Of all the religions in the world, especially the major ones, you believe that Christianity is the only true religion.

Isn’t it fortuitous that by the luck of the draw you were born in a predominantly Christian country? What religion would you be following if you were born in Saudi Arabia, China, India, Japan, or even Denmark? Of course, the answers could be Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Shintoism, or perhaps no religion at all. What is the eternal fate, if such a thing exists, of all these non-Christians? Surely most of them have lived decent lives just like your own. Would they deserve eternal punishment for perceived sins? Is that justice?

It is estimated that over 100 billion people have existed since time immemorial and around 40 billion in the last 2,000 years. What is the eternal fate of the 60 billion that were born before the advent of Christianity? And how many of the 40 billion never heard of the life and death of Jesus?

Consider the following: Cosmologists now estimate that there are over 2 trillion galaxies in the known universe. Typical galaxies can contain anywhere from 100 billion stars to over a trillion stars. Cosmologists claim that there are more stars in the universe than all the grains of sand on all the worlds beaches and deserts combined. And our sun is represented by a single grain of sand! Many, or perhaps most, of these stars have planetary systems. Can we be the only planet in the universe with a life form like us, capable of technology? There might be millions. If so, what is the fate for these individuals?

Unfortunately, the world’s religions, including Christianity, have a checkered history with mayhem at one end and good works at the other. Consider what religion has been involved in: many wars, the Crusades, the Inquisition, arranged marriages to minors, blowing up girls schools, suppression of women, condemnation of homosexuals, ethnic cleansing, honor rape, human sacrifice, burning witches, suicide bombings, condoning slavery, clerical child molestation, banning of contraceptives, book burnings and fascist-like social control.

Religion does give people peace of mind, comfort in time of sorrow, and relief from the angst of their brief life. Also, religious people have been in the forefront of charities and health care. However, asserting that Christianity is the true religion is self-serving, divisive, incredulous and myopic.

David M. Keranen

Bakersfield, California, and former resident of the Copper Country