Rise Up Message Series – Renovate Church
By Greg Russell
If God Is Real, Why Are There So Many Religions?
How Do We Know Christianity Is the True Religion?
One of the most thoughtful questions in our Rise Up series came from one of our own students:
“Of all the different religions and beliefs in the world, how do you know Christianity is the only true religion?”
It’s an honest question. If there is one God, why are there so many religions? Why so many belief systems? And how can anyone confidently say Christianity is true?
Let’s explore this carefully.
Why Are There So Many Religions in the World?
Globally, Christianity represents about 31% of the population. Islam follows at roughly 24%, Hinduism at 15%, and Buddhism at about 6%, along with many smaller religions and countless denominations.
Even within Christianity, there are Catholics, Protestants, Orthodox believers, Baptists, Methodists, Charismatics, and more.
Some people look at this diversity and conclude:
- Religion is man-made and therefore untrue.
- All religions are equally true.
- Religion is harmful and causes conflict.
Let’s address these ideas one at a time.
Is Religion Harmful?
It’s true that people have done terrible things in the name of religion.
But history shows that even greater harm has been done in the name of secular, atheistic, and godless ideologies. The issue is not religion itself — the issue is human nature.
Christianity, in particular, has inspired hospitals, universities, charities, and global humanitarian efforts. The problem is not belief in God. The problem is the human heart.
Are All Religions Equally True?
This sounds inclusive and loving. But logically, it doesn’t hold up.
Religions make conflicting claims:
- Christianity says Jesus is God.
- Islam says Jesus is not God.
- Buddhism does not teach a personal Creator God.
- Hinduism presents a very different understanding of divinity.
These cannot all be true at the same time.
Truth, by definition, is exclusive. Gravity doesn’t stop working because someone dislikes it. Reality doesn’t bend to feelings. If something is true, alternatives must be false.
Jesus Himself said:
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
That statement does not allow for “all paths lead to God.”
Is Religion Just Man-Made?
Some argue that the existence of many religions proves they are human inventions.
But what if the opposite is true?
What if the similarities between religions point to something deeper?
C.S. Lewis observed that nearly every culture in history shares:
- A belief in right and wrong
- A sense of moral obligation
- The idea that self-sacrifice and humility are good
- Some concept of God or the divine
Even isolated tribes recognize moral laws and spiritual realities.
If religion were purely invented, we would expect radically different moral codes. Instead, we see striking similarities across cultures.
This suggests something profound:
The moral law is written on the human heart.
The Bible says exactly that.
So Why Christianity?
Even though religions share moral similarities, they differ dramatically on key questions:
- Who is God?
- How are we saved?
- What happens after death?
- Who was Jesus?
Christianity stands apart in several major ways:
1. Fulfilled Prophecy
The Bible contains hundreds of prophecies written centuries before Jesus was born — over 300 specifically about the Messiah.
Mathematicians have calculated the probability of one person fulfilling just eight of those prophecies by chance. The odds are astronomically small — comparable to covering the state of Texas two feet deep in silver dollars, marking one coin, blindfolding someone, and having them pick the marked coin on the first try.
Jesus fulfilled far more than eight.
That deserves serious consideration.
2. Alignment With Science
Many Eastern religions teach that the universe has always existed. Modern cosmology shows the universe had a beginning.
The Bible opens with:
“In the beginning…”
Christianity uniquely aligns with the idea of a created universe.
Far from conflicting with science, properly understood Christianity is consistent with scientific discovery — particularly regarding the beginning of the universe.
3. The Founder’s Claim
Muhammad did not claim to be God.
Buddha did not claim to be God.
Confucius did not claim to be God.
Jesus did.
He didn’t merely claim to teach truth. He claimed:
“I am the truth.”
That is either false, insane, or true. There is no middle option.
4. The Resurrection of Jesus
The resurrection is the central claim of Christianity.
Jesus predicted His death and resurrection — and His followers claimed He rose from the dead. Over 500 eyewitnesses reportedly saw Him alive.
Consider this:
- Women were listed as the first witnesses — in a culture where women’s testimony was not legally valued.
- Specific names and families were recorded.
- Eyewitnesses were still alive when the accounts were written.
These are not characteristics of myth writing.
If Jesus did not rise from the dead, Christianity collapses.
If He did, it changes everything.
What About Denominations?
Denominations do not save anyone.
Religion does not save anyone.
Jesus saves.
Salvation is not found in an institution. It is found in a person.
“There is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
The question is not which religion feels right.
The question is: Is Jesus who He said He was?
Final Thoughts: Truth Matters
It’s easy to follow feelings. It’s harder to follow truth.
But truth is the most loving thing in the universe.
If you are wrestling with whether Christianity is true, don’t dismiss it casually. Investigate it. Study the resurrection. Examine the historical evidence.
Christianity does not ask you to turn off your brain. It invites you to examine the evidence.
And at the center of it all is Jesus — not merely offering a path to God, but claiming to be God who came to find you.