The statement that Asian religions are ôworld denyingö and that their teaching focuses on liberation or salvation simply as ôescape from this worldö is simply not true, and anyone making such a statement has obviously never investigated Asian religions. Asian religions recognize the presence of a god or gods, just the same as Christian religions do. Christianity teaches that if you lead a good and honorable life you will go to heaven: Asian religions preach a similar dogma. Buddhism teaches that through reincarnation, a person gradually atones for earthly sins until they reach perfection, and become one with the universal godhead (Asian). Islam teaches that the success of human beings in their life on earth and in the life hereafter depends on their obedience to the Qur'anic teachings, just as Christianity teaches that the way to heaven is through obeying the teachings of the bible (Introduction). Liberation or salvation in Asian religions is not seen as simply escape from this world, but as something that must be earned by works here on earth, the same as Christian salvation.
To accuse Asian religions as being world denying does not make sense, since these religions are based in doing good deeds on earth and helping fellow humans, just as is Christianity. They may use a different name for God, and have different beliefs regarding how to worship their interpretation of God, but who is to say what the correct interpretation is? What makes Christianity the only ôrightö religion and all other religions ôwrong?ö
Asian religions are not merely a philosophy of life. People who say this are confusing Asian schools of thought such as Confucianism as Asian religions. They do not ignore the existence of God or believe in an impersonal divinity. On the contrary, all are based on the idea of a god or gods. Islam is based on a belief in Allah, the ôSupreme, Eternal, Infinite and Mighty, Merciful and Compassion...