University Essay: A Comparison of Christianity and Hinduism (HUM201)

This essay provides a comparative analysis of Christianity and Hinduism, focusing on their fundamental tenets, historical perspectives, and artistic representations. The essay begins by acknowledging the challenges of comparing these two diverse religions and then narrows its focus to specific tenets of Hinduism commonly followed worldwide. The primary difference highlighted is the level of tolerance, with Hinduism generally accepting Christianity as a valid philosophy, while the Bible does not reciprocate. The essay delves into the philosophies behind this difference, including the Hindu belief that all religions lead to the same objective. The paper also explores similarities, such as the concept of atonement for sins through sacrifice, and the idea of divine commandments. The essay references scholars and philosophers to support its arguments, including the views of Brockington, Einolf, and Forrester. Ultimately, the essay contrasts the emphasis on individual accountability in both religions and discusses the Christian emphasis on Christ's sacrifice for human sins. The essay concludes with a discussion on how Christianity is more straightforward in its approach compared to Hinduism.

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Comparison between Christianity and Hinduism
Hinduism is a religious belief that incorporates diversity of perception and practice that is why
making a comparison between Christianity and Hinduism is a challenging role. It would be an
injustice to diminish the scope of theology as well as philosophy of Hinduism to create a definite
window of comparison with Christianity. Hence, in this essay, the comparison will be confined
between Christianity and those specific tenets of Hinduism that are invariably followed by
Hindus all around the world. The primary difference between the two religions, Hinduism and
Christianity is that Hinduism accepts Christianity as a valid philosophy on the contrary the Bible
does not accept Hinduism and considered Hindus as pagan. This implies that the Bible considers
Hindus to be ignorant and illiterate about the virtues of God and a group of people who needs the
blessing and enlightenment of Jesus Christ. Hence, it is evident that the basic difference between
the two religions is in the advocacy of tolerance. The level of tolerance is high for the Hinduism
where as it is not for Christianity. The philosophy that leaves the Hindus towards tolerance is the
teaching that all religions in this world are actually heading towards the same objective, in spite
of following different parts. We will all meet at one common point, which is the foot of God at
some time or the other. Hinduism is not an exclusive fate and considered as any form of religion
or religious philosophy to be valid. This is different from Christianity which features that Christ
is the only embodiment of God for the earthly folk. This means that Hinduism will allow a Hindu
to bow down before Jesus Christ. On the contrary Christian will not be allowed by his scriptures
to pray before Vishnu. In John 14:6, it is said that Jesus had answer that “I am the way and the
truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.”
In this context, researchers like Brockington (2016), have strongly argued that it is impossible
that these two religions which have mutually exclusive doctrines and by far which do not have

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any similarity between the religious philosophies and principles to be equally valid. this implies
that it might be so that both of them are valid but they will never consider them to be mutually
valid. Again in this context, famous philosophers like Einolf (2017), have contemplated that
where there is contradiction, there is error also. In this context, it will be right to say that might
be Christ was wrong or he was right when he commanded that he was the only parts to the father,
which is the great god. Forrester (2017), is not ready to call this spiritual elitism, it is rather
arithmetic.
Comparison between the Christianity and Hinduism as well as the contemporary faiths practiced
by the people pertaining to both legions reveal some ancient practices that show some similarity
in them. Firstly it is evident that in all the ancient religions, including Hinduism we find the
common objectives like reparation for The Sins committed by human. In order to mitigate the
Wrath of the god in the ancient past, the human generally practiced the policy of sacrificing. In
case of Hinduism or Judaism the common fate of sacrificing and animal was prevalent in ancient
times. In this context it is evident that the theologies of both Hinduism as well as Judaism
reached the divine Commandment of righteousness. In case if any individual fails to comply with
the divine Commandment, here or she has to provide some penalty. This ancient instrument of
making any reparation for the miss doing or crime leaves us to suggest that Romans 2:14-15 is
correct in saying that “indeed when gentiles who do not have the law, do by nature things
required by the law Pitman (2016), they show that the requirements of the law are written on
their heart, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, not even
defending them”.
The culmination of such sacrifices for commitment of sin is also prevalent in Christian faith. In
anyway all human beings have committed something which they know to be wrong. Both the

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religions, Hinduism as well as Christianity preach the virtue of divine Commandment of perfect
righteousness. Hence, whatever be the mode of penalty that needs to be provided, it implies that
both legions hold that every individual should require them to be cleaned of all sins committed
by them during their lifetime. The mode of sacrifice that is needed for cleansing the sins might
be different for the two regions, considering that they are both ancient religion switch have been
evolving with various contacts and influences. Nevertheless, the basic principle of comparison in
this context between the two religions is that Christ as well as the Hindu God and Goddesses
holds that we humans are accountable for our actions. Our regular activities should be governed
by the principal that if we will be inviting the benevolent of The Almighty God and if we do
something unacceptable, by the virtues of god we will be responsible for our actions and the
benediction of God will be ushered upon us. Nevertheless there are some common perceptions
between Hindu and Christian, howsoever different their scriptures of religion be.
The only difference between the two religions in context of human misdoing is that Christianity
promulgates that whatever sin that is being committed by us, has already been repaired for by
Jesus Christ. In this context, considering from a moral perspective, the religious faith gives us the
liberty of practicing our only philosophies. This implies that a follower of vicinity need not think
whether what he is doing is right or wrong in the eyes of God, even if he is an ardent follower of
Christian faith. He will be needed to cleanse his soul for the sin committed by him or her, only if
he or she feels that it is actually wrong that he has done. Besides that, researchers like Pitman
(2016), the blood of Jesus Christ has purified us as human beings. We do not need to undergo
redemption again and again in order to reach the Abode of God. Besides, the Mercy fullness and
willingness to forgive humans is much more in the Christian God. On the contrary common
people pertaining to Hindu faith always need to be cautious about several aspects in their regular

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life. Since they have lot of traits of faith, they are subjected to several regulations from several
ends, which are considered to be embodiments of their reverence towards specific Gods and
Goddesses. In this context, researchers like Forrester (2017), argue that the perception of right
and wrong between different face of the same religion can be contradicted also. This will confuse
people pertaining to the same faith regarding the mutual belief and perceptions. Christians
considered that in order to accept Christianity people have to accept the ultimate sacrifice with
smile and no objection. It is believed that with death people sacrifices in the ultimate stage for all
wrong that he or she has done in life. on the contrary the Hindus believe that it is the after death
which is the time for calculation of all sins committed by a person during his or her lifetime.
Hence, Hindu have to be ever cautious about his or her footsteps and be conscious about the
moral right and wrong along with the religious right or wrong. It necessary implies that although
Christianity is not what more simplified as a faith, however it is straight forward and easier for a
person pertaining to Christian faith to be on the track of religion than it is so for a Hindu.

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Reference List
Brockington, J.L., 2016. Hinduism and Christianity. Springer.
Einolf, C.J., 2017. Cross-national differences in charitable giving in the west and the
world. VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations, 28(2),
pp.472-491.
Forrester, D.B., 2017. Caste and Christianity: Attitudes and Policies on Caste of Anglo-Saxon
Protestant Missions in India. Routledge.
Pitman, D., 2016. Twentieth century Christian responses to religious pluralism: Difference is
everything. Routledge.