Have you ever had someone say to you that all religions are basically the same, and that none is better than the other? I answered this question in a recent podcast episode. You can listen to my full response below. 

For today’s devotional, however, I’d like to give you a shortened version of my response because I think it helps us think through something very important.

In short, although some religions have some things in common, there are also a lot of differences. So, how do you know the difference, and how do you know which one is “better”?

Well, you do what thoughtful people have always done—you consider the evidence and make a conclusion. 

Imagine five different people from five different countries saying that their country is the best to live in. One is from Canada, one from Germany, one from North Korea, one from South Sudan, and one from Iran. Are they all correct? No. We would need to study the conditions in those five countries. 

We would ask questions like: Is there access to health care, education and clean water? Is there religious freedom and other personal freedoms? Is there a lot of armed conflict? Is it democratic or communist?

Eventually, we would come to a conclusion. We would prefer that our children or grandchildren live in certain countries more than others.

A similar thing happens with faith. We look at what various traditions say and believe. Eventually, we would come to a conclusion. 

I am a Christian. At the same time, I respect that there are different religions and different beliefs. Even still, I can hold confidently to my own beliefs which I have taken time to explore, deeply. 

I believe in the inspiration of the Bible and what it says about God, humanity and reality. There is undeniable uniqueness in the Christian message and good news. God became man in the person of Jesus Christ. He proclaimed repentance from sin and the coming kingdom of God. He healed the sick, cast out demons, fed the hungry, and taught of love, holiness, justice and forgiveness.

He died on the cross in the place of his people and physically rose from the grave. We are forever forgiven and made right with God, not through what we have done, but through what Christ has done on our behalf. We are redeemed by his grace. We respond in faith. His victory is ours—and so is his joy and hope.

We are his hands and feet in the world by the power of the Holy Spirit. And yes, Jesus will come again in the renewal and renovation of all things as he ushers in the new heavens and the new earth.

There’s a whole lot of incredible happening in John 3:16. It says: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

All religions are not the same. As we research and talk with others, let’s be respectful, but also honest about their differences—and confident in Jesus, the Saviour of the world.

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Notes:

-“Answering Skeptics: “People of different religions all think theirs is best. One isn’t better than the other.” Click here, or find it at ‘The Pulse Podcast with Matthew Ruttan’ (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc.)

-The Up Devotional is published 5 days a week (Monday-Friday) and returns on February 16, 2026.

-Bible quotes are from the ESV.