I have studied the world’s religions. Granted, I am no scholar, but I have invested extensive, intentional hours researching Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, etc.. I must confess: the study is fascinating. Add to that Judaism, the Bahá’í Faith, New Age Movement, and atheism, which also serves as a religion for some.
Amidst the years of study, there is one aspect that continually causes me the greatest pause…
Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha, meaning “the awakened one” and the leader of the Buddhist faith, died somewhere between 400-483 B.C. (the exact timing of his death is disputed).
Muhammad, the founder of Islam, considered by Muslims as the last prophet of God, died in June 632 A.D.
Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the Bahá’í Faith, died in May of 1892.
Hinduism has no identified single founder… neither does Judaism, the New Age Movement, nor atheism.
The point is that there is no religion other than Christianity that claims a resurrected leader. Every other religion either boasts a leader whose body has decayed in some sort of tomb — or has no leader, thus existing as an established system of organized, human-created concepts. There is no disrespect in that statement; rather, it’s a statement of fact. It is therefore my sense that the reason so many have worked so hard for centuries to discredit the resurrection is because it’s the one aspect that no other religion can ever claim.
Remember that with the exception of atheism, all of the religions mentioned above agree that Jesus Christ was a real person who walked this planet. Most all also acknowledge that Jesus was a wise man who had a special relationship with God. Their response to the resurrection? Mostly silence, as the resurrection has not — and cannot — be disproved. Jesus appeared to many after his death, and his body was never found.
On this Easter, let me offer an exchange from a respected author, Josh McDowell, whose original goal was to actually disprove the validity of the Christian faith. He worked tirelessly to refute the life and teachings of Jesus Christ…
A student at the University of Uruguay said to me. “Professor McDowell, why can’t you refute Christianity?”
“For a very simple reason,” I answered. “I am not able to explain away an event in history — the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
Please note that the Intramuralist will always advocate respect for each person’s faith and point of view. We are each entitled to that. Let me also point out, however, that respect does not equate to accepting as equally true.
Respectfully…
AR
Thanks for the post. I would think Abraham would be considered the founder of Judaism, or actually God through Abraham, with the intent to bless all people through him & his descendants, most notably his descendant Jesus. I find it powerful to look at the Jewish prophecies & holy feasts established & how uncannily they are fulfilled in Jesus, another reason to acknowledge Judaism founded by the Creator, who then came in the flesh. Jesus is quoted as saying, “But as to the resurrection of the dead–have you never read what was said to you by God, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead but of the living!” Matthew 22:31-32