Where in the Bible does Jesus talk about acceptance of all religions?

Answer 1

There is no Bible verse, rightly understood, which teaches acceptance of all religions or that all religions are equally valid or are all different paths to the same God. Rather, The Bible teaches there is only one right path and only one way to God, through accepting Jesus Christ who said:

John 14:6I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Also according to the witness of the apostles:

Acts 4:1212Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

In the Old testament

Micah 4:3-5 "...they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hat spoken it. For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever." (KJV)

Religious Tolerance in the Christian Scriptures (New Testament):

Jesus refused to curse non-believers: Jesus' teachings were rejected by the inhabitants of a village in Samaria. His disciples asked that he exterminate the people of the village by issuing a curse. Jesus refused to do it, and simply move on to the next village.

Luke 9:52-56: "...they did not receive him...And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village."

Jesus treats a Samaritan women with respect: Jesus initiates a conversation with a Samaritan woman in Sychar, Samaria. This is unusual in at least two ways: Jewish men did not talk to women who were not their wives or were not from their family. Also, Jews normally treated Samaritans with contempt. Jews did not have dealings with them, because they had deviated from Judaism.

John 4:7-27: "There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink...Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. Jesus ed and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water...Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father...And upon this came his disciples, and marveled that he talked with the woman..."

Answer 2

As often happens, the Bible appears to be contradictory on this. In John 14:2 Jesus says "In my father's house are many mansions." This is often interpreted as meaning that there is room in heaven for different faiths. But in four verses later.... In John 14:6 Jesus says "I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the father, but by me" The above answerer's reference to a "contradiction" can be explained when we consider the context of what Jesus was talking about when he spoke of many "mansions" or "abodes" (as some translations state) in heaven. The scripture in question states: "In the house of my Father there are many abodes. Otherwise, I would have told you, because I am going my way to prepare a place for you. Also, if I go my way and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will receive you home to myself, that where I am you also may be."-John 14:1-3. If we notice that Jesus was speaking directly to his faithful followers. He was not talking about universal acceptance of different religions, but rather he was talking about there being many abiding places in heaven for his faithful followers, each one requiring his own abiding place. Jesus emphasized the fact that there would only be a relatively few that would actually be among those that he accepted as his true followers at Matthew 7:13,14 where he said "Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones going in through it; whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road leading off into life, and few are the ones finding it." Later, the Bible states at Ephesians 4:5 that there is only "one Lord, one faith, one baptism." So rather than teaching universal acceptance, the Bible teaches that we must find the truth and adhere to it. (Zephaniah 2:3; Matthew 7:7; Acts 15:17; Hebrews 11:6)

A confusion If Jesus says he is going to "prepare a place for you" when speaking to several people, then surely we must take him at his word and believe that this 'place' is one single place, for multiple occupants.

What indication is there that each person was to get their own abiding place? It's not confusing when it is realized that Jesus often spoke in terms that his listeners can understand. Since heaven is not a physical place, it stands to reason that it is not confined by the physical requirements of space or room. Jesus was merely explaining in terms that his listeners could understand that they would be in heaven with him, each one in their own position in heaven. The Bible tells us that even the angels have their own proper station or position that they occupy in heaven (Job 1:6) Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute

you;

7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.

John 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.