Paper 131 Overview: The World's Religions

During their stay in Alexandria, Ganid collected teachings about God from many religions of the world. Jesus helped Ganid make this collection and together they found that all major religions had some understanding of the one God. Ganid worked with translators to gather these teachings, and most of the teachings about one God came from the work of Melchizedek's missionaries.

The teachings were organized into ten different categories. These included Cynicism, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Suduanism (Jainism), Shinto, Taoism, Confucianism, and finally a section called "Our Religion" which was Ganid's own summary of what he had learned about God through Jesus' teachings.

While they were in Alexandria, Ganid spent much time and his father's money collecting teachings about God from the world's religions. He used over sixty translators to help make this collection. Most of these teachings that believed in one God came from Melchizedek's missionaries who had spread the teaching of one God around the world.

Ganid organized his manuscript under ten headings, which are presented in the following sections. These teachings were preserved in India for hundreds of years after Ganid's death.

The Cynics preserved some of Melchizedek's teachings that didn't continue in Judaism. Their teachings described God as supreme, perfect, and the ruler of all universes. They taught that God is compassionate, merciful, and the first and last of everything.

The Cynics believed that God gives peace and protection to those who trust him. They taught that creation exists through God's power and that divine love comes from his power and greatness. They believed all humans are equal and that those with pure hearts would see God.

The Kenites of Palestine kept many of Melchizedek's teachings, which were later modified by the Jews. Their teachings began with the creation story where God made everything and saw that it was good. They believed people should love God with all their heart, soul, and might.

The Jews taught that God's power and understanding are infinite and that he reveals deep secrets because light dwells with him. They believed God is merciful, gracious, and good to all people. They taught that fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and that those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength.

Ganid was shocked to discover that Buddhism came close to being a great religion without believing in a personal God. However, he found some earlier Buddhist beliefs that showed the influence of Melchizedek's missionaries who had worked in India until Buddha's time. Jesus and Ganid collected statements from Buddhist literature about faith and spiritual living.

Buddhists taught that a pure heart brings gladness to the Infinite and that faith is man's true wealth. They believed wrongdoing leads to pain and sorrow while pure thinking and virtuous living bring happiness and peace. They taught that the wise man is friendly even to enemies and that selfishness leads to grief.

Melchizedek's missionaries carried teachings about one God wherever they traveled. Many of these teachings became part of Hinduism. Jesus and Ganid found several excerpts that recognized a Universal Deity that was loving and divine.

Hindus described God as the great source of energy and the Great Soul who rules over all. They believed God is a sure refuge for good people and that he dwells within souls as a lamp of wisdom. They taught that prayer should be one's friend and the soul's support, and that God is the illuminator of the gloomy and power for the faint.

Zoroaster had direct contact with descendants of Melchizedek's missionaries. The belief in one God became central to the religion he founded in Persia. From these records, Ganid collected excerpts about the One God who is all-wise, good, righteous, and holy.

Zoroastrians taught that God sees both evil deeds of the wicked and good works of the righteous. They believed the all-wise God promised immortality to pious souls who think purely and act righteously. They taught that God is most helpful in the greatest business of all – knowing him, and that through good thinking the Creator enables people to do his will.

The third group in India that preserved Melchizedek's teaching of one God became known as Suduanists, later called Jainists. They taught that those who walk in righteousness would find a place in heaven. They believed life after death was assured for those who know truth.

Jainists taught that the soul can ascend to the highest heaven to develop its spiritual nature and reach perfection. They believed that self is man's greatest enemy, showing up as anger, pride, deceit, and greed. They taught that man's greatest victory is conquering himself and that people should treat others as they wish to be treated.

Manuscripts of this Far-Eastern religion had only recently been placed in the Alexandrian library. Ganid had never heard of this belief before. Even this religion contained some of Melchizedek's early teachings, as shown in the excerpts that were collected.

Shinto taught that the Lord wants the multiplication of righteous men throughout the land. They believed God would show his righteous nature through nature's beauties and human virtues. They taught that God hears the prayers of even the poorest man, and that every time someone yields to anxiety, they take a step away from their heart's spirit.

Melchizedek's messengers reached far into China, and the teaching of one God became part of several early Chinese religions. Taoism kept the most monotheistic truth for the longest time. Ganid collected teachings from Taoism's founder about the Supreme One who is pure, tranquil, powerful, and mighty.

Taoists believed that God existed before heaven and earth were created. They taught that the Great One imparts himself to people, enabling them to excel and survive. They believed all good works come from the Supreme and that he sustains all creation while remaining hidden from view.

Even the least God-recognizing of the world's great religions acknowledged the monotheism taught by Melchizedek's missionaries. Ganid summarized Confucian beliefs about Heaven appointing without error and truth being real and divine. They believed everything originates in Heaven and the Great Heaven makes no mistakes.

Confucians taught that Heaven appointed many helpers to assist in teaching inferior creatures. They believed God is majestic in power and judgment but has given moral sense even to many lesser people. They taught that Heaven's bounty never stops and that benevolence is Heaven's best gift to men.

After collecting teachings from world religions about God, Ganid created what he thought was a summary of his own beliefs. This came from what he had learned from Jesus' teaching. This was his personal record of what he believed about God as a result of Jesus' influence.

Ganid wrote that the Lord our God is one Lord and we should love him with all our mind and heart while loving all his children as ourselves. He believed God is our heavenly Father, dwelling by his spirit in every sincere human soul. He concluded that loving service to God's children expands our capacity to receive heaven's joys.