Christianity is the most practiced religion in the world, but what makes it different from the rest? What aspects compel people to believe the claims of Jesus over alternate world views? In this episode of Christian Curious, Dr. Halee Gray Scott speaks with apologist and author, Dr. Doug Groothius, who recently published a new edition of his classic work Christian Apologetics. Listeners will learn how to think deeply about and defend their faith.
Shownotes: https://www.christiancurious.com/blog/what-makes-christianity-unique-among-other-religions
When I became an atheist in college, it wasn’t the science courses that led me away from my faith—it was the English courses. In English, I dove deeply into Greek Mythology, devouring Homer, Aeschylus, Euripides, and Sophocles. One day after class, I chased my professor down the sidewalk and asked, “Did the Greeks believe in their gods as deeply as Christians believe in their God?” Startled, he answered, “Why I suppose they did.”
Maybe you’ve wrestled with your faith in a similar manner. As you dive deeply into your faith, at some point a core question will emerge: “what makes what I believe unique among other religions?” Some people dismiss the question as doubt and will it to go away. Others press into this question and find answers suitable for defending their faith to themselves and, eventually, to others. Dr. Doug Groothius is one of those people.
Dr. Groothuis, is an apologist and author who recently published a new edition of his classic work, Christian Apologetics. We chatted with him for this blog and corresponding episode of The Christian Curious Podcast to explore what exactly it is that makes Christianity unique among other religions.
Questions this episode dives into:
1. In the latest edition of your book on Christian Apologetics, you address the issue of the uniqueness of Christianity. Why did you think it was important to include this issue in your book?
2. What is the difference between Christianity and other major world religions, such as Islam?
3. Many great thinkers and apologists, including C.S. Lewis, have noted the similarities of the world’s religions in a bid to claim the validity of the Christian faith—sort of the idea that many religions have pointed in some way to the Christian faith. Why is distinguishing Christianity from other religions equally important?
4. What are the most important ways Christianity is unique among other religions?
5. Many people today have an à la carte approach to spirituality. They pick and choose elements from many faiths to incorporate into their daily lives. Why is this a dangerous approach to faith?
6. How can you recognize whether or not you are practicing an à la carte faith? What advice do you have for people who are?
7. What does the uniqueness of Christianity teach us about God?