Well, what makes them different?

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1536585282446{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]I love religion. In college, I changed my major to Religious Studies so I could learn about what other people believe. Did I have a career path in mind? Not exactly, but I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t gain anything from it. Now, I’m not here to harp on which religion is better or worse, but I did spend a lot of my time contemplating the differences Catholicism had between other religions, especially Buddhism. I’ve heard many people say that all the religions are the same at their core, so you should just choose the one that best fits you. I’ve found something a little bit different, though. I’ve found that if we look past the surface, we’ll soon find that these religions are drastically different.

So you may be wondering, “Well, what makes them different?” Their major differences don’t lie in what but more-so the why. Here’s what I mean: Many religions base their belief on a book or a set of laws or rules, whereas Catholicism bases beliefs on a Person. This might not seem like a major difference, but in reality, it’s a huge difference! This means that while other religions may desire the good of society, it’s ultimately for the benefit of the individual whether that be Nirvana, enlightenment, etc. Now, while this is not bad, this can be taken to the next level. When someone chooses goodness and sacrifice because they’re in love and in this case, in love with God who has loved us first, something different begins to take place.

In John 15:16, Jesus says, “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you.” God chose a specific people, not because they had more worth than others, but to be an instrument in sharing God’s freedom with the rest of the world. In the grand scheme of things, God has chosen all of humanity to participate in the spread of this freedom only found in Him. This means that whether you’re Catholic, Buddhist, or not even religious, you have a part to play in this world. You have been created with a purpose, not because of a set of rules or beliefs, but because you have been chosen by God Himself.

This personal relationship that God is constantly seeking with every single person means that we are not ultimately motivated by a law, obligation, a set of rules or books. This personal relationship that God is constantly seeking means that if we say yes, we are now being motivated by love for another simply for their sake. With this relationship that God is constantly seeking with us, every person has been chosen in a very special and particular way to bring their own gifts, talents, strengths, weaknesses, and personality as a gift to the rest of the world.

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