How to talk about Jesus with people of other religions
Nervous about talking to a Muslim friend, a Hindu colleague, or an atheist neighbor about Jesus? You don't need to be an expert in world religions to share your faith with people of other beliefs. You need to understand the basics of what they believe, ask good questions, listen carefully, and point them to Jesus with love.
Jesus told His followers to "go and make disciples of all nations" (Mat 28:19). These guides explain what people of other worldviews believe about God, sin, salvation and Jesus - where Christianity overlaps, where it differs, and the questions that open real conversations. The goal isn't to win arguments. It is to understand people well enough to make Jesus known.
You don't need an answer to every question. You don't need to know everything about someone's religion. And you don't need to win an argument. You need to be willing to take a step of faith and make Jesus known.
The people we meet are made in the image of God, and God loves them just as much as He loves you.
Our command is to love God and love people. Sometimes loving someone means caring enough to listen carefully, understand what they believe, and lovingly tell them the truth about Jesus.
Explore a worldview
There are countless religions, philosophies, spiritual movements, and combinations of beliefs in the world.
This section does not attempt to cover every religion or worldview you may encounter. Instead, it focuses on several of the major worldviews and religious traditions you are likely to encounter, giving you a starting point for understanding the ideas that shape people's beliefs.
The descriptions are only a starting point. The person in front of you is more important than the category they identify with. People may disagree with parts of their religious tradition, combine ideas from different worldviews, or have beliefs that don't fit neatly into any category.
Learn the worldview - then listen to the person.
People who don't believe or aren't sure
Many people don't identify with a religion at all. They may be unsure whether God exists, believe there is no God, or simply have never considered these questions deeply.
Their questions may involve evidence, science, morality, suffering, meaning, consciousness, or whether God can actually be known.
Agnosticism
Understand the worldview of someone who is uncertain whether God exists. Explore questions about knowledge, evidence, science, meaning, and whether it is possible to know God.
Atheism
Explore common atheist views of God, science, morality, meaning, suffering, and the origin of the universe, and consider how these ideas can open meaningful conversations about Jesus.
Religious and spiritual traditions
Many people understand reality through a religious or spiritual tradition. These traditions can have very different ideas about God, humanity, sin, suffering, salvation, and what happens after death.
Buddhism
Understand the central teachings and worldview of Buddhism, including suffering, desire, karma, reincarnation, enlightenment, and the different Buddhist traditions.
Hinduism
Explore the diverse beliefs and traditions within Hinduism, including its views of God and the gods, karma, dharma, reincarnation, the self, and liberation.
New Age
Understand the diverse beliefs commonly associated with New Age spirituality, including consciousness, energy, manifestation, astrology, reincarnation, spiritual beings, and discovering the divine within.
One God
Judaism, Islam, and Sikhism all affirm belief in one God, while differing significantly in their understanding of God, revelation, Scripture, humanity, sin, salvation, and Jesus.
Understanding these differences is particularly important when speaking with someone who already believes in God and may already have a religious framework for thinking about spiritual questions.
Judaism
Explore Jewish beliefs concerning God, Scripture, covenant, sin, sacrifice, the Messiah, and redemption, and understand the Jewish context in which Jesus and the New Testament emerged.
Islam
Understand Islamic beliefs concerning Allah, Muhammad, the Quran, sin, judgment, salvation, and the identity of Jesus, including important points of connection and difference with Christianity.
Sikhism
Understand Sikh beliefs concerning God, the Gurus, Scripture, karma, human identity, devotion, and liberation, and the ways Sikhism differs from Christianity.
Christianity and the gospel
A person may identify as Christian because of their faith, family, upbringing, culture, or nationality. A shared label doesn't necessarily mean that two people have the same understanding of the gospel.
We should never assume that someone who calls themselves Christian isn't a Christian. Instead, we should listen, ask questions, understand what they actually believe, and be willing to show from Scripture what the Bible teaches about Jesus and the gospel.
Catholicism
Understand Catholic beliefs and practices, including Scripture and tradition, the sacraments, the Church, Mary, justification, and salvation, and explore the significant differences between Catholic teaching and the gospel as understood from Scripture.
What Does the Bible Say?
Explore what the Bible teaches about the gospel, salvation, faith, repentance, following Jesus, and what it means to be a Christian. Use Scripture as the foundation for examining what we believe and how we live.
The Holy Spirit is your guide.
As you step out in faith, ask Him for wisdom, compassion, courage, and the right words.
He can lead you in conversations, bring questions to mind, and show you opportunities to speak about Jesus.
Trust Him. Listen to Him. Take the step.
Love them enough to tell the truth
Jesus commanded us to love God and love our neighbor. That means our conversations should be marked by both love and truth.
We don't share the gospel because we think we are better than someone else. We share it because Jesus is Lord, because the gospel is true, and because God loves the people in front of us.
We can listen without compromising the truth. We can disagree without being disrespectful. We can speak the truth without losing compassion. And we can trust God with the result.
"For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord…" (2 Cor 4:5)
The goal isn't simply to understand their worldview - it is to make Jesus known.
Suggested additional resources
- Are all religions the same? Do they all lead to God?
- Is Christianity the only true religion?
- Did Jesus claim to be God? Or was He another prophet?
- What happens to people who never heard the gospel?
FAQ - sharing your faith with other religions
How do you share the gospel with someone of another religion?
Start by asking what they believe and listening carefully - people often hold their tradition differently from how it is described in books. Show respect, find genuine points of connection, and then explain clearly who Jesus is, what He has done through His death and resurrection, and why that matters. Focus on Jesus rather than attacking their religion.
Do I need to study other religions before sharing my faith?
It helps to know the basics so you can avoid misunderstandings and ask better questions, but you don't need to be an expert. The person in front of you can explain what they believe. Your job is to listen well, love them, and make Jesus known.
Don't all religions lead to God?
Many people believe this, but the world's religions make contradictory claims about God, salvation and Jesus, so they cannot all be true in the same way. Jesus claimed to be the way to the Father (John 14:6). For a fuller answer, see are all religions the same?
How do I talk about Jesus without offending someone of another faith?
Be humble, curious and kind. Ask permission before sharing, avoid mocking or caricaturing their beliefs, and speak about Jesus rather than arguing about religion. Some people may still disagree with the gospel - but gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15) mean they'll know you genuinely care about them.
What do other religions believe about Jesus?
It varies. Islam honors Jesus as a prophet but denies His divinity and crucifixion. Judaism generally does not accept Him as the Messiah. Hinduism and New Age spirituality may see Him as one enlightened teacher among many, and many Buddhists respect His moral teaching. Christianity teaches that Jesus is the Son of God who died for our sins and rose again.