Is Christianity unique? As Christianity (ca. 32% of the world population) is built on objective fact and truth, the other world religions cannot have that same foundation. Therefore as a verification of our earlier conclusions, we have discussed the basis for the three other main world religions:

• Hinduism  (ca. 13% of the world population) is more a way of life than a religion. Its pantheistic worldview is in contradiction with scientific observations. Its scriptures lack historical verification for authenticity and completeness. Its teachings of reincarnation  are and cannot be proved.
• Buddhism  (ca. 6% of the world population) is in many ways an extension of Hinduism , revised by the revelations of Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha ).  Like Hinduism, its belief in an eternally existing universe defies scientific data. The preservation of its scriptures as the actual teachings of Buddha  cannot be reliably verified. Its claims of reincarnation  and Nirvana  cannot be proved and defy logic.
• Islam  (ca. 20-22% of the world population) is the fastest growing world religion. It was founded by Mohammed in the seventh century AD based on alleged revelations from God.  The faith includes a complete social and legal system that governs all aspects of life. Like Christianity, the Muslim believes in the Creator, but Allah  is very different from God as He reveals Himself in the Bible. The Qur’an  lacks the historical, archaeological and manuscript evidences like the Bible. Unlike Jesus, Mohammed does not make any claims to deity nor does he provide evidences for the truth and divine inspiration of his revelations.

All three world religions lack a foundation of scientific and historical facts. The development of each of them seems to be more guided by human culture and the success of individuals or peoples than God or the divine.

In comparing the world religions, a number of exhibits were identified that show why Christianity as taught in the Bible is truly unique and true and Christianity is unique:

1. Christianity is grounded in history. It starts at the creation of the world. From Moses to the apostles, its development and history covers a period of 1,500 years. Hinduism  and Buddhism  do not make historical claims. The writings of Islam  are spiritual and philosophical and cover at best a period of 22 years.
2. Jesus’ kingdom was not of this world, He was not interested in anything tangible this world had to offer. By the world standards of power and wealth He was an absolute failure. The great men of Hinduism  and Buddha  had a similar view of the world, but Mohammed was besides a spiritual leader, also a powerful warlord. The establishment of Islam  was only possible because of his military success.
3. Only Jesus claims to be God. None of the founders or leaders of the other world religions ever made that claim.
4. The Bible is a historically reliable book, not just a collection of generic stories. The detailed accounts can be verified in time, place and people and are confirmed by secular history and archaeology. The writings of Hinduism  and Buddhism  do not make any historical claims. The Qur’an  covers very limited historical ground and is not even presented as a historical document by Muslim scholars.
5. Jesus did not write any part of the Bible. All 66 books were written by others, not by the central figure of the Christian faith. It is not known who wrote the Hindu Vedas and the Buddhist Tripitaka are claimed to have been written by Buddha . The Qur’an  is claimed to have been “spoken” by Mohammed.
6. The Bible is a divinely inspired book, as we have discussed extensively in the preceding section. Neither Hinduism  nor Buddhism  claim divine inspiration. Islam  claims the Qur’an  is inspired by Allah  but does not provide any evidence to support that claim.
7. The Bible teaches God’s complete plan of salvation for mankind. It does not leave open ends nor uncertainty. Hinduism  and Buddhism  claim “improvement” through cycles of incarnation and rebirth but no certainty of when the objective of Moksha  or Nirvana  will be achieved. The Muslim thinks he will be judged on the balance of his good and evil deeds, but has no certainty whether he has achieved heaven or not.

8. The Bible teaches that one is saved by faith alone. We cannot do anything to earn salvation, only because God paid the price we can receive the gift of His kingdom. All other religions believe that by one’s own deeds and actions salvation can be earned.

So, is Christianity unique? Our study of “what others believe” within the scope of this book does obviously not claim to be in-depth or complete. Still it is evident that the other religions look pale in comparison to the avalanche of data and facts that support the Bible and the claims and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. Additionally, the beliefs and teachings of Biblical Christianity are so unique, that only God Himself can have put it together. The following quote from Philip Yancey  makes this point once more: [1]

“During a British conference on comparative religions, experts from around the world debated what, if any, belief was unique to the Christian faith. They began eliminating possibilities. Incarnation? Other religions had different versions of gods' appearing in human form. Resurrection? Again, other religions had accounts of return from death. The debate went on for some time until C. S. Lewis  wandered into the room. "What's the rumpus about?" he asked, and heard in reply that his colleagues were discussing Christianity's unique contribution among world religions. Lewis responded, "Oh, that's easy. It's grace.”

After some discussion, the conferees had to agree. The notion of God's love coming to us free of charge, no strings attached, seems to go against every instinct of humanity. The Buddhist eight-fold path, the Hindu doctrine of karma , the Jewish covenant, and the Muslim code of law – each of these offers a way to earn approval. Only Christianity dares to make God's love unconditional.”