Not Another Christian?

After studying the worlds five major religions this last semester, I have come up with a simple reflection. In order to cement this journey as a learning experience, I'll just go ahead and give you an inside to my thoughts on this course. The teacher, while extremely educated, was all over the place and so I grabbed as much knowledge from his spewing as possible. As the course outlined, the class did require a lot of studying from the book and the opportunities to receive extra credit for attending a non- Christian worship center, both were helpful. Trivial to some, learning the intricacies of Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam derived a general census that every human, seems to wonder what on earth is going on.
Each religion took specific attempt to outline the importance of sacred space and time, showing sincere reverence for their place of worship. A break in ordinary space lead to an opening for divine connection, a common thread throughout each religion. Learning about the rituals of each was a large task but consequently gave a variety of reasons for ideas such as reality, creation and the afterlife, etc. Each of these aspects of reality for the religions in the rituals like prayer, meditation, worship, and art, were symbols that would reveal what was of ultimate importance to each. Both Hinduism and Buddhism imply that it is up to the individual to make sacred choices that will lead them to a higher state of being. Judaism, Christianity and Islam pointed to a more external higher power that would ultimately bring freedom. From looking at all five of these religions, I donÂ’t have a desire to claim myself to any of these.


On my own spiritual pilgrimage, to claim myself a Christian in most settings does not give anything but a negative aroma to the world that I live in. Therefore, I follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and believe that God breathed the holy Bible and that is what I am to live my life by. Never will I be able to say that to the majority of American Christians, to follow the two greatest commandments is to love the Lord and to Love others more than I do myself. American culture has made this journey, to love, one paved in melancholy commitment. It is no wonder that around the world, people are confused on what it is to be a follower of Christ, wanting to "eliminate every form of desire." If I never passionately wanted anything Buddha, of course I would have to be reincarnated multiple times. Therefore, on this journey I will passionately go, seeking ultimate satisfaction in serving my God. I am finding through this course that Hinduism is right, there ought to be no quote on quote "missionaries." In following Christ, every person of faith can be a catalyst to making God's name known throughout the nations. This is why I humbly aspire to live out the two greatest commandments, whether in America or another country, alongside other people who are just in need of grace as myself. It is my firm belief that the Son Of God did not die on the cross so that one day people would see followers of him as stagnant people. On this path, the Jews will continue to be apart of my culture and heritage, but I branch off with Jesus. The rituals of this religion and emphasis on the story and laws of the Bible are fascinating, but I will include the story that Christ is the Son of God. Comparing the five pillars to the Islamic faith, they come up short of what following the teachings of Christ. Even though followers of Islam believe He is a great prophet, I cannot reflect that they actually understand the applications of his teachings. If not for the purpose of comparing one belief to another, this class is a prime example of what it is like to hit the tip of the iceberg and wonder what the water is hiding. I look forward to my further journey of experiencing the world’s religions because in these I find a relationship, with a living God, to be more acceptable.