Hinduism and other religions

In the field of

other religions

.

Indian religions

Ayyavazhi

Hindu denomination, members of the religion claim that it is independent. The most notable distinction from Hindu are the Ayyavazhi religion's concepts of good, evil and dharma.^[1]

Hindus view

Agamas and Puranas lost their Substances, leaving Akilattirattu Ammanai as the only book of perfection. Several dubious claims state that the present day Vedas are not accepted by Ayyavazhi as books of Perfection, because there is a quote in Akilam about Venneesan

"Avan pilathaal vedamondruntakki" (He created a Veda of his own intention). All previous religious texts have lost their Substance in the vision of Ayyavazhi at the very moment Kaliyan came to the world.

Though Ayyavazhi has many differences from popular Hinduism, it has many beliefs and practices in common. As Hinduism is really a tree of many branches, Ayyavazhi is closest to

Advaita

beliefs in thought.

Buddhism

second urbanisation" around 500 BCE.^[2]^{[page needed]} They have shared parallel beliefs that have existed side by side, but also pronounced differences.^[3]

Buddhism attained prominence in the

Gupta era and virtually disappeared from India in the 11th century CE, except in some pockets. It has continued to exist outside of India and has become the major religion in several Asian countries

.

Hinduism and Buddhism originated in Northern India, but later expanded throughout Asia.

Jainism

Hinduism and Jainism have a rather similar view on the topic of asceticism, or, in simpler terms, abstinence. It is thought that their beliefs on the topic come from the early belief that some meditative and monastic practices cleanse the body of impurity. The Hindu theory of Karma gave Jainism a great deal of support to start promoting asceticism. Both of these traditions attribute human greed, hatred, and delusion to the presence of impure residues (samskaras or vasanas) that must be cleansed as the individual person moves towards "freedom" (death). Both of these religions believe that practicing asceticism is not only to the benefit of the individual but also to the benefit of the society as a whole. Nonviolence plays a large role in both of these religions so the concept of asceticism relies greatly on both of their beliefs.[4]

Sikhism

The historical interaction between Sikhism and Hinduism occurred because both were founded on the Indian subcontinent and have the majority of their followers there.

Abrahamic religions

Christianity

History

There has been some debate on historical connections between Christianity and Indian religion, it has focused on both

Jesus Christ as detailed in the Bible, whereas Hinduism is not based on any one personality or one book, but rather on the philosophy that there is a God, or no God and just self, etc.^{[citation needed]} Nevertheless, some scholars have studied whether there are links between the story of Jesus and that of Krishna; "Krishnology" is a term coined to express these claimed theological parallels between Krishnaism and the Christological dogmas of Christianity.^{[citation needed}

]

Although little is known of the immediate growth of the church,

Bar-Daisan (154–223 CE) reports that in his time there were Christian tribes in North India which claimed to have been converted by Thomas and to have books and relics to prove it.^[5]

Contemporary Christian-Hindu relations are a mixed affair. Hinduism's historical tendency has been to recognize the divine basis of various other religions, and to revere their founders and saintly practitioners; this continues today. The declaration Nostra aetate by the Second Vatican Council officially established inter-religious dialogue between Catholics and Hindus, promoting common values between the two religions (among others). There are over 17.3 million Catholics in India, which represents less than 2% of the total population, still making it the largest Christian church in India. (See also: Dalit theology).

Doctrine

Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity differ on fundamental beliefs on heaven, hell and reincarnation, to name a few. From the Hindu perspective, heaven (Sanskrit: swarga) and hell (naraka) are temporary places, where every soul has to live, either for the good deeds done or for their sins committed. After a soul suffers its due punishment in hell, or after a soul has enjoyed enough in heaven, it again enters the life-death cycle. There is no concept in Hinduism of a permanent hell like that in Christianity; rather, the cycle of "karma" takes over. Permanent heaven or bliss is "moksha".

Indian philosopher Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, wrote:

Unfortunately Christian religion inherited the Semitic creed of the ‘jealous God’ in the view of Christ as ‘the only begotten son of God’ so could not brook any rival near the throne. When Europe accepted the Christian religion, in spite of its own broad humanism, it accepted the fierce intolerance which is the natural result of belief in 'the truth once for all delivered to the saints.'^[6]

The Holy Trinity of Christianity, consisting of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is sometimes seen as roughly analogous to the Trimurti of Hinduism, whose members—Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva—are seen as the three principal manifestations of Brahman, or Godhead. The specific formulation of this trinitarian relationship is not identical between the two religions; for example, in Hinduism there is a Parabrahma, or an ultimate creator who created the Trimurti, for which there exists no parallel in Christianity. Some consider Brahma to be more similar to the demiurge of Christian gnosticism, in that he (at least initially) wrongly thought himself as the "Creator" and also as the highest or even the only god. In this case, the Hindu version of the Trinity could be seen as Brahma (Father), Sankarshan or Vishnu (Holy spirit), and Mahesh or Shiva (Son; analogous to Christ).

There have been Christian writers such as the 17th century mystic Jane Leade and the 19th-20th century theologian Sergei Bulgakov, who have described the feminine Sophia (wisdom) as an aspect of the Godhead. This may serve as a rough analogue to Hinduism's description of Sita in the Ramayana, who is saved by Hanuman (an incarnation of Shiva) from the demon king Ravana to be reunited with her husband Rama, representing God. Nevertheless, although the concept that we can come to know God through sophia has played a role in Christian thought, no major Christian denominations profess Sophia as an independent aspect of God.

In Hinduism (also in

better source needed

]

The

Christian Ashram Movement, a movement within Christianity in India, embraces Vedanta and the teachings of the East, attempting to combine the Christian faith with the Hindu ashram model, and Christian monasticism with the Hindu sannyasa tradition. In Western countries, Vedanta has influenced some Christian thinkers (see also: Pierre Johanns, Abhishiktananda, Bede Griffiths), while others in the anti-cult movement have reacted against the activities of immigrant gurus and their followers.^{[citation needed}

]

Islam

Hindu–Islamic relations began when Islamic influence first came to be found in the

last Islamic prophet being Muhammad ibn Abdullah, whom Muslims believe delivered the Islamic scripture, the Quran. Hinduism mostly shares common terms with the other Indian religions, including Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. Islam shares common characteristics with Abrahamic religions–those religions claiming descent from the prophet Abraham–being, from oldest to youngest, Judaism

, Christianity, Islam.

The

Smritis (including the Rāmāyana, the Bhagavad Gītā [part of the Mahabharata cycle], and the Purānas

), which are considered to be of secondary authority and of human creation of sages but the 18 Puranas.

Judaism

Hinduism and Judaism are amongst the oldest existing religions in the world. They have shared a notable relationship throughout historical and modern times.

Other religions

Many theologians interpret Hinduism to teach that since all souls will eventually arrive at salvation, every religion can lead to it.^[9]^[10]

Baháʼí Faith

Hinduism is recognized in the

Kalki avatar). Krishna is included in the succession of Manifestations of God. The authenticity of the Hindu scriptures is seen as uncertain.^[11]

Zoroastrianism

Hinduism and Zoroastrianism share a common root in

Parsis

.

The "Council of Dharmic Faiths" (UK) regards Zoroastrianism, whilst not originating in the Indian subcontinent, also as a Dharmic religion.^[12]

Yezidism

Recently, some people have found similarities between the customs of Hindus and Yezidis, suggesting that in ancient times they may have even been one people.^[13] Recent comparisons and historical research between the two people have revealed many links that now thousands of Hindus and Yezidis believe that they are part of the same family.^{[citation needed]}

References

^ "Ayyavazhi Religion" (Web page). religious-information.com. SBI. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
^ Samuel, Geoffrey (2010), The Origins of Yoga and Tantra. Indic Religions to the Thirteenth Century, Cambridge University Press
ISBN 81-208-0815-0 Page 18. "There is no evidence to show that Jainism
and Buddhism ever subscribed to vedic sacrifices, vedic deities or caste. They are parallel or native religions of India and have contributed much to the growth of even classical Hinduism of the present times."

^ Chapple, Christopher (2008). "Asceticism and the environment". Cross Currents. 57 (4): 514–525.

^ A. E. Medlycott, India and The Apostle Thomas, pp.18–71; M. R. James, Apocryphal New Testament, pp.364–436; A. E. Medlycott, India and The Apostle Thomas, pp.1–17, 213–97; Eusebius, History, chapter 4:30; J. N. Farquhar, The Apostle Thomas in North India, chapter 4:30; V. A. Smith, Early History of India, p.235; L. W. Brown, The Indian Christians of St. Thomas, p.49-59.

^ The Philosophy of Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, by Paul Arthur Schilpp, page = 641

better source needed
]

ISBN 978-0-7914-7082-4
.

ISBN 978-1-4408-0184-6. Archived
from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 5 April 2023.

ISBN 978-1-4408-3539-1. Archived
from the original on 12 April 2023. Retrieved 5 April 2023.

ISBN 1-85168-184-1
.

^ "Council of Dharmic Faiths UK". councilofdharmicfaithsuk.com. Archived from the original on 13 July 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2017.

^ "Yezidis and Hindus: Re-Uniting as One People". yeziditruth.org. Archived from the original on 7 November 2019. Retrieved 23 February 2020.

External links

Hinduism and Origins of Judaism and Christianity

BBC - Islam and Hinduism's Blurred Lines

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hinduism_and_other_religions&oldid=1271264918"

[1] "Ayyavazhi Religion" (Web page). religious-information.com. SBI. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 29 March 2012.

[2] Samuel, Geoffrey (2010), The Origins of Yoga and Tantra. Indic Religions to the Thirteenth Century, Cambridge University Press

[3] ISBN 81-208-0815-0 Page 18. "There is no evidence to show that Jainism
and Buddhism ever subscribed to vedic sacrifices, vedic deities or caste. They are parallel or native religions of India and have contributed much to the growth of even classical Hinduism of the present times."

[4] Chapple, Christopher (2008). "Asceticism and the environment". Cross Currents. 57 (4): 514–525.

[AFM-5] A. E. Medlycott, India and The Apostle Thomas, pp.18–71; M. R. James, Apocryphal New Testament, pp.364–436; A. E. Medlycott, India and The Apostle Thomas, pp.1–17, 213–97; Eusebius, History, chapter 4:30; J. N. Farquhar, The Apostle Thomas in North India, chapter 4:30; V. A. Smith, Early History of India, p.235; L. W. Brown, The Indian Christians of St. Thomas, p.49-59.

[6] The Philosophy of Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, by Paul Arthur Schilpp, page = 641

[7] tter source needed
]

[8] ISBN 978-0-7914-7082-4
.

[Ellens_2013_p._1-PA234-9] ISBN 978-1-4408-0184-6. Archived
from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 5 April 2023.

[MacNair_2015_p.-10] ISBN 978-1-4408-3539-1. Archived
from the original on 12 April 2023. Retrieved 5 April 2023.

[smith-indian-religions-11] ISBN 1-85168-184-1
.

[12] "Council of Dharmic Faiths UK". councilofdharmicfaithsuk.com. Archived from the original on 13 July 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2017.

[13] "Yezidis and Hindus: Re-Uniting as One People". yeziditruth.org. Archived from the original on 7 November 2019. Retrieved 23 February 2020.

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