There is one major difference between Christianity and every other religion -- FAITH

You often hear people speaking of the "faiths" of the world as a synonym for "religions". But the only "religion" that is really built upon "faith" is Christianity. That is, other religions express merit over faith. The adherent is instructed what he must do, what he must maintain to merit entrance to life beyond.

Certainly, some Christian teachers teach meritorious salvation but even they express that the impetus is "faith". And it is here where even the various Christian sects begin to differ.

The question must be asked, Where does faith come from?

This is an important question because the answer leads either to more honor and glory to God or credit for man for "activating his faith".

It is further important to have taken a moment to look at that distinction, for it shows the contrast between Christianity and all other religions we will study in this forum.

THE FAITH OF VICTORY

Just as Christianity is distinguished from all other religions by its expression of faith and grace, so too does preterist Christianity distinguish Christianity from all other religions. Most religions (barring those like Buddhism which is more a philosophy than a religion), teach about a future time of apocalyptic end... a final destruction of the world.

And just as some Christian teachers teach meritorious salvation, also some teach an apocalyptic end not much different than any other religion.

But preterism says that the Bible was never teaching an end of time, but rather a time of the end. And that the Bible was never teaching an end of the world but rather an end of the age. This distinction further shows the unique quality of Christianity compared to all other world religions.

It is a disturbing thing when various Christian teachers dilute the distinguishing attributes of Christianity and make it nothing more than another world religion.