Tagged: sin
Scientology: A not-so-great American success story
L. Ron Hubbard was a successful science fiction writer in the 1930s and 1940s. But he tipped his hand in 1949 when he claimed a person could make even more money by inventing a new religion. A year later he published Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health, and in 1954 he established his “church” of Scientology.
Scientology is a real, if not-so-great, American success story. It enriched Hubbard financially but has enslaved Hollywood elites, musicians, writers, and many less prominent figures in the false promise of godlike existence and freedom from 60 trillion years of reincarnations. “The sun never sets on Scientology,” Hubbard once wrote. But the sun set on Hubbard in 1986 as he died, a rich recluse, on his private yacht. The religion he invented — a mixture of Eastern religions, occult practices, and science fiction — rocks on under new leadership, but Hubbard’s writings and lectures continue to be the Scientologist’s authority. Every Christian should reject the teachings of Scientology for their unbiblical stand, particularly those regarding authority, Jesus, sin, salvation, man, death and the afterlife.
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Comparing Christianity to Scientology
Download this chart and an article providing an overview of Scientology (PDF)
Some of Hollywood’s brightest stars, and other prominent figures, are dedicated followers of the religion founded by science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard: Scientology. Is Scientology Christian? Decidedly not. So what do Tom Cruise, John Travolta and other Scientologists believe? Below is a chart comparing key teachings of Christianity and the Church of Scientology.
| What the Bible says about God: | What Scientology says about God: |
| There is one true and living God, who exists as three distinct, co-equal, co-eternal persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Deut. 6:4; John 1:1-3, 6:27, 20:28; Acts 5:3-4; 2 Cor. 13:13; 1 Peter 1:2). | The Supreme Being is purposely left undefined and does not become particularly relevant in Scientology theory or practice. God is variously referred to as “Nature,” “Infinity,” “the Eighth Dynamic,” “all Theta (life)” and so forth. Usually the individual Scientologist is free to interpret God in whatever way he or she wishes. |
| What the Bible says about Jesus: | What Scientology says about Jesus: |
| He is the virgin-born Son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit (Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18-23; Luke 1:35). He is the eternal God, the Creator, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and Holy Spirit (John 1:1-14; Col. 1:15-20; Phil. 2:5-11; Heb. 1:1-13). Jesus died for our sins (1 Cor. 15:3), rose physically from the dead (Matt. 12:38-40; Rom. 1:4; 1 Cor. 15:4-8; 1 Peter 1:18-21) and is coming back physically and visibly one day (Matt. 24:29-31; John 14:3; Titus 2:13; Rev. 19:11-14). | Jesus was a man who was not particularly enlightened. The Church invented him as the savior of the world. Some Scientologists classify him as an “Operating Thetan,” which means a person aware of his true nature and abilities. |
| What the Bible says about salvation: | What Scientology says about salvation: |
| Christ’s death at Calvary completely paid our sin debt so that salvation comes by grace through faith in Jesus (John 3:16, 5:24; Rom. 4:4-5; 1 Cor. 15:1-4; Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:5). | Salvation is the enlightenment of the thetan as to his true nature and abilities. |
| What the Bible says about man: | What Scientology says about man: |
| God created man in His image – with a human spirit, personality and will. A person’s life begins at conception and is everlasting, but not eternal; that is, our lives have no end, but they did have a beginning (Gen. 1:26-28; Ps. 139:13-16). | In his true nature, man is an eternal spirit being with divine powers (thetan). |
| What the Bible says about the Bible: | What Scientology says about the Bible: |
| The Bible is the inerrant, infallible, inspired Word of God, and is His sole written authority for all people (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21). | The Bible is one of the world’s religious searchings. But as far as Scientology practices are concerned, it is largely irrelevant. |
| What the Bible says about sin: | What Scientology says about sin: |
| Sin is violation of God’s perfect and holy standards. All humans are sinners (Rom. 3:10) and are under the curse of sin – spiritual and physical death (Gen. 2:17, 3:17-19; Rom. 3:23). Only faith in Christ and His work on our behalf frees us from sin and its consequences (John 3:16, 5:24; Eph. 2:8-9). | Sin is merely falsehood or ignorance, and especially that which opposes Scientology. Man’s fall was not into spiritual and physical death, but into matter and ignorance. |
| What the Bible says about death: | What Scientology says about death: |
| Physical death and spiritual death come upon all people as a consequence of their sin (Gen. 2:17; Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:1). A person becomes spiritually alive when he or she is “born again” or “born from above” (John 3:3-6; Eph. 2:1-5). At physical death, our souls and spirits separate from our bodies [which go into the grave to await resurrection and final judgment] and enter an everlasting state of blessedness [for those born again] or torment [for those who die in their sins] (Luke 16:19-31; 2 Cor. 5:8).
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Death is an inconsequential dropping of the body, which all thetans have experienced trillions of times. |
| What the Bible says about heaven and hell: | What Scientology says about heaven and hell: |
| Hell is a place of everlasting conscious existence, where the unbeliever is forever separated from God (Matt. 25:46; Luke 16:19-31; Rev. 14:9-11, 20:10). As for Heaven, all believers have God’s promise of a home in Heaven, will go there instantly upon physical death, and will return with Christ from Heaven to earth one day (Luke 16:19-31; John 14:1-3; 2 Cor. 5:8; Rev. 19:11-16). | Heaven and hell are Christian myths, or mental implants from previous lives. |
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Copyright 2008 by Rob Phillips |
Hard Sayings of Jesus: Download Free Bible Study
When Jesus said, “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you do not have life in yourselves” (John 6:53), his disciples replied, “This is a hard saying,” and many stopped following Him. What did Jesus mean by this statement, and by other “hard sayings” such as: “Whoever says, ‘You moron!’ will be subject to hellfire,” and “Many are called, but few are chosen”? This 12-part series explores many of Jesus’ hard sayings.
Comparing Christianity to Islam
| What the Bible says about God: | What Islam says about God: |
| There is one true and living God, who exists as three distinct, co-equal, co-eternal persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. While the Bible is clear that there is one God (Deut.6:4), the Scriptures also call the Father, Son and Holy Spirit God (e.g., John 20:28; Acts 5:3-4), and in some places the three persons of the Godhead are depicted together (Matt. 3:16-17; 2 Cor. 13:13; Eph. 1:3-14; 1 Peter 1:2). God is personal, knowable, approachable, and loves all people. | The one true God is Allah. He is a distant God, unknowable and unapproachable. He does not love all people, only those who do well. He is the author of evil as well as good since he predestines all things. He is not triune but singular, and no partner is to be associated with him. To associate a person to Allah – such as by calling Jesus the Son of God – is to commit the unpardonable sin known as shirk. |
| What the Bible says about Jesus: | What Islam says about Jesus: |
| He is the virgin-born Son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit (Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:35). He is the eternal God, the Creator, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and Holy Spirit (John 1:1-14; Col. 1:15-20; Phil. 2:5-11; Heb. 1:1-13). Jesus died for our sins (1 Cor. 15:3), rose physically from the dead (Matt. 12:38-40; Rom. 1:4; 1 Cor. 15:4-8; 1 Peter 1:18-21) and is coming back physically and visibly one day (Matt. 24:29-31; John 14:3; Titus 2:13; Rev. 19:11-16). | He was one of God’s prophets or messengers, but inferior to Muhammad, who brought Allah’s final revelations to man. The Koran denies that Jesus is the Son of God, and any Muslim who believes in the deity of Jesus has committed the one unforgivable sin called shirk – a sin that will send that person to hell. Muslims do believe Jesus is the Messiah, was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life and is coming back one day – to establish Islam throughout the earth. They do not believe He died on the cross, but was called to heaven by Allah. |
| What the Bible says about the Bible: | What Islam says about the Bible: |
| The Bible is the inerrant, infallible, inspired Word of God, and is His sole written authority for all people (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21). | The Bible is corrupted and untrustworthy. Islam claims the Koran is the literal Word of God, received supernaturally by Muhammad from the angel Gabriel. It supersedes the Bible, which also was given by Allah. The Koran does assert, however, that the teachings of the Koran are in harmony with those of the Bible: “We have sent down to thee the book (the Koran) with the truth, confirming the Book (the Bible) that was before it, and assuring it.” Yet the Koran and the Bible clearly contradict in countless ways. For example, the Koran teaches a unitarian God; the Bible, a Trinitarian God. The Koran says Jesus was just a man; the Bible, that He was and is God incarnate. The Koran stresses salvation by works; the Bible, salvation by grace through faith in Christ. |
| What the Bible says about salvation: | What Islam says about salvation: |
| Christ’s death at Calvary completely paid our sin debt so that salvation comes by grace through faith in Jesus (John 3:16, 5:24; Rom. 4:4-5; 1 Cor. 15:1-4; Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:5). | The Koran teaches, “The true religion with God is Islam.” This means salvation is achieved only through submission to the teachings of Islam. Forgiveness is based on good works and Allah’s choice of mercy. The Muslim’s chances for heaven are good if he or she: 1) accepts the Muslim God Allah and his apostle Mohammad; 2) does good works and all that is required of him by Allah; and 3) is predestined to Allah’s favor. Islam teaches that Christ was neither crucified for our sins nor resurrected; therefore salvation cannot possibly be attained through faith in Christ. [According to Islamic tradition, Jesus was called into heaven and Judas was crucified in His place.] In short, the Muslim concept of salvation is Allah’s predestination. The Koran teaches, “All things have we created after a fixed decree …” Further, “God leads astray whomsoever He will; and He guides whomsoever He will.” |
| What the Bible says about sin: | What Islam says about sin: |
| Sin is the violation of God’s perfect and holy standards. All people are sinners (Rom. 3:10, 23) and are under the curse of sin – spiritual and physical death (Gen. 2:17, 3:17-19; Rom. 6:23). Only faith in Christ and His work on our behalf frees us from sin and its consequences (John 3:16, 5:24; Eph. 2:8-9). | Sin is lack of obedience to Allah. Man is sinful by act only, not by nature. Original sin is viewed as a “lapse” by Adam. Man is not really “fallen” in his sin nature; he is merely weak and forgetful. The most serious sin is that of shirk; for example, considering God as triune. Sin is thought of in terms of rejecting right guidance. It can be forgiven through repentance. No atonement is necessary. |
| What the Bible says about heaven and hell: | What Islam says about heaven and hell: |
| Hell is a place of everlasting conscious existence, where the unbeliever is forever separated from God (Matt. 25:46; Luke 16:19-31; Rev. 14:9-11, 20:10). As for heaven, all believers have God’s promise of a home in heaven, will go there instantly upon physical death, and will return with Christ from heaven to earth one day (Luke 16:19-31; John 14:1-3; 2 Cor. 5:8; Rev. 19:11-16). | Muslims believe in heaven and hell. Allah predetermines the eternal destiny of each person, and the hope of salvation for the Muslim is based on works, although no Muslim has the absolute assurance of heaven. Islam teaches its followers to prepare for the Day of Judgment, in which each person’s good and evil works will be measured, resulting in heaven or hell. |
Additional Resources
Download this chart as part of a package of articles on Islam
Comparing Christianity and Buddhism
| What the Bible says about God: | What Buddhism says about God: |
| There is one true and living God, who exists as three distinct, co-equal, co-eternal persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Deut. 6:4; John 20:28; Acts 5:3-4; 2 Cor. 13:13; 1 Peter 1:2). God is personal and is to be the only object of worship (Ex. 20:2-3; Isa. 43:10, 44:6; Matt. 4:10). | Buddhists do not worship a God who created and sustains the world. Theravada Buddhism considers the concept of God irrelevant; it is basically atheistic. Mahayana Buddhism worships the Buddha as a god, along with other gods. Other forms of Buddhism add shamanism and elements of the occult. |
| What the Bible says about Jesus: | What Buddhism says about Jesus: |
| He is the virgin-born Son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit (Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18-23; Luke 1:35). He is the eternal God, the Creator, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and Holy Spirit (John 1:1-14; Col. 1:15-20; Phil. 2:5-11; Heb. 1:1-13). Jesus died for our sins (1 Cor. 15:3), rose physically from the dead (Matt. 12:38-40; Rom. 1:4; 1 Cor. 15:4-8; 1 Peter 1:18-21) and is coming back physically and visibly one day (Matt. 24:29-31; John 14:3; Titus 2:13; Rev. 19:11-16). | Jesus was a great religious teacher who may have achieved enlightenment. Even so, he was one among many and therefore not unique. |
| What the Bible says about salvation: | What Buddhism says about salvation: |
| Christ’s death at Calvary completely paid our sin debt so that salvation comes by grace alone through faith in the person and work of Jesus (John 3:16, 5:24; Rom. 4:4-5; 1 Cor. 15:1-4; Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:5). | The goal of life is to achieve nirvana, or the cessation of suffering. |
| What the Bible says about the Bible: | What Buddhism says about the Bible: |
| The Bible is the inerrant, infallible, inspired Word of God, and is His sole written authority for all people (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21). | The authoritative writings for Buddhists are the Sutras and the Tripitaka (The Three Baskets). The Bible contains good teaching but is not authoritative. |
| What the Bible says about man: | What Buddhism says about man: |
| God created man in His image – with a human spirit, personality and will. A person’s life begins at conception and is everlasting, but not eternal; that is, our lives have no end, but they did have a distinct beginning (Gen. 1:26-28; Ps. 139:13-16). | Buddhists embrace the concept of anatta (no self). In traditional Buddhism, “no self” means there is no permanent identity to continue from one moment to the next. The human personality is made up of five skanda, or parts, which are only momentary, but they group together to give the illusion of permanence, like the flow of a river or the flame of a candle. |
| What the Bible says about sin: | What Buddhism says about sin: |
| Sin is a violation of God’s perfect and holy standards. All humans are sinners (Rom. 3:10) and are under the curse of sin – spiritual and physical death (Gen. 2:17, 3:17-19; Rom. 3:23). Only faith in Christ and His work on our behalf frees us from sin and its consequences (John 3:16, 5:24; Eph. 2:8-9). | There is no such thing as sin against a supreme being. The human condition is suffering, caused by attachment to things and the cravings / desires accompanying the attachment. |
| What the Bible says about death and the afterlife: | What Buddhism says about death and the afterlife: |
| Physical and spiritual deaths come upon all people as a consequence of their sin (Gen. 2:17; Rom. 3:23; Eph. 2:1). A person becomes spiritually alive when he or she is “born again” by the Spirit of God (John 3:3-6; Eph. 2:4-5). At physical death, our souls and spirits separate from our bodies [which go into the grave to await resurrection and final judgment] and enter an everlasting state of blessedness [for those born again] or torment [for those who die in their sins] (Luke 16:19-31; 2 Cor. 5:8). | Buddhists believe the cycle of death and rebirth, known as samsara, has been going on since time without beginning. Their goal is to end this cycle by attaining nirvana, a state of being that is realized through eliminating desire. Nirvana comes at two moments: at awakening or enlightenment, and at parinirvana, when the fire of personality finally flickers out (final death). The path to nirvana is divided into eight categories of disciplines that are meant to avoid bad karma that leads to dangerous and difficult forms of rebirth. |
| Hell is a place of everlasting conscious existence, where the unbeliever is forever separated from God (Matt. 25:46; Luke 16:19-31; Rev. 14:9-11, 20:10). As for Heaven, all believers have God’s promise of a home in Heaven, will go there instantly upon physical death, and will return with Christ from Heaven to earth one day (Luke 16:19-31; John 14:1-3; 2 Cor. 5:8; Rev. 19:14). | There is no heaven or hell as understood by Christians. |
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