Can any religion earn God's favor?

Les explains that religion, regardless of whether it is the Jewish religion, Buddhism, Hinduism, or anything else, is man's attempt to somehow reach and merit favor with God. He says all the religions of the world are going to attempt to merit favor with God, and they may be well taken and good as far as they go, but they can never merit favor with God. True Christianity, a real salvation experience, is exactly the opposite: it is God reaching down to unworthy, sinful man. Les illustrates this with Adam and Eve, who sowed fig leaves as an act of religion, thinking God would accept them. He also notes Paul in Galatians, who practiced the Jewish religion more strongly than his peers but knew nothing of a relationship with God at that time. As Proverbs says, man thinks if he does this, God will be pleased. The battle is won when we see it is what God has done for man.