Wednesday, April 6, 2016

So What's the Difference - Hinduism

While not intended to be inclusive, the following chart provides a basic summary for comparison and discussion.  

                                            Biblical
                                         Worldview                                               Hinduism

Authority              The Bible, the Word of God                  Ancient writings & many religions that 
                           The only infallible source of truth          blend and interact with one another.
                                                                                   


View on Bible      Only source of truth                           Biblical faith is acceptable, just as all 
                              2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16                        other religious beliefs and paths are 
                              Romans 1:16                                  different paths leading to the one reality,
                              John 1:1-5,14                                  God.  Pantheism - all is God
                              Matthew 4:4                                  However, reject Jesus as the only way.

Core Beliefs         1 Corinthians 15:1-3  Jesus               Life is unreal and characterized by pain 
                                was crucified, died, buried               suffering.
                                & rose from the dead.                  Can choose from as many as 330 million ,      
                           Ephesians 4:4-6 - one Body                gods,goddesses, or demigods to 
                               (church composed of all                  passionately worship,though most 
                                believers), one Spirit, one              choose either  Vishnu  or Shiva. 
                                hope of your calling (heaven),        "How many births are passed, I cannot
                                one Lord, one faith, one baptism,   cannot tell.  How many yet to come, 
                                one God & Father of us all.            I cannot say: But this alone I know 
                                                                                   that pain & grief embitter all the way."

Salvation by          Faith in Jesus Alone                        Through innumerable Reincarnations until          
                                John 3:16, 14:6                             union with the Impersonal Absolute.    
                                Ephesians 2:8-6                          Three paths to moksha - works 
                                Romans chapter 3, 10:9,17            knowledge or passionate devotion.    

Life of faith            Loving God & Others (Luke 9:27)      Depends on your caste and what path 
 characterized by  Living for Jesus (the walk) &               you pursue.
                                imitators of His life                      Samsara - the thousand or millions of    
                                Ephesians chapters 4 thru 6          lives all full of suffering to be endured 
                                Colossians 3:1-4:6                       to reach moksha - liberation from     
                             Telling others of Jesus 2 Cor. 5        suffering. Involves karma & works.

Afterlife belief       Millennial kingdom - Jesus will          Union with Brahma - the ultimate 
                              return & reign for 1,000 year as        Impersonal One.   
                              promised.   Revelation 20:4              
                            Heaven, paradise, the New                   
                              Jerusalem - eternal                              
                              Philippians 3:20-21, Revelation       
                               chapter 21 & 22.                                
                            Hell - place of eternal suffering           
                              for those who rejected God &              
                              Jesus.  Revelation 20:10-15

No comments:

Post a Comment