3. Hinduism (3)

Compared to Christianity -

How are Hinduism and Christianity different?

In Hinduism, Brahman has the power to bring things into appearance. However, the pantheistic component of Hinduism claims God did not create the world: God is the world, along with everything in it. The world was not created, it always was, just like the soul that always has existed and will always exist.

Hindus do not believe in a personal, loving God; but in Brahman, a formless, abstract, eternal being without personal attributes.

The Christian Bible contradicts the Hindu concepts of reincarnation, karma, and moskha. Hindus believe the soul is uncreated and eternal. This contradicts the teachings of the Bible that each person is created by God, will die once, and spend eternity in heaven or hell.

Hindus are tolerant to Christianity and to any other religion; many even read the Bible as possible additional revelation (as their canon remains open). However, Hindus cannot accept Jesus as the only Son of God. In the words of the great Indian leader Mohandas Gandhi: “It was more than I could believe that Jesus was the only incarnate son of God. And that only he who believed in him would have everlasting life.” Gandhi also said he could not believe there was any “mysterious or miraculous virtue” in Christ’s death on the cross. [3]

Table 30- 1 : Comparing Hinduism to Christianity

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