Note: In light of the recent tragedies in America, please note that most American Muslims do not promote or support terrorism. The vast majority of Muslims condemn such acts. See this statement from the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

According to Islamic tradition, Abraham's firstborn son Ishmael and Ishmael's mother Hagar, after being banished by Sarah, ended up in the desert surrounding Mecca, where they were miraculously rescued. Abraham—or Ibrahim, as he is known in Arabic—visited them there and he and Ishmael built the Ka'bah (shrine). Muslims believe they are the true heirs, through Ishmael, to the promise God made to Abraham.

For Muslims, Muhammad is the last and greatest of the Prophets, surpassing Jesus. He was born in A.D. 570 in Mecca (in what is today Saudi Arabia). In A.D. 610, the angel Gabriel supposedly visited him and he then denounced idol worship and proclaimed the total sovereignty of the One True God. Because the People of the Book also claimed allegiance to this God, his early recitations about Christianity and Judaism in the Qur'an were favorable-"O believers, be you God's helpers, as Jesus, Mary's son, said to the Apostles. 'Who will be my helpers unto God?' The Apostles said, 'We will be helpers of God' " (Surah 61:14). However, when Muhammad moved to Medina, he was not well received by the Jewish people. Recitations regarding the People of the Book (both Jews and Christians) became more belligerent: "God fight them, what liars they are" (Surah 9:30); and "O believers, take not Jews and Christians as friends; they are friends of each other. Who so of you makes them his friends is one of them. God guides not the people of the evildoers" (Surah 5:56). The Qur'an maintains that war is an evil, but the extinction of Islam is a greater evil (Surah 2:217).

The Qur'an. The Qur'an (Koran) to the Muslim is not what the Bible is to the Christian. Rather, the Qur'an is to the Muslim what Jesus is to the Christian. Jesus is the Word made flesh and the Qur'an, for the Muslim, is the Word made text. The Book preexisted in heaven before Muhammad received the command to recite and he simply brought into physical being what already existed in completeness.

There are 4 books which are considered inspired by the Muslims: the Torah of Moses (first 5 books of the OT), the Zabur (Psalms of David), the Injil, (the gospel of Jesus) and the Koran. Muslims believe the former three contain error because they have been tampered with by Jews and Christians. Since the Koran is God's most recent and final word, it is viewed as superior to all other writings.

Muslim theology (usually called "Tawhid" from its central doctrine of the Unity of the Godhead) defines all that a man should believe, while the law (Shari'a) prescribes everything that he should do.  The Shari'a embraces every detail of human life, from the prohibition of crime to the use of the toothpick, from the organization of the State to the most sacred intimacies -- or unsavory aberrations -- of family life.

In Muslim theology, women's roles are notably inferior to men's. One of the most difficult verses reads: "Righteous women are therefore obedient, guarding the secret for God's guarding. And those you fear may be rebellious admonish; banish them to their couches, and beat them" (Surah 4:34). In matters of inheritance, women are to receive half of what men receive (Surah 4:11). Men are the "managers" of women (Surah 4:35) and can "come unto [their] tillage as they wish" (sexually) (Surah 2:223); can divorce their wives by stating "I divorce you" three times (2:229-230); and may take more than one wife (4:29).

Islam is a religion of duty and submission in which human effort leads to salvation rather than proceeds out of it. There is no view of redemption. There is no original sin in Islam, only original purity. Adam missed the mark by disobeying the divine command, and he asked God's forgiveness. We, also like Adam, have the capability to right ourselves and rehabilitate our standing before God, through submission and through the five pillars.

Islam and War

"So let them fight in the way of God who sell the the present life for the world to come; and whosoever fight in the way of God is slain, or conquers, We shall bring him a mighty wage. How is it with you, that you do not fight in the way of God, and for the men, women, and children who, being abased, say, `Our Lord, bring us forth from this city whose people are evildoers, and appoint to us a protector from Thee, and appoint to us from Thee a helper'? The believers fight in the way of God, and the unbelievers fight in the idols' way. Fight you therefore against the friends of Satan; surely the guile of Satan is ever feeble." (Sura 4:77)

Jihad literally means an effort or striving. It includes a religious war against unbelievers with the object of converting them to Islam or subduing all opposition (see Koran 9:5; 4:76; 2:214; 8:39). It is the sacred duty of the Muslim nation to ensure that Islam triumphs over all religions. It is considered a general duty of the nation as a whole, not of individuals. Furthermore, it is a duty which relates only to religion. It has nothing to do with economic exploitation, political repression or imperialism in any form.

In his early career Mohammed spread Islam by teaching and persuasion: several early Meccan suras stated that he was sent only to preach. When, at Medina, he declared that God had allowed him and his followers to defend themselves against infidels, and later when he proclaimed that he had divine leave to attack them and set up the true faith by the sword. Muhammad himself fought in nine battles and ordered many more.

For more information, go to:
Islam and Christianity
Apologetics Index-Islam
Background of Islam
Islamic Fundamentals

Shari'a-Muslims law
Sharing the Gospel with Muslims

WICCA

Witchcraft, or Wicca - an Old English word meaning female and male witches - is a form of neo-Paganism. Wicca is a  shamanistic nature religion with two main deities honored and worshipped in Wiccan rites: the Goddess (female aspect) and her consort, the Horned God (the male aspect). It is a nature-based religion.
Wicca is also known as the "Craft of the Wise" or often just "The Craft".

Wicca often includes the practice of various forms of white magic* (usually for healing purposes or as a counter to negativity), as well as rites to attune oneself with the natural rhythm of life forces marked by the phases of the moon and the four seasons.
*According to the Bible there is no such thing as 'good' or 'white' magic. Sorcery, enchantments, wizardry, etc. is spoken of as evil practices.

Wicca prides itself in being a diverse movement. Though neo-pagans share certain common beliefs and practices, Wicca knows no central authority, and practitioners do not all have the same views, beliefs and practices. The movement's primary ethical principle, referred to as the "Pagan Ethic" or "Wiccan Rede," is "If it harm none, do what you want." 

Wicca followers believe truth is relative-there are no absolutes. Wiccans do not accept the concept of innate sin or absolute evil, and they do not believe in a Heaven or Hell, other than those which are one's own creations. Wiccans do not believe Satan exists, and thus do not worship him. However, like Satanism, Wicca is a form of occultism.

Many Wiccan work together in small groups which are called covens-A group of thirteen or fewer Witches that work together in an organized fashion for positive magickal endeavors or to perform religious ceremonies.

Neo-Paganism
The new paganism -- a nature-oriented religious movement whose followers either are nature worshippers or have a very high regard for nature. It includes the reinventing or revival of the old gods and goddesses of pre-Christian polytheistic mythologies, mystery cults, and nature religions, such as Celtic, Greek, Egyptian, Roman, or Sumerian, or the interest in existing tribal religions (e.g. Native American religions), and shamanism, or the making of new religions.

For more information, go to:
Apologetics Index-Wicca
Watchman Fellowship
Religious Tolerance-Wicca
Jesus Messiah Fellowship
National Review on Wicca

JEHOVAH WITNESSES

Jehovah Witnesses believe they are the only true Christians. They systematically proselytize people who attend Christian churches, categorizing Christendom as "false religion," "the Harlot," and "Babylon the Great." They deny the deity of Jesus Christ. They say Jesus is "a God", not equal to Jehovah God. Scripture clearly presents Jesus as fully God, not "a God". Jehovah Witnesses have a strong emphasis on salvation by works instead of by faith alone. They believe Jesus returned to earth in 1914.

In order to defend their doctrinal beliefs, they have created their own bible called New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures. Translated by a committee of five, none of whom were trained in Hebrew and Greek, it changes the meaning of the Greek and Hebrew texts in order to support spurious Jehovah's Witness doctrines. They also state that you must read the literature published by the Watchtower society in order to understand the bible.

For more information, go to:
Apologetics Index-Jehovah Witnesses
Bible Answers for Jehovah's Witnesses
Biblical Response to the Jehovah's Witnesses Plan of Salvations Salvation by works? Or by grace?
The Jehovah's Witnesses Are Right Where the Jehovah's Witnesses are right, and where they are wrong.

Mormonism-Church of Later Day Saints

Mormonism began when Joseph Smith, a young man in western New York, was spurred by a Christian revival where he lived in 1820 to pray to God for guidance as to which church was true. In answer to his prayers he was visited by God the Father and God the Son, two separate beings, who told him to join no church because all the churches at that time were false, and that he, Joseph, would bring forth the true church.
In 1823 Joseph had another heavenly visitation, in which an angel named Moroni told him of a sacred history written by ancient Hebrews in America on tablets of gold. Joseph obtained these gold plates from the angel in 1827, and translated them into English by the spirit of God. The translation was published in 1830 as The Book of Mormon.

Mormons believe that their church is ''the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth' , the only organization authorized by the Almighty to preach his gospel and administer to ordinances of salvation, the only Church which has the power to save''.

Mormons believe God was once a mortal man."The Mormon prophets have continuously been taught the glorified truth that God the Eternal Father was once a mortal man who lived his life on Earth similar to what we now experience. He became God –a grand being—because of obedience to the same eternal Gospel truths which we today are given the opportunity to obey." The Gospel Through the Ages, published in 1958 in Salt Lake City, by Milton R. Hunter (pg. 104)

Mormons believe that along with the Eternal Father there is the Eternal Mother. And Lucifer and Jesus were their offspring.

The Mormon church has a history of racism. Brigham Young, the successor of Joseph Smith as President of the Mormon community, said when addressing the Negroes this: "Cain killed his brother. . . and the Lord put His mark on him, a mark which is the flat nose and the black skin. . ." (Journal of Discourses, Vol.7, pg. 290 ff.)

It is the hope of Mormons to develop into gods by following the Mormon doctrines and to perform rituals for themselves and their deceased relatives. Mormons, sealed to their spouse "for time and eternity" in the temple, in time expect to become polygamous gods in the Celestial Kingdom, where, for all eternity, they shall procreate spirit children.

For more information, go to:
Differences Between Christianity and Mormonism
Apologetics Index-Mormonism
The Bible or the Book of Mormon
Mormon salvation and Biblical Salvation
Mormonism and Truth
Mormonism
For those who are investigating Mormonism

Buddhism

Legend tells us that Buddha was a powerful young prince who gave up his earthly position and possessions in order to seek enlightenment and salvation. Buddha lived in India approximately 600 years before Christ. He was concerned with the terrible things that were being done within the Hindu tradition, so he developed his own religious system.

Buddha taught that the question of God’s existence is meaningless. Buddha believed in reincarnation. He taught that every evil thing we do ties us more tightly to the cycle of rebirth. Buddha taught that a person can escape the cycle of reincarnation and enter nirvana only by following the “Noble Eight-fold Path,” a strict ethical system.

For the Buddhist, nirvana is simply an escape from the world of suffering. It is like a candle that had been burning with a hot flame (representing our suffering in the cycle of reincarnation) being suddenly extinguished. Once a flame is out, there is no point in questioning where it went. To the classical Buddhist, to attain nirvana is simply to be out of existence.

Buddhism is clearly a very different religion from Christianity. It offers no personal salvation. It stands against sin and immorality, but it ignores the issue of God’s existence and our need for redemption. At its root, Buddhism is a form of agnosticism or at least practical atheism. It provides no answers about the ultimate meaning of existence. By denying the ultimate meaningfulness of life, Buddhism provides its followers with little motivation to conquer evil or to work for justice.

The goal of Buddhism is to escape samsara, or the cycle of rebirths, reincarnation, transmigration. Reincarnation is necessary because one must eliminate his karma, or the negative balance between one's good deeds and bad deeds that determines one's state in the next life. Buddhism's idea of reincarnation is different from that of Hinduism, because Buddhism teaches that the individual soul or "self" is not reborn, but only "karmic matter" or the elements that comprises an individual, but completely rearranged.

One escapes samsara and reaches Nirvana, where he is freed forever from all the anxieties, fears, and desires of ordinary life, and freed from the eternal round of decay, suffering, and death. One experiences liberation, inward peace, strength, insight, truth, and the joy of complete oneness with reality. After death, the one who has reached Nirvana is totally annihilated. This completes the re-absorption of the individual soul with the Universal Soul, "like a candle flame being blown out."

For more information, go to:
Apologetics Index-Buddhism
World Religions Index
Analysis Of The Major World Religions From A Christian Perspective

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