Why christians consider these 10 religions to be false

Let’s be honest: in a culture that loves “coexist” bumper stickers, claiming one religion is right and others are wrong feels a bit awkward. Yet, for the approximately 2.4 billion Christians worldwide, truth isn’t a buffet where you just pick the side dishes you like. The core of the faith hangs on Jesus’ exclusive claim in John 14:6, that nobody gets to the Father except through Him.

While this sounds rigid to modern ears, Christians believe it protects the integrity of who God actually is. You can’t have two contradicting maps to the same treasure, right?

Navigating these theological waters requires understanding exactly where the wires cross. Here is why Christians draw a hard line in the sand regarding these 10 belief systems.

Islam redefines who Jesus is

Muslims and Christians often talk about “people of the book,” but the theological divide here is massive. While Islam acknowledges Jesus (Isa) as a respected prophet, it vehemently denies His divinity and His crucifixion. For a Christian, if you take away the cross, you lose the entire mechanism of salvation.

Pew Research indicates that Islam is the fastest-growing major religion, expected to nearly catch up to Christianity by 2050. However, Christians view the denial of the Trinity as a dealbreaker. You simply cannot reconcile the Quran’s claim that “God has no son” with the New Testament’s central message.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints adds a new testament

You might know them for their polite missionaries on bikes, but mainstream Christianity views Mormon theology as a completely different gospel. The primary issue lies in the Book of Mormon, which Joseph Smith claimed to translate in the 1820s. Christians believe the biblical canon closed with the apostles, and adding to it violates scripture.

Furthermore, LDS theology teaches that God the Father was once a man who progressed to godhood. Isaiah 43:10 explicitly contradicts this, stating, “Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me.” Christians reject the idea that humans can evolve into gods of their own planets.

Jehovah’s Witnesses deny the Trinity

This group knocks on doors with impressive zeal, but their view of Jesus stops short of orthodox Christianity. Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that Jesus was created by God, specifically, the archangel Michael, rather than being God Himself. IMO, that is a demotion the Creator of the universe just doesn’t deserve.

Mainstream Christianity relies on the Nicene Creed, which affirms Jesus is “of one being with the Father.” A study by Ligonier Ministries found that even many evangelicals are confused by this, but church leadership maintains that denying the Trinity classifies a group as a pseudo-Christian cult. You can’t worship a created being and call it Christianity.

Hinduism relies on millions of gods

The gap between the Bible and the Vedas is roughly the size of the Grand Canyon. Hinduism allows for polytheism; some sources cite up to 33 million deities, whereas the Bible commands, “You shall have no other gods before me.” Christians view this abundance of idols as a distraction from the one true Creator.

Additionally, the concept of reincarnation opposes the biblical teaching of Hebrews 9:27: “It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” Christians believe Jesus breaks the cycle of karma through grace, rather than leaving you to work off your debt over a thousand lifetimes.

Buddhism focuses on self-effort rather than grace

Buddhism offers a peaceful philosophy, but it functions more as a self-help discipline than a relationship with a Savior. The goal of Nirvana is the extinction of desire and suffering through personal discipline and the Eightfold Path. Christians, however, believe that human effort can never bridge the gap to a holy God.

The Christian gospel emphasizes grace, a free gift you can’t earn. Ephesians 2:8-9 clarifies that salvation comes “not by works, so that no one can boast.” Christians see Buddhism as a noble but ultimately futile attempt for humans to save themselves without divine intervention.

New Age spirituality makes the self into god

Have you noticed how many people on Instagram are suddenly “spiritual but not religious”? A Pew Research Center survey found that 22% of U.S. adults identify as spiritual but not religious; younger generational cohorts are overrepresented in that group relative to older adults.

They often mix crystals, astrology, and pantheism. Christians reject this because it usually elevates the “self” to the status of a deity.

New Age thinking suggests that God is a force or energy inherent in everything, rather than a personal Creator. Christians believe God exists outside of creation and desires a personal relationship, not just a “vibes-based” connection. We worship the Creator, not the creation.

Judaism rejects the messiah

This one is tricky because Christianity actually sprouts from Jewish roots. However, the split occurs over the identity of the Messiah. Religious Judaism maintains that Jesus did not fulfill the messianic prophecies of the Old Testament and is still waiting for a savior.

Christians point to hundreds of prophecies, from Isaiah 53 to Psalm 22, that Jesus fulfilled perfectly. To a Christian, rejecting Jesus means rejecting the very culmination of God’s plan for Israel. It’s like reading a mystery novel but refusing to read the final chapter that reveals the hero.

Scientology resembles science fiction

L. Ron Hubbard’s creation feels more like a Hollywood script than theology, yet it claims millions of followers. Scientology teaches that humans are immortal spiritual beings (Thetans) trapped by past traumas and, strictly speaking, ancient alien intervention. Christians find absolutely zero historical or biblical basis for this.

The cost of “salvation” in Scientology is also a major red flag. You literally pay for progress up the “Bridge to Total Freedom,” often costing hundreds of thousands of dollars. Christianity offers salvation freely, paid for by the blood of Christ, not a credit card swipe.

Christian Science claims matter is an illusion

Despite the name, Christian Science differs wildly from biblical teaching. Founded by Mary Baker Eddy, this group claims that sickness, sin, and even death are merely illusions. They argue that Jesus didn’t actually die to pay for sin but rather demonstrated the power of the divine mind.

This ancient heresy, known as Gnosticism, denies the physical reality of the incarnation. Christians believe Jesus had a real body, felt real pain, and physically rose from the dead. If pain is just an illusion, then the sacrifice on the cross means nothing.

Atheism denies the existence of a creator

While not a “religion” in the traditional sense, atheism requires a specific set of beliefs about the origin of the universe. Atheists assert that matter is all there is and that life arose through random chance. Christians view the complexity of the universe, from DNA to galaxies, as undeniable proof of an intelligent Designer.

According to a Pew Research Center study, the “nones” (religiously unaffiliated) are growing, but Christians argue that atheism requires more faith than believing in God. Believing that everything came from nothing defies both logic and the human longing for purpose. FYI, Christians see atheism as the ultimate suppression of the truth.

Key Takeaway

For Christians, identifying these religions as “false” isn’t about being mean-spirited or exclusive for the sake of it; it’s about protecting the specific identity of Jesus. The data and scripture show that Christianity stands on the unique claim that salvation is a free gift of grace, not a result of human effort or secret knowledge. By contrasting these beliefs, Christians affirm that Jesus is the only way to true peace and eternal life.

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