Counter to current popular assumptions about the nature of religious faith, religious truth claims must be examined using evidence and the laws of logic. For example, Muslims and Christians disagree on many issues central to each faith. Muslims believe that Christ was a prophet who did not die on the cross, but was taken up into heaven. In contrast, the crucifixion of Christ is central to Christianity and is attested by many historical sources. These two truth claims cannot both be true at the same time as that would violate the laws of logic (in this case, the law of non-contradiction). Both claims may be false, but both cannot be true at the same time. Dr. Gary Habermas, a New Testament scholar states,
"But oftentimes, religion and truth, or religion and history, are simply considered by many to occupy entirely different categories. ... Religion is just not something which is supposed to be evidenced or compared. Our beliefs are often said to be just that ---meant to be held by faith or not at all. Moreover, it is believed to be private--it is not well suited for discussion or voting and certainly not meant to be debated."1
However, all religions offer a view of reality deemed by most of their adherents to be factual and true to what is actually the case concerning reality. New York City pastor and Christian apologist, Timothy Keller states,
"What is religion then? It is a set of beliefs that explain what life is all about, who we are, and the most important things that human beings should spend their time doing. For example, some think that this material world is all there is, that we are here by accident and when we die we just rot, and therefore the important thing is to choose to do what makes you happy and not let others impose their beliefs on you. Notice that though this is not an explicit organized religion, it contains a master narrative about the meaning of life along with a recommendation for how to live based on that account of things."2
Keller subsequently concludes that the concept of truth is
inescapable. So how does logic come into play when it comes to
examining religious truth claims? The great religions or worldview
claims must be evaluated based on how their claims are validated. In
this respect Christianity is unique in that its claim to be the truth
rests on the testimony of specific historical persons and on events,
specifically the resurrection of Christ, supported by the testimony of
multiple eyewitnesses. (See The
Reliability of the Gospels for more information about eyewitness
testimony.) Of course, one can choose to disregard or resist such
evidence, for absolute proof does not exist for any view of
reality. However, because of its close association with
historical persons, places, and events, Christianity is in a stronger
position from an evidential standpoint.
In contrast to Christianity, Buddhism is based on the teaching of an individual (Siddhartha Gautama or the Buddha). Buddha was essentially an atheist. In Buddhism, we have the teachings of a guru or holy man who provides a method of enlightenment. However, it is a human teaching based on assumptions about the nature of reality (the law of karma and reincarnation) that are incapable of verification and are simply assumed. One either believes Siddhartha Gautama's teaching and derives a subjective sense of fulfillment and peace through it or not. As such, I class it as a fideism (a view of reality based only on faith without evidence).
Hinduism is based on traditions and figures, such as Krishna, who have no relationship to actual, verifiable history. Hindus might say that the proof of their respective faiths is experiential, and is not based on historical events. Nevertheless, the background assumptions of these faiths (polytheism, the law of karma, and reincarnation) are descriptions of a reality to which the adherents of these two faiths believe all humans are subject.
Islam rests on the claim of one person, the Prophet Muhammad, to be the final prophet and channel of authoritative revelation from God (Allah). The Muslim holy book, the Qur'an, is believed by Muslims to be the perfect word of God dictated to Muhammad by the Angel Gabriel. Again, it is essentially a fideism---you believe Muhammad's claim or you don't. There is no way to verify Muhammad's claim to be the final and most authoritative prophet of God.
___________________________
1Gary R. Habermas, The Uniqueness of Jesus Christ Among the Major World Religions, (an e-book freely available for download from www.GaryHabermas.com/evidence2).
2Keller, Timothy, The Reason for God: Belief in an Age
of Skepticism, Riverhead Books, 2008, pp. 16-17.