How Do You Choose Your Religion in a World Full of Beliefs? A Map for Classifying Beliefs in the Age of Confusion Between Negation, Polytheism, Pluralism and Monotheism (Wall Poster) Prepared by: Dr. K. Solomon
How Do You Choose Your Religion in a World Full of Beliefs?
A Map for Classifying Beliefs in the Age of Confusion Between Negation, Polytheism, Pluralism and Monotheism
In today’s world, there are thousands of religions and belief systems, each claiming that it is the true religion and that all other religions are misguided. This great diversity of beliefs raises deep questions for a person sincerely searching for the truth: How can we know the true religion? In this article, we will explain how a person can choose the true religion based on rational and logical criteria.
A Map for Classifying Beliefs in the Age of Confusion Between Negation, Polytheism, Pluralism and Monotheism
This doctrinal map comes at a time of confusion to recalibrate the compass toward pure monotheism and to reveal the paths of doctrinal deviation. A person’s faith cannot be sound except by standing firmly within the fortress of pure monotheism, for it is the axis that admits no division. Any deviation from it is nothing but a fall into the embrace of plurality, pagan polytheism, or wandering in the desert of negation and nihilism.
Human beliefs are classified into three main categories based on their relationship to pure monotheism. Any departure from this center leads a person either into the trap of plurality, polytheism, or negation.
First: The Polytheism of Negation (Atheism)
Atheism negates God’s attributes or denies His existence altogether.
Atheism is divided into four types: material atheism, spiritual atheism, esoteric atheism, and existential atheism.
Material atheism:
An explicit denial of God and the unseen, confining existence to matter and making empirical science the supreme reference, which leads to negating purpose and meaning from human beings and life.
Spiritual atheism:
It replaces belief in God with a vague belief in energy or a cosmic force, rejects revelation and legislation, and offers spirituality without servitude. It is the most dangerous because it disguises itself in the appearance of faith.
Esoteric atheism:
It uses religious language while emptying it of its true meanings through interpretation, turning beliefs and acts of worship into symbols and psychological experiences. It becomes a concealed denial rather than an explicit one.
Existential atheism:
It does not always explicitly deny God, but it denies wisdom and purpose in existence, makes values a human creation, and sanctifies absolute freedom even if it contradicts natural disposition.
Second: Polytheism or Pluralism
This is divided into Pagan religions or Distorted Divine Laws.
(A) Pagan religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism
Hinduism:
It believes in multiple gods, such as Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, and worships idols and statues, which contradicts monotheism.
Buddhism:
It does not believe in a Creator God and focuses on meditation and liberation (nirvana). Therefore, it is closer to a philosophical and behavioral system than to a monotheistic religion based on faith in God.
Sikhism:
It verbally believes in one God, but it mixes monotheism with Hindu concepts such as the unity of existence or the manifestation of God in the universe, reincarnation, and karma.
(B) Distorted Divine Laws such as Judaism and Christianity
Judaism:
Deviation from monotheism is due to the belief in indwelling and the confinement of God to a particular people or land. This is polytheism that contradicts God’s perfection, and attributing deficient qualities to Him is rejected by sound reason.
Christianity:
Deviation from monotheism is due to the doctrine of the Trinity. If the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God, while at the same time they are distinct persons, then this is a mathematical and rational contradiction.
Third: Monotheism
Pure monotheism is realized only in Islam. Monotheism here is not merely acknowledging the existence of a Creator; rather, it is singling out Allah alone in worship, lordship, and names and attributes, without any trace of resemblance or indwelling. It is belief in one, self-sufficient God who neither begets nor is begotten, unique in His creation and governance, and free from all imperfection.
What Are the Criteria for Choosing the True Religion?
When a person searches for the true religion, they must rely on clear and logical criteria that help distinguish between different beliefs. These criteria must be consistent with sound natural disposition and reason, and they must answer the great questions of life.
Criteria for Choosing the True Religion
First: A purely monotheistic religion with no plurality, polytheism, or human deities The true religion must call to the worship of the One and Only God, without partner or intermediary. Islam: affirms the absolute oneness of God: “Say, He is Allah, One. Allah, the Self-Sufficient. He neither begets nor is born. And there is none comparable to Him.” (Surat Al-Ikhlas)
Second: The religion must be compatible with reason and natural disposition and call to direct worship of God The true religion must be consistent with reason and logic and contain no contradictions or rational impossibilities. Islam: its teachings are clear and understandable and harmonize with sound natural disposition and reason. Islam explains that God is near to His servants, and that a person does not need intermediaries in worship: “And when My servants ask you concerning Me, indeed I am near. I respond to the supplication of the supplicant when he calls upon Me.” (Surat Al-Baqarah: 186)
Third: The sacred texts are preserved from distortion The true religion must have sacred texts preserved from alteration and change. Islam: the Noble Qur’an is preserved by the protection of Allah Almighty: “Indeed, We have sent down the Reminder, and indeed We will surely preserve it.” (Surat Al-Hijr: 9)
Fourth: The religion is built upon verifiable proofs and evidence The true religion must present clear evidence that it is from God, whether rational, scientific, or historical. Islam: the Qur’an contains scientific, linguistic, and historical miracles that prove it is from God. Scientific miracle: the stages of embryonic development: “Then We created the drop as a clinging substance, and We created the clinging substance into a lump.” (Surat Al-Mu’minun: 14) Historical miracle: the mention of events that were not known at the time of the Qur’an’s revelation. Rhetorical miracle: the Qur’an challenged the Arabs in their eloquence and rhetoric, and they were unable to produce anything like it.
Fifth: A universal message The true religion must be a universal message directed to all humanity, regardless of race, language, or time. Islam: a universal message: “And We have not sent you except as a mercy to the worlds.” (Surat Al-Anbiya’: 107)
Sixth: Answering existential questions The true religion must provide clear answers to the major questions of life: Where did we come from? Why are we here? Where are we going? Islam: provides clear answers: “And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” (Surat Adh-Dhariyat: 56) “So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it, and whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.” (Surat Az-Zalzalah: 7–8)
Seventh: The messenger and role model The true religion must present a messenger or prophet who represents the best example in morals and conduct. Islam: Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is a complete role model for humanity: “Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah you have an excellent example.” (Surat Al-Ahzab: 21)
When comparing Islam with other beliefs, we find that Islam is the only religion that has preserved the concept of absolute transcendence of the Creator. Islam provides clear and convincing answers to all these criteria with excellence, making it the only natural and rational religion fully consistent with the standards for choosing the true religion.
In conclusion: Whoever seeks a religion other than the religion that Allah has chosen — Islam — Allah will never accept it from him, and in the Hereafter he will be among the losers, by entering the Fire.
“And whoever desires other than Islam as religion - never will it be accepted from him, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers.” (Surat Aal ‘Imran: 85)
Questions for reflection: If Islam is the only religion that achieves pure monotheism, have you thought about studying it sincerely? And if you are convinced of that, would you be ready to follow it?
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Human beliefs are classified into three main categories based on their relationship to pure monotheism. Any departure from this center leads a person either into the trap of plurality, polytheism, or negation.
