Some Similarities and Some Differences

Interestingly, there are some similarities between Hinduism and Christianity and some differences.

Some similarities are the following. Both believe that there are spiritual realities that transcend physical life. Both believe that the spiritual is more important than the material in life. Both believe that death is not the end. Both believe in a good and evil. Both believe in meditation and prayer.

There are also profound differences. Hinduism sees salvation being worked out through repeated good choices in a series of reincarnations. Christianity sees salvation as being something provided by God to man through the life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Jesus said : "I am the way, truth and life and no man comes to Father except through me." (John 14:6). In short there are not many paths to salvation, according to the Christian believer, but one way which is through Jesus Christ.

The vast majority of Christians do not subscribe to reincarnation. Our belief is that we die physically and are not physically reborn. Hebrews 9:27 says: "...it is appointed for man to die once and after this the judgment." Hinduism sees a judgment being worked out through reincarnation, where Christians see good and evil being rewarded and punished at the great Judgment at the end of time and salvation being procured by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

The concept of being born again was discussed by a Jewish ruler, Nicodemus, with Jesus. Their discussion is reported in the third chapter of John:

Jesus answered and said to Nicodemus: Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?"

Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unles one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

That which is born of the flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Do not be amazed that I said to you, "You must be born again." ...(13) No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man...(15,16,17) so that whoever believes will in Him will have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

This short blog on the similarities and differences between Hinduism and Christianity are not definitive or exhaustive but just a simple attempt by the writer who is Christian and freely accepts his biases in that regard to help his friends, both Hindu and Christian to understand themselves and their faiths better.

HarleyDad