Is There a True Religion?

Introduction: The Search for Truth in Religion

If the discussion of a true religion is to be meaningful, it must have an objective starting point. We cannot begin with any specific holy book because different religious traditions have their own scriptures. Instead, we must rely on observation and reason, similar to the scientific method. This ensures that we are not presupposing one religion over another from the outset.

The French thinker Blaise Pascal (1623–1662) proposed a way to identify the true religion. He suggested that for a religion to be true, it must adequately explain:

1. The Hiddenness of God – Why is God not immediately visible to humans?

2. The Misery of Man – Why is there suffering, evil, and moral failure in the world?

3. The Way to Know God – How can humanity bridge the gap and establish a relationship with God?

1. The Hiddenness of God

Pascal argued that any true religion must recognize that God is hidden. Unlike the pantheistic belief that everything is God, the God of true religion must be transcendent—beyond the physical world. This is an observation that all major religions acknowledge: humans cannot directly perceive God through the senses.

• Pantheism (Hinduism, certain Buddhist sects, etc.) equates God with the universe, but this is not derived from observation; it is an assumption.

• Buddhism and Confucianism largely ignore the question of God, focusing instead on moral philosophy and self-enlightenment.

• Islam acknowledges God's hiddenness, but does not explain why He is hidden.

• Christianity alone provides a coherent explanation: sin separates humans from a holy God.

2. The Misery of Man

Human history is filled with wars, injustice, and suffering. Every religion offers an explanation, but not all are satisfactory.

• Pantheistic religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, etc.) often view suffering as an illusion (maya) or as the result of karma from past lives. But this does not adequately explain why suffering exists in the first place.

• Islam sees suffering as a test from Allah, but offers no clear solution beyond submission to divine law.

• Christianity uniquely identifies sin as the root cause of suffering and alienation from God. This accounts for both personal and societal evils, offering a compelling reason for human misery.

3. The Way to Know God

For any religion to be true, it must provide a way to know the hidden God. Many religions emphasize human effort, but only Christianity presents a Mediator between God and humanity.

• Islam and Judaism emphasize obedience to divine laws but provide no assurance of salvation.

• Hinduism and Buddhism promote self-enlightenment, but their path is self-driven, making salvation uncertain.

• Christianity alone teaches that God came to man through Jesus Christ, who serves as the bridge between God and humanity.

The Uniqueness of Christ

Jesus Christ stands apart from all religious founders in three crucial ways:

1. The Incarnation – Jesus claimed to be God in human form, something no other religious leader claimed.

2. The Atonement – Unlike religions that emphasize human effort, Jesus offered Himself as the payment for humanity’s sin.

3. The Resurrection – Unlike Buddha, Muhammad, or Confucius, Jesus rose from the dead, providing evidence that He was who He claimed to be.

Conclusion: The Case for Christianity

Pascal’s criteria lead us to conclude that Christianity is the only religion that adequately answers all three questions:

1. Why is God hidden? Because humanity is sinful and separated from a holy God.

2. Why is man in misery? Because sin has corrupted the world and human nature.

3. How can man know God? Through Jesus Christ, the one Mediator who bridges the gap.

While all religions contain some truths, only Christianity provides a coherent, historical, and revealed truth that fully explains reality. If there is a true religion, it is found in Jesus Christ, His life, death, and resurrection. This is the message that continues to transform lives and offer real hope to a broken world.