religion comparison chart

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Religion Comparison Chart http://www.mid-attc.org/comp_chart.htm

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Chart Comparing Christianity with Sects and Cults______________________________________________________________ Religions_______________________________________________________________________________

Elementsof Faith

HistoricChristianity

Jehovah'sWitnesses

The Church of Jesus Christ of

Latter-daySaints

(Mormons)

Church of Christ,

Scientist

Unity Schoolof

ChristianityChurch of

ScientologyUnification

ChurchThe Way

International

InternationalChurch of

Christ

Seventh-DayAdventistChurch

Elementof Fait

SupremeBeing

Onepersonal/supremeGod who is

Creator & Lordof everythingthat exists. Heeternally existsas Triune God:Father, Son,Holy Spirit. Gen.1; Deut. 6:4;Matt. 28:19.

One God,properlycalled

Jehovah. HisHoly Spirit isanimpersonalforce. Rejectthe doctrineof Trinity.

God, (HeavenlyFather) is anexalted man with

a physical bodyof flesh & bone.Was a man in apreexistence.

An impersonalbut omnipotentbeing who is

Principle,Life, Truth,Love, & Mind.

Impersonalprinciple,universal

intelligence, &Love.

A SupremeBeing, but hisexact nature

is determinedby eachperson.

One person only,with dualcharacteristics

(positive/negative,male/female).

God is oneeternal spirit.There is no

Trinity. HolySpirit is adesignation forGod; "holyspirit" is thepower conferredat Pentecost.

One God, whoreveals Himself as Person; as

Father, Son,Holy Spirit.(This groupminimizes therole of the HolySpirit.

Same as historicChristianity

SupremBeing

KeyFigures in

History

Jesus, the Christ,eternally onewith the Fatherand incarnatedsupernaturallythrough theVirgin Mary.John 1:1-12;Matt 1:18-25

Charles TazeRussell(1852-1916)

Joseph Smith Jr.(1805-1844)

Mary BakerEddy(1821-1910)

Charles(1854-1948) &Myrtle(1845-1931)Fillmore

L. RonHubbard(1911-1986)

Sun Myung Moon(b.Jan. 6, 1920)

Victor PaulWierville(1916-1985)

Kip McKean(b. May 13,1954)

Ellen G. White,who possessed amodern "spirit of prophecy"(1827-1915)

KeyFigures i

History

Person of Jesus

One divinePerson, eternal,with twonatures-human &divine. Born onearth as a fullyhuman being.Supremeexample of God'scharacter & Hislove forhumanity. Fulland finalrevelation of God and Hislove. John 1:1-13

A createdbeing withstages of existence: 1.ArchangelMichael orthe Word. 2.Jesus, perfectman,becameMessiah athis baptism;3. After hisspiritualresurrection,becameMichaelagain butretains thename Jesus.

Jesus is thespiritual &physical offspringof God byprocreation. Hada preexistence asGod's spirit childand brother of Lucifer.

Jesus, separatefrom Christ, ahuman beingwho more thanany othershows the"Christ-ideal."

Jesus was aman inhabitedby theChrist-principlespirit.

A greatteacher whofully realizedhis personaldivinity as a"clear."

A perfect manwho was faithfulto God & attaineddeity; not equal toGod.

Not coequalwith God; didnot preexistbefore hisearthly life. Sonof God, but notGod the Son. Aperfect man, butnot divine.

Same ashistoricChristianity.

Same as historicChristianity.

Person oJesusChrist

Work of JesusChrist

Jesus was born,lived, & died ina given time &place as aunique historicalevent. He liveda sinless life &willingly died onthe cross as asacrifice for thesins of humanity.He is Messiah(Christ), Lordand Savior. John1:14-18; 3:16

Christ'sransomsacrifice ona "stake"madesalvationpossible.

His deathguaranteesimmortality toall regardless of their faith, butone's exaltationmust becompleted byworks. Suffered inGethsemane forAdam's originalsin.

Jesus is a"Way-shower"& Healer.

Jesus was away-showerwhosecrucifixion wasnot sacrificial,but releasedgrace(inspiration).

One Savioramong manywho teachpeople how tobe "clear" of engrams(empressionsof pastexperiences).

He was to restoreoriginalrelationshipbetween God &humanity bymarriage. Hismission wasincompletebecause he wascrucified beforemarriage. He is aspiritual, notphysical savior.

His ransomdeath was alegal transactionmakingsalvationpossible.

Same ashistoricChristianity.

Lived a sinlesslife, died on thecross asatonement, &rose again.Entered"heavenlysanctuary" in1844 to initiate"investigative

judgment" of those claimingto be Christians

Work oJesusChrist

Sourcesof

Authority

Bible (Old &NewTestaments).Unique,revealed,factual,accurate, &inspired Word of

Bible ( NewWorld Translationof HolyScriptures ) asinterpretedbyWatchtower

Bible (except the"errors"); The

Book of Mormon; Doctrine and Covenants; Pearl of Great Price ;revelations of theMormon

Bible, asinterpretedmetaphysicallyby Mary BakerEddy inScience and

Health withKey to the

Bible asinterpreted bythe Fillmores.It has an outer(literal)meaning & aninner(metaphysical)

Selectedwritings of Hubbard,particularly

Dianetics:The ModernScience of

Mental

Bible, asinterpreted inDivine Principle(Moon's basicteachings).

Bible (KingJames Version)as "worked"(studied &explained) bywritings of Wierwille (the"keys" to the

The Bible asinterpreted byelders &evangelists &taught in "Bibletalk" sessions.

The Bible asexplained toWhite in hervisions &interpreted inher books.

Sourcesof

Authorit


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God. Soleauthority forfaith & practice.2 Tim. 3:16-17.

Bible andTractSociety.

prophets. Scriptures meaning. Othersacred writingsalso valued.

Health . Bible).

Doctrineof

Humanity

Humanity is partof creation, butdistinct from therest of creation& from God.Human beings

are created inGod's image.Every person is aunique, preciousbeing of dignity& worth. Gen.1:26-28.

Created inJehovah'simage; asoul, notimmortal;capable of

responding toJehovah.

Preexistentspiritual offspringof God; basicallygood; gods inembryo.

People exist inGod's image &likeness,therefore aredivine. Peopleare spirit, not

matter (whichis unreal).

All peoplepossess theChrist-spiritwithin.

Each personis animmortal,divine soul,basicallygood, in three

parts: soul(thetan),mind (theaccumulationof all pastexperiences),& body(physical).

Created in theimage of God(duality: male &female).

Each person isbody, soul, &spirit, but notimmortal.

Human beingsare created inthe image of God. Everyperson is borninnocent.

Same as historicChristianity.

Doctrineof

Humanit

The BasicHuman

Problem

Sin: By theirfree will, humanbeings havechosen to sinagainst God,rejecting Hisnature, &pursuing a courseof life that isopposed to Hisessentialcharacter &revealed law.Gen.3; Rom.

3:23.

Sin: willfulrebellionagainstJehovah.

Sin: disobedienceto God's laws.Adam's fall, inGod's plan,caused loss of immortality.Each personresponsible for hisor her own sin.

The illusionthat matter isreal. (Matter,sin, evil,sickness, &death are notreal.)

Failure torealize & liveup to one'sdivinepotential.

Engrams(learnedbehavior orconflicts fromone's past,includingpreviouslifetimes &prenatalexperiences)preventindividualsfromrealizing

their owndivinity.

Human beingsbroke relationshipwith God throughdisobedience& misuse of love& are now relatedto Satan as resultof sexual sin inthe Fall.

Adam's fallcaused loss of human spirit &brokenrelationship withGod. Littleemphasis onindividual sins.

Sin: By theirfree will,human beingshave chosen tosin against God,rejecting Hisnature &disobeying Hislaws.

Sin: Peoplewillingly refectcommandmentsof God such asthe TenCommandments,especiallyviolation of eternalseventh-daySabbath law.

The BasiHuman

Problem

Solutionto the

BasicHumanProblem

Salvation-releasefrom the guilt &power of sin - isGod's gift of grace throughChrist'satonement,received throughpersonal faith inChrist. Eph.2:8-9

Allegianceto Jehovahplus works(baptism,faithfulnessin KingdomHall work;thoseignorant of Jehovahgiven achance to

believeduringmillennium).

Exaltation orgodhood throughobedience toMormonteachings:repentance, faith,baptism,endowments,celestialmarriage, tithing.Baptism for thedead saves some

non-Mormonsposthumously

Casting outillusions of reality of matter, sin,evil sickness,& death infavor of the"all-reality" of spirit.

Throughconscious unionwith Jesus,people canovercomelower humanimpulses &transform theirbodies to makethemperpetuallyhealthy,

thereforeimmortal,attainingeternal life(unity withGod).

Dianeticcounseling(auditing)leads a personto become"clear" of engrams,attain fullhumanpotential, &become fullyaware of

personaldivinity.

Accept JesusChrist for spiritualsalvation & theLord of theSecond Advent(Moon) forphysical salvation.Pay personalindemnity (works)for self, ancestors,& the world.

Human spiritregained throughfaith in JesusChrist. Spiritualmaturity,manifested intongue-speaking,comes throughrenewed mind.Sinlessperfectionattainable in

this life.

Admittance of sin, repentance,becoming adisciple, &baptism byimmersion inwater forremission of sinby the ICOC.

Repentance,faith in Christ asSavior, baptismby immersion, &keeping of commandments.

Solution tthe BasiHuman

Problem

Ethics(Value

System)

Ultimate valuesfor humanity arebased on God'scharacter andHis TenCommandments.Human beingsare potentiallygood, but notinevitably good.They alwaysneed God's grace

to renew theircharacters.

Those notloyal toJehovah areunrighteous;all earthlyorganizationscontrolled bySatan;Jehovah'sWitnessesrequired toobey

Jehovah'slaws asexplained byWatchtowerBible andTractSociety.

People are toobey the laws of God; Mormonsexpected toobserve the"Word of Wisdom" (rulesfor conduct).

ChristianScientists"solemnlypromise" towatch & prayfor "the mindof Christ," toobey theGolden Rule,& to bemerciful, just,& pure.

The kingdomof heaven orharmony iswithin people,who are toestablish thelaw & orderexisting inDivine Mind(God). TheGolden Ruleshould be the

standard of action amongpeople.

Individualsmust be ableto putknowledge touse to helpthemselves &others. Thefinal test:"Did the dataand the use of it in lifeactually

improveconditions ordidn't it?"

Good society canbe achieved onlythrough a peacefulrevolution of theheart. People mustbe transformedfrom selfishness tounselfishness,centered on thelove of God.

The soul/mind(sinful nature)that controlseach person canonly be"renewed" byproper study.The sign of arenewed mind isspeaking intongues-a sign of sinless

perfection.

Jesuscommandedtotal obedienceto a discipler.Not to havesuch a partneris "to berebellious toGod."

Christiansexpected to keepspecificcomandments of Fod, avoidunhealthy foods& lifestyles, &keep seventh-daySabbath.

Ethics(ValueSystem)

Life AfterDeath

Eternalcommunion withGod (heaven) oreternalseparation fromGod (hell). Heb.9:27; Rev. 20-22

144,000"elect" toreign withChrist inKingdom of God(heaven).OtherJehovah'sWitnesses to

One of threekingdoms: 1.Celestial-renewedearth, where menbecome gods orangels; 2.Terrestrial-planetfor righteousnon-Mormons; 3.Telestial-planet

Since there isno death,individualsmove intoanother planetowardfulfillment inlove, light, &truth.

If people livewell in thispresent life,they will alsolive well inwhatever lifewill follow.People progressthrough manylifetimes

Reincarnationof soul(thetan) untilit attains thestate of spiritualawareness &liberationfrom matter,energy,

All humans willbecome divine inan earthlykingdom of God &a perfectrelationship withGod will berestored.

Soul sleep forall betweendeath &resurrection;finally, heaven(for those whoseminds arerenewed) or hell(for all others).

Eternalcommunionwith God(heaven) forfaithfuldisciples oreternalseparation fromGod (hell) forthose

Eternalcommunion isheaven forfaithful remnantor annihilationfor wicked (noeternal hell).

LifeAfterDeath


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live onglorifiedparadiseearth.Annihilationfor all whorejectJehovah.

for the wicked.Perdition isreserved for Satanand mostwicked.

(reincarnation)to ultimateunion (unity)with animpersonalGod.

space, &time (MEST)

unfaithful.

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