Christianity vs Hinduism
Hinduism and Christianity are two significant religions worldwide, and understanding the differences between them is important. They have quite a few differences in their concepts and dogmas. The Oxford dictionary defines Christianity as “The religion based on the person and teachings of Jesus Christ, or its beliefs and practices.” Hinduism is defined as “A major religious and cultural tradition of South Asia, which developed from Vedic religion.” One apparent difference from these definitions is that Christianity originated in the Western world while Hinduism originated in the Eastern world.
What is Christianity?
Christianity firmly believes that the Bible is the only solution to all problems. Christians recommend a thorough reading and understanding of the Bible. Christianity believes solely in the existence of Jesus Christ, who alone can solve all problems. In contrast to Hinduism, the origin of Christianity can be traced back at least two thousand years. Christianity believes that evil is not created by God but that God has given humans the freedom to choose between good and evil. According to Christianity, Heaven can only be attained through the favor of Christ.
What is Hinduism?
It is extremely challenging to trace the origin of Hinduism’s tenets, as it is one of the world’s oldest religions and does not have a founder. Hinduism believes that all roads lead to salvation and recommends several ways to attain it, including Gnana (knowledge), Bhakti (devotion), Vairagya (renunciation), and Seva (service). One can reach God through any of these ways. Hinduism accepts many Gods and Goddesses, and followers have the freedom to choose their deity. Hinduism firmly believes that everything in the world is part of the Almighty, existing in both good and evil. One of the significant differences between Christianity and Hinduism is that Hinduism is an evolving religion, moving forward through rituals, making it very difficult to determine its beginning. Hinduism paves the way for Heaven through the performance of rituals and has the highest attainment in procuring a place in the realm of the Supreme Self, called Brahman.
Key Takeaways
- Hinduism believes that everything in the world is part of the Almighty, while Christianity says that evil is not created by God.
- Hinduism accepts several ways for salvation, whereas the Bible is the only way to attain salvation according to Christianity.
- Christianity believes only in Jesus, while Hinduism believes in the existence of several Gods and Goddesses.