Hinduism vs. Christianity

Mai Xee Yang

Hinduism

Also known as The Sanatana Dharma

Hinduism is a way of life, not a religion.

Third most popular religion

Believe in one God reincarnated into different forms

Follow The Vedas

Hinduism

A Hindu’s goal is to become free from continuous reincarnations.

Three ways to end the cycle of reincarnation1. Be devoted to any of the Hindu God or

Goddesses

2. Mediation. Acknowledge life as an illusion and realize that Brahman is the only real thing

3. Dedicate oneself to various religious ceremonies

The Vedas

Religious text also called Shruti

Arranged into four parts1. The Samhitas

2. The Brahmanas

3. The Aranyakas

4. The Upanishads

Gods

Three Majors GodsBrahma (Creator)

Vishnu (Preserver)

Shiva (Destroyer)

Three Major GoddessSaraswati (Knowledge)

Lakshmi (Wealth)

Parvati or Shakti (Power)

Hindus believe in only one God, Brahman, but they worship other reincarnations of Brahman. There are 300,000 different reincarnations of

Brahman.

Shiva Vishnu

Celebrations

Hindus celebrate different holidays depending on which God they worship.

Maha Shivarathri

Holi

Ramnavami

Dusserah

Diwali

Benares

The holiest city in India

Shiva’s city

Heaven touches the Earth

Any Hindu who dies here goes straight to Heaven

Kumbh Mela

“Pilgrims plodded for months in heat to get here, worn,

poor and hungry but sustained by unwavering

faith”

-Mark Twain 1885-

Sadhus

“Holy Men”

Renounce the world

Abstain from sex

Cut of family ties

No possessions

No home

Guru

Christianity

Primary religion in England

Established after the sixteenth century

Believes in one God- Jesus Christ

Follows the Bible

Jesus Christ

“I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Son of God

The all-powerful and

all-knowing Creator

Loves us but hates sin

God forgives sinners

Christians have eternal life

HolidaysChristmas- celebration of the birth of Jesus ChristMummersEaster- celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ

Church of England

Consist of 16,000 churches

Divided into two province1. Canterbury in the South of England

2. York in the North

Led by Bishops, but Govern by the General Synod

Public center for the community

Offers voluntary activities

Sunday is a “holy-day”

Women Bishop

The Church of England’s General Synod gave women the right to take up positions in the Church as

bishops. –July 2005-

Similarities

Christianity and HinduismBelieve in only one God

Follow a written book

Pray

Goals: to be one with God

Differences

ChristianityWorship God on Sundays

Bishop

Believe in only one life

HinduismDaily worships

Sadhus

Believe in reincarnation

Resources

http://www.hindu.dk/english/whatis.htm http://www.santas.net/englishchristmas.htmhttp://www.christiananswers.net/christmas/home.html http://www.religioustolerance.org/main_day4.htmhttp://www.ucc.org/children/principle.htmwww.karlgrobl.com/Sadhus/ http://website.lineone.net/~yogs/saraswati.htm

http://www.indiaplaces.com/india-pilgrimages/

hinduism.html