Fine Inukihaangana

World Religions
Comparison Paper

Growing up in the Christian religion I was always taught that there was
one God. Growing up Mormon I was always taught that The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter Day Saints was the only true church. I would testify that I
knew these things as a young child. After reading the holy text of the religion
I knew it was true. Serving a two year mission for the church also added to
my knowledge of its divinity. Also on my mission serving amongst other
denominations I have come to except other perspectives and relate those
two my knowledge even if I dont agree with them. While learning of other
faiths I have come to except other teachings if they are wrong then I would
not add them to my knowledge but if they did help me grow as a person I
would use the principal in my everyday living.
Growing up in the United States as well as a Pacific Islander I was
prone to be a Christian. Our history as believers in Christ go back to legends
of my ancestor Pita Vi. We were pagan believers before we were Christians.
But Legend has it that the King of Tonga took Pita vi out to the ocean and in
the middle of a swarm of sharks he threw him into the ocean and told him if
his God is the true God then he will protect him from the sharks and he can
swim back to dry land. Eventually he does and so the King of Tonga is

converted. Which then he dedicates all the land of Tonga to God and changes
the flag in which the red symbolizes the blood of Christ and the cross
resembles the crucifixion.
So growing up we were strong believers in Christ also being half Native
American I have an outlook on White folk as they took our lands from our
ancestors and band traditions and customs that the did such as the
Sundance and the Ghost Dance. My perspective as I look back I was not
interested in my culture but these were both similar ways of living which now
I question the belief of Christianity. If God was so loving and forgiving why
did he let these things happen to these people. Why did these people have
to suffer then and now? Where they wrong? All these questions come as my
perspective as a Mormon is questioned?
I am a devout Mormon and there has been a lot of disagreement with
members and church leaders decisions. As a member I dont question I
have no quarrel I know what I believe and comparing it with other churchs it
all makes sense to me, but for those who dont understand or who dont
want to understand they fall away.
I always compare my beliefs to other religions to see if there are
similarities in any form. One religion I feel is similar to my beliefs is the
Islamic religion. To point out the obvious every church believes that their
church is the one and true church. Each one will be inviting but what I liked
about this church was the teachings when I attended. It was not anything I

am used to. When I go to church I am used to soft hymns almost a medieval

time frame type of vibe from the music. Things are more you listen and
watch and from what you hear you will be inspired and that is the holy ghost
talking to you. When I attended the Mosque the speaker was talking I dont
know if he was preaching but his sermon was more on how to help and it was
inspiring he did point out the things that if I was at my church I would have
had to pay attention and make it out on my own. The speaker broke it down
as if we was in a casual setting. As if we was in a none sacred setting, but I
did see everyone come in and bow down and prey to their God and then
move forward to hear what was being said.
As I observed these things I could not help but compare the things that
I know and what I have learned from the lessons in class about this religion.
What I know is that they are a peaceful people, despite what is going on in
the Media I believe that some of the followers of the Islamic faith are
righteous people. I have seen some of them and not all of them are bombers.
Just as not all Christians are devout Christians.
From what I have learned I feel like the Islamic faith supports that of
the Christian faith. They believe that Jesus Christ was a prophet and that he
will come down again and have an opportunity to have a family of his own
and live out the life that each and everyone else does. So I think that is
unique in itself and it supports my belief in Jesus Christ. I watched some
interviews on converted Muslims and the talk about the Quran and where
and how it talks about Christ. They talk about the differences between the

two religions and then they share their own thoughts and how they came to
believe in such things. That in itself helps me or strengthens my faith in Jesus
Christ because where we (Christians) have loop holes there are other proofs
that help strengthen those loop holes.
I believe that we are all trying to be a better person and through the
teachings of the prophets or truth seeking men, divine truth I feel that we are
all able to be pointed in the right direction no matter what faith or religion it
is.
What else I think is interesting is the Jewish religion. It relates to
Christian belief because Jesus is from Judah or he is Jewish but in studying
the scriptures he came to the world to save the Jews. And from my
knowledge the Jews didnt not believe he was the son of God. He knew the
scriptures but he was not the son of God. It always interesting to me because
of this the scriptures tell us that he came into the world to save them yet
they were the ones who crucified him.
The teachings of the Bible or Old Testament are the books that are in
the Jewish Holy text as well as Christian bibles. I did not know much about
the Jewish faith only that they were good with money. But after learning
about them in the chapter in school I see the similarities that they have and
share with the Christian faith.
Growing up in Sunday school I was taught about Abraham and how he
destroyed all the idols and there was only one remaining. I was also taught

about Abraham and his teachings of his sons, Isaac, Jacob. It also breaks off
to the Islamic religion. The customs they do are both very different from what
I practice but I like what they preach some of the stuff they do is interesting.
All though I would never do those things such as the Islamic practices or the
Jewish practices I do feel their doctoring is similar in away.
What brings it together for me is how the Muslims or Islam believes
that they are all one God or the God that we all believe in is the same God.
Understanding that helps me understand some of the history or origin of the
Christian faith. Even though things are not the same now a days and we
think that we believe in different Gods ultimately it is the same God. Which
then brings us to the same principals. Maybe different names but we still
practice the same things.
What I like about my church is that it teaches us about change. Things
will always be changing. Maybe that is where our difference is. I know God is
supposed to be the same today, tomorrow and forever. But revelation always
changing. Looking back on Christs earthly ministry and comparing it with
how the Jewish Rabbis saw things there is a simple change in itself and a
way of things to come. The Jewish Rabbi did not like how Christ was so young
and did not state his authority. For that he was not liked as much by the
Jewish rabbi.
I thought it was interesting and I wanted to compare the two religions
to Christianity. In my personal opinion all religions are similar. After studying

the two of the course of the semester I learned a lot from the Jewish religion
mostly because I knew nothing about them. Every day I would come to class
with an open mind and try to find the similarities they had toward
Christianity. It wasnt till I looked at them with the lends of the same God that
it began to make sense. We have the same beliefs except that their
traditions are a little older that ours rather Christian belief is a evolution of
Jewish tradition or faith. Sort of like our four fathers. Also I wanted to
compare the religion of Islam to Christianity. I always liked the faith even
though we have some history as a U.S citizen and from the media around the
world it can make Muslims look bad but if you are a believer in Christ and
believe that he is the only one who can judge then you will look past the
flaws that others have done to ruin it for others. I have met a lot of Muslims
and they have been nice to me. During the time we were at the Mosque I
met a few there that I knew but did not know they were Muslim and they
were happy to see me and invite me into their place of worship. It was very
interesting I also liked what the sermon or the things that were preached and
what I saw as a spectator. I felt uplifted and at home like I was in a meeting
of my on religion. They were welcoming which showed them true
practitioners of their faith because they showed love.
Even though there was a lot of differences and similarities I chose to
compare these two religions with my religions because its almost like a
history lesson. I chose the Jewish religion because the books are the same
and the God is the same. But I chose to relate the Islamic faith to Christianity

because if I wasnt a Christian I would want to be a part of their faith. I feel

they are the closest things to believing in how I believe and best way for me
to become a better person outside my own religion.