            Loving God & Others (Luke 9:27)  Tasked with working towards
 characterized by  Living for Jesus (the walk) &            communion & fellowship with God.
                                imitators of His life                         According to Athanasius, "God 
                                Ephesians chapters 4 thru 6          become man, so that me might 
                                Colossians 3:1-4:6                         become gods."  
                             Telling others of Jesus 2 Corinthians 5

Afterlife belief       Millennial kingdom - Jesus will        Prayers are offered for the souls of  
                              return & reign for 1,000 year as       the departed to strengthen them to   
                              promised.   Revelation 20:4             be confident at the judgment seat of 
                            Heaven, paradise, the New               Christ on the Last Day
                              Jerusalem - eternal                             
                              Philippians 3:20-21, Revelation       
                               chapter 21 & 22.
                            Hell - place of eternal suffering          
                              for those who rejected God &
                              Jesus.  Revelation 20:10-15

So What's the Difference - Catholicism Part 2

While not intended to be inclusive, the following chart provides a basic summary for comparison and discussion.  It should be noted that the Bible Worldview and Catholicism share many common beliefs such as the Trinity, the Virgin Birth of Jesus, His death for the sins of the world, and His bodily Resurrection to His victory over sin.

                                                Biblical
                                         Worldview                                      Catholicism

Authority              The Bible, the Word of God              Church - its Traditions & Teachings
                            The only infallible source of truth      The Pope & Apostolic Succession
                                                                                      The Bible

View on Bible      Only source of truth                           Church provides correct interpretation
                              2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16                         & understanding.  Teachings are
                              Romans 1:16                                    primarily focused on the Gospels.
                              John 1:1-5,14
                              Matthew 4:4

Core Beliefs         1 Corinthians 15:1-3  Jesus               One true Church
                                was crucified, died, buried              The Pope - infallible proclamations,
                                & rose from the dead.                       speaks in the place of God, as 
                                                                                          authoritative as the Bible.

                             Ephesians 4:4-6 - one Body              Sin:Venial (minor) & Mortal (major)
                               (church composed of all                  Pray to Mary and other saints
                                believers), one Spirit, one                 canonized by the Church, as well
                                hope of your calling (heaven),           God.
                                one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
                                one God & Father of us all.

Salvation by          Faith in Jesus Alone                         Sacraments administered
                                John 3:16, 14:6                              Keep the Ten Commandments
                                Acts 4:12                                        Confession when sin and penance
                                Ephesians 2:8-9                                assigned by the priest.
                                Romans chapter 3, 10:9,17            Obey teachings of the Church

Life of faith            Loving God & Others (Luke 9:27)     Weekly attendance of Mass,
 characterized by  Living for Jesus (the walk) &            Observance of Holy Days, fasting
                                imitators of His life                          Receive sacraments for saving grace
                                Ephesians chapters 4 thru 6          Generally not encouraged to read &
                                Colossians 3:1-4:6                           study the Bible
                             Telling others of Jesus 2 Corinthians 5

Afterlife belief       Millennial kingdom - Jesus will          No future earthly kingdom, the Pope
                              return & reign for 1,000 year as          is reigning on earth now in Jesus' 
                              promised.   Revelation 20:4              Final judgment by Jesus
                            Heaven, paradise, the New                Purgatory - preparation for heaven
                              Jerusalem - eternal                             (indulgences)
                              Philippians 3:20-21, Revelation        Heaven
                               chapter 21 & 22.
                            Hell - place of eternal suffering           Hell
                              for those who rejected God &
                              Jesus.  Revelation 20:10-15

Do All Paths Lead to the Same God or Do the Differences Matter? - CATHOLICISM

Having been raised in the Roman Catholic Church and attending parochial schools all the way through my undergrad degree, this is an area of comparison I have direct experience in.   Permit me to offer a brief account of my search:

Once upon a time there was a person who was born to good parents, in a good family, was raised in a good home and neighborhood, attended good schools and after graduation found a good job.  That person also attended a good church and life seemed good, but the question on the person’s mind was, “Were they good enough to make it to heaven?”  The church could not provide that assurance and the person began to wonder, if God had gone to all the sacrifice and trouble to send His Son Jesus to die on the cross for the sins of the world, then why wouldn’t God provide rock solid assurance as well?

Through a work assignment I met a girl and her family through which I came to understand that God was not interested in religion, which I define as a person deciding how they will please / approach God.   Instead, what God desires is a relationship, in which, through study of the Bible, I came to find the assurances of where I will be spending eternity that I was searching for.

Permit me to offer a couple of examples that mean a great deal to me:

 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.  There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.  And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed.  But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”   Gospel of John 3:16-21

“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.  Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.  For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”   Ephesians 2:8-10 (my first favorite verses in the Bible because I was trying to be good enough to work my way into heaven)

“And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.  I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.”  1 John 5:11-13

So God calls us to “believe in Jesus & his death for us” and to begin Life’s Most Important Relationship:

• There’s a Relationship You’re Created to Have – Provides the answer to “Why Am I Here?”        
• It’s a Relationship You Don’t Have – Because of What You’ve Done.  (Sin that we can’t undo)
• It’s a Relationship You Can Have Because of What Jesus Did for You. (Died for your sins)
•  It’s a Relationship You Must Choose   (adapted from Ron Hutchcraft)