Aren't All Religions Basically the Same?

Have you ever wondered why there are so many religions?  Where did the religions come from?  Well, all religions on the Earth are from the same source...except Christianity.

A really interesting video series tracing the beginnings of the different religions is called The Fuel Project. You will see why so many religions are so similar today, and what makes Christianity different.

But lets look at some of the similarities between the world religions:

Prayer Beads:  Many religions use beads to pray repetitive prayers.  (They are being sold for the upcoming World Interfaith Harmony Week in September, where all religions are going to work toward peace.) 

Catholic's pray the Rosary to Mary

Muslims pray subhah beads to Allah

Hindu believers pray Mala beads

Buddhists also pray Mala beads

The Bible has no reference about praying with beads.  Prayers are to said to God asking for things, praising God for His Holiness, etc.
 "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." (Phil 4:6)
Jesus gave us an example of how to pray: "And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread.  And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil." (Luke 11:2)


A "Holy" Person- Many religions claim to have a man with direct access to God / god that others don't have:

Dalai Lama leads Tibet

The Pope leads Catholics

Thomas S Monson leads Mormons

The Bible says each person who trusts in Christ as their savior receives the Holy Spirit.  There are no longer prophets, we no longer need someone to talk to God for us.  We have the Word of God and the Holy Spirit to tell us what God says. 
"Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life." (2 Cor 3:5)



Mother and child religious figures:  All around the world throughout history a woman and her child have been worshiped. 

Isi and Iswara worshiped in India

Isis and Horus were worshiped in Egypt

Shing Moo and child worshiped in China

Mary and Jesus worshiped by Catholics

"Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." (Matt 4:10)

Awaiting the return of a Holy One: Many faiths are waiting for their deity to return. 

Muslims expect the 12th Imam (the Mahdi) to return soon.
Jews expect the Messiah to appear any day (they are ready to rebuild the temple).
New Agers and Buddhists expect that the Maitreya is already born.
Hindus await the reincarnation of Krishna.

Of course, Christians are awaiting the return of Jesus Christ to return to earth, judge the righteous and unrighteous, and rule for 1000 years as the King of Kings before Satan is eternally thrown into hell.  But before Jesus returns the Bible (Revelation, Daniel, and Isaiah) prophesies a man who will arise to rule the entire world, promising peace to everyone, then he will cause the worst holocaust in history.  The Antichrist.  Doesn't it make sense that so many religions are waiting on a man to come and bring peace, when the Bible says that is exactly what the Antichrist will do?