Comparative Religion Notes PDF

Christianity Beliefs: ○ Humanity was separated from God through sin, but salvation is possible through Jesus Christ's incarnation and sacrifice. ○ Belief in the Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Angels: ○ Created by God with specifi...

Christianity Beliefs: ○ Humanity was separated from God through sin, but salvation is possible through Jesus Christ's incarnation and sacrifice. ○ Belief in the Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Angels: ○ Created by God with specific roles, including archangels like Michael (commander of heavenly hosts) and Gabriel (messenger to humanity). ○ Other ranks include cherubim, seraphim, thrones, and guardian angels assigned to humans. Salvation: ○ Achieved through Jesus' sacrifice, offering grace and communion with God. ○ Emphasis on faith and repentance. Scriptures: ○ The Bible: Old Testament (history and law) and New Testament (life and teachings of Jesus). Afterlife: ○ Eternal life in Heaven or Hell, based on faith and deeds. Hinduism Nature: ○ A collection of diverse religious traditions with no single founder or unified doctrine. ○ Over 1.25 billion adherents, primarily in India. Beliefs: ○ Reincarnation: The soul is reborn in different forms after death. ○ Karma: Actions determine one's destiny. ○ Dharma: Righteous duty aligned with cosmic order. ○ Samsara: Cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. ○ Moksha: Liberation from samsara, the ultimate spiritual goal. Gods: ○ Polytheistic, with a pantheon including Brahma (creator), Vishnu (preserver), and Shiva (destroyer). Influence: ○ Figures like Mahatma Gandhi emphasized non-violence. ○ Practices like yoga and meditation are globally popular. Scriptures: ○ Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, and Ramayana. Afterlife: ○ Reincarnation until moksha is achieved. Buddhism Beliefs: ○ Founded by Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) in the 5th century BCE. ○ Four Noble Truths: Suffering exists, has a cause, can end, and there is a path to end it. ○ Eightfold Path: Right view, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and concentration. Comparison: ○ Rejects the idea of a creator god, focusing on personal effort for enlightenment. Scriptures: ○ Tripitaka (Pali Canon) and Mahayana Sutras. Afterlife: ○ Rebirth until nirvana (end of suffering) is achieved. Judaism History: ○ One of the oldest monotheistic religions, founded over 3,500 years ago. ○ Key events: Exodus from Egypt, giving of the Ten Commandments. Beliefs: ○ Monotheistic, with God as the creator and omnipotent ruler. ○ Central prayer: Shema ("Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One"). Messiah: ○ A future temporal leader to restore the Kingdom of David. ○ Jews reject Jesus as the Messiah. Law: ○ The Torah guides life and ethics; the Talmud offers commentary. Scriptures: ○ Hebrew Bible (Tanakh), including Torah, Prophets (Nevi'im), and Writings (Ketuvim). Afterlife: ○ Focus on ethical living and awaiting the Messiah. Islam Beliefs: ○ Monotheistic; Allah is the sole God, with Muhammad as his prophet. ○ Pride and rebellion are humanity's failings; submission to Allah (Islam) is the virtue. Practices:  ○ Five Pillars: Shahada (faith), Salat (prayer), Zakat (charity), Sawm (fasting), Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca). Salvation: ○ Based on faith, good deeds, and submission to Allah’s will. ○ Tauba (repentance) can redeem sinners. Scriptures: ○ Quran (holy book) and Hadith (prophet's sayings). Afterlife: ○ Souls are judged on the Day of Judgment and sent to Paradise or Hell. Comparisons and Contrasts Aspect Christianity Hinduism Buddhism Judaism Islam God Trinity (one Polytheistic No focus on Monotheistic Monotheistic God) (many forms) God (Yahweh) (Allah) Salvatio Through Through Through Through Through faith n Jesus' karma and personal adherence to and deeds sacrifice moksha effort Torah Afterlife Heaven or Reincarnation Rebirth or Ethical living, Paradise or Hell or moksha nirvana Messiah Hell Sacred Bible Vedas, Gita, Tripitaka, Torah, Talmud Quran, Texts Upanishads Sutras Hadith Ethics Faith and Dharma Eightfold Torah laws Five Pillars grace (cosmic duty) Path Major Themes 1. Monotheism vs. Polytheism: ○ Christianity, Judaism, and Islam are monotheistic. ○ Hinduism is polytheistic, while Buddhism focuses on philosophy rather than deity worship. 2. Salvation Approaches: ○ Christianity emphasizes grace, Islam focuses on deeds, Hinduism on karma, and Buddhism on personal enlightenment. 3. Ethical Practices: ○ All emphasize morality but differ in frameworks (e.g., Torah laws, Eightfold Path, Five Pillars). 4. Afterlife Concepts: ○ Christianity and Islam teach Heaven and Hell; Hinduism and Buddhism discuss reincarnation, and Judaism emphasizes ethical living.