Biblical Studies/Christianity/Hinduism

Comparison of the two religions

Hinduism

• Hinduism is one of the oldest religions of the world, renowned for its outlook of the philosophy and higher thinking. While the origins of Hinduism, normally called as Sanatana Dharma or Vedic dharma, are unknown ,it is more clearly marked for its inclusiveness- it appropriates all streams of deities and thoughts including those of atheism and Tantric nature. But it has been largely accepted that Hinduism thrives on monotheism.The distinguishing features of Hinduism from other religions of the world are its deep philosophical thought(it has as many as six main divisions of philosophy grown over the last several thousands of years), a well developed ritualistic tradition along with huge families of hymns, specific social order, beliefs in Karma theory and rebirth and finally, the belief that the ultimate purpose of man being here is to realize the Self . The God pictured by Hinduism is a Parabrahman on one hand who is highly apersonal and merely abides by the cosmological laws and order he himself had ordained and a personal God, sweet, compassionate and nursing and caring on the other hand. Worshiping the Parabrahman in the form of your personal God can not only secure you good life in this world but also, can take you forward in your spiritual sojourn towards your ultimate goal of realizing the Self. Practiced by almost a billion people worldwide, it has been often a target of invaders, who kept up their attacks in the name of religion. The evolution of Hinduism can be traced from Ritualistic Vedism to philosophy to much more later date's Bhakti Movement (the movement of Devotion to your personal God.

Christianity

• Christianity is belief in the Creator God corroborated by testimony, plus signs and marvels and various mighty works by his self-proclaimed Son, confirming this declaration with his resurrection from the dead, Jesus of Nazareth, over 2000 years ago with the resultant world wide church guided by gifts (Hebrews 2: 4) of the Holy Spirit distributed in accordance with the will of God.
• Love in Christianity is the first fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5: 22) to include joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness and faith, all to inherit the kingdom of God and by love especially to serve one another.