Comparison Chart
This chart is a simplification of various groups and their beliefs. It is, to be realistic, an oversimplification. But it gives the reader an idea of where the groups stand.
Group Name | Founder | The Gospel | The Church | God | Jesus | Salvation | Jesus Resurrection | Scripture and writings associated with group |
Christianity | Jesus Christ | That Jesus saves from sin | Those who are saved | Trinity: 3 Persons in one God | God in flesh | by Grace | Jesus rose in the same body he died in. | The Bible alone |
Christa- delphianism | John Thomas (1805-1871) founded 1848 | Faith in Christ and baptism | Members of their church | One God as one person | Created being. A man with a sin nature | Baptism is required | Yes | The Bible is inspired. Elpis Israel, Eureka written by founder. |
Christian Science | Mary Baker Eddy (1821-1910) | Religious beliefs of Jesus' teachings, not the atonement. | A collection of spiritual ideas | Impersonal Universal Presence | A man in tune with the Divine Consciousness, not the Christ. | Correct thinking | No | Bible, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Miscellany |
Islam | Muhammad | Faith in Allah and works | n/a | One God: Allah. Non Trinitarian | Created being. A prophet. Not God. | by Allah's grace and man's works | No. | Qur'an, Hadith |
Jehovah's Witnesses | Charles T. Russell (1852-1916) founded 1879 | Jesus opened the door for us to earn our salvation | Members of their church | One Person | Created being. Michael the archangel who became a man | Keeping the commandments, being in their Organization | No | Bible, Studies in the Scriptures, presently the Watchtower and Awake Magazines |
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day saints (Mormons) | Joseph Smith (1805-1844) founded 1830 | Jesus' atonement plus the Laws and ordinances of the gospel | Members of their church | Triad - 3 gods. | Created being. The brother of the devil and of all people | Resurrected by grace, saved by doing works. | Yes | The Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price |
Oneness Pentecostal | N/A | Faith in Christ and baptism | Members of their church | One Person modalism | God in flesh | By faith and baptism "in Jesus' name" in their church | Yes | The Bible |
Theosophy | Madame Helena Blavatsky (1831-1891) founded 1875 | n/a | n/a | God is a principle | Created being. A great teacher | * | No | The Secret Doctrine, Isis Unveiled, The Key to Theosophy, and The Voice of the Silence |
Unity | Charles Fillmore (1854-1948) founded 1889 | The overall principles of Unity | A collection of spiritual ideas | Impersonal Universal Power | Created being. A man, not the Christ | Adopting the correct Unity thought principles | No | Bible, Unity Magazine, Metaphysical Bible Dictionary. |
Way International | Victor Paul Weirwell (1917-1985) | Earned | Members of their church | One Person | Created being. A man, not God in flesh | By works | Yes | Bible, Jesus Christ is Not God, Power for Abundant Living |