Question

Unit 3: Religion Comparison Table

	Hinduism	Judaism	Christianity	Islam	Atheism	Buddhism
Relationship to God(s)
Relationship to People
Primary Scriptures
Primary Rules of Conduct
4 Primary Beliefs

Compare and Contrast:

At the end of unit 3, use the attached Comparison Chart to compile a table that compares and contrasts the foundational concepts and tenets of:

Hinduism

Judaism

Christianity

Islam

Atheism

Buddhism

Include in the comparison:

the relationship to God(s)

relationship to people

primary scriptures

primary rules of conduct

at least 4 primary beliefs

Using the analysis that you did for the comparison table, explain what you think about each of the different categories of religions.

How does the diversity of religious beliefs benefit all mankind on the planet?

How do people use the diversity of religious beliefs to cause conflicts between groups of people?

Why do you think that so many people ignore the similarities between the different religions and only focus on the ways that they are divided?

Answer 1

	Hinduism	Judaism	Christainity	Islam	Atheism	Buddhism
Relationship to God(s)	God(s) as abstract, supreme and indwelling	Creator, abstract, omnipotent and Supreme	Creator, abstract, omnipotent and Supreme	Creator, abstract, omnipotent and Supreme	Rejection of the concept of God and his authority.	Not centered on the concept of God's supreme authority and God as a creator.
Relationship to people	Each individual has a part of the God.	As the children of God.	As the children of God.	As the children of God.	Stresses on humanism.	Stresses on redemption of soul.
Primary Scriptures	Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagvadgita.	Torah-Old Testament; The Talmud (comprised of the Mishnah and Gemara)	Bible	Quran	None	Tripatikas
Primary rules of conduct	Accepting diversity. To be tolerant. Self control. Emphasis on truthfulness and honesty.	Follow the ten commandments. Righteousness and justice. Emphasis on humility, loving, kindness and learning.	Love for God and man. Stress on humility, kindness, righteousness,service, truth, honesty and learning.	Importance on prayers, alms, kindness, and love for others.	Live rationally, learn and grow, and be empathetic and human.	Attainment of righteous knowledge, have self control, be tolerant, kind, humble, loving, and mindful.
4 Primary beliefs	1. Belief in impersonal Brahma. 2. Belief in karma. 3. Belief in rebirth. 4. Belief in ultimate salvation or moksha from the cycle of rebirths.	1. Belief in Yahweh, the Supreme God and Creator. 2. Monotheism. 3. Messianic deliverance. 4. Judgement of heaven and hell.	1. Belief in Trinity, i.e the Father(God), the Son (Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. 2. Jesus Christ as the Savior. 3. Salvation only through Jesus Christ. 4. Second coming of Jesus Christ and ultimate judgement.	1. Monotheism. 2. Final judgement. 3. Belief in heaven and hell. 4. Belief in after life.	No such beliefs.	1. Belief in karma. 2. Belief in reincarnation. 3. Suffering as a reality of this world. 4. Attaining Nirvana or ultimate salvation from the cycle of suffering i.e is reincarnation.

Hinduism is a polytheistic religion that teaches the world to be tolerant and to accept the diversity of the world, as God resides in each of the of the creation no matter what. It emphasizes on righteous living, and believes that karma or one's deed plays an important role in life, and hence, self control is necessary to avoid the bitter fruits of one's own deeds.

Judaism teaches to have to relationship with God in obedience and humility. To know one's limitations and acknowledge the ultimate authority of God the deliverer.

Christianity teaches to be like Jesus Christ who gave up his life for humanity, taught love with service to humanity as the best service to God. To follow his ways to attain salvation through him.

Islam stresses on the importance of prayers, alms and loving others as the best means to serve the God.

Atheism stresses on the importance of being a human, rational thinking and acting in the best interest of the humanity.

Buddhism stresses on self control and righteous living for the attainment of salvation.

This, all the major religions of the world stress on the importance of love, kindness, humility, honesty, truth and justice as the best means to the Supreme by whatever names be called. Because it is difficult to follow the right way of living, humans often take short cuts, emphasize much on ritualistic aspect of religion making it rigid that causes division in the name of religion in the world.