REL 133 week 2 rewriting

Hinduism has no founder, but an integration of different beliefs. Its development was influenced by the nomadic Aryan Indo-European races that occupied Northern India. The religions originated from Russia and Central Asia as they attacked the Harappans residing in the area. Veda is the oldest scripture in Hindu that means wisdom and knowledge. It has hymns, prayers and ritual texts introduced during in the ancient times. The secret teachings in Hindu are known as the Upanishads, and it includes the mystical concepts of man and the universe.

Hinduism has a term known as Ramayan and is one of the significant Indian tales. Puranas is a vital source used to understand Hinduism, and it includes the legends, gods, and demons. A common feature between Hinduism and other religions is that most of its festivals fall in two classes (Doniger, 2010). There are those who celebrate saints and others celebrating notable scriptural events. Om is a symbol in Hinduism and used in meditation. The swastika is another symbol associated with a negative connotation in other parts across the world while in Hinduism, it is a sign of luck and fortune.

Religion 1

Hinduism

Religion 2

Jainism

Similarities

Differences

Points of origin

Jainism and Hinduism came from India. Moreover, they are all knows as the traditional faiths of the Indians.

The existence of Atma

The two religions accept the reality of Atma, also known as the soul. They believe in the immortality of the soul. In the contexts of both religions, the physical body can die, but the spirit that inhabits it lives on and leads to reincarnation.

The ideas of Moska, Karma, and Reincarnation

Jainism and Hinduism both believe in Karma. Karma can refer to the good or bad. They also believe in reincarnation, the idea of life after death (Babb, 2015). Both religions also believe in moska, the liberation from the cycle of life and death. However, the meaning of these concepts is different in each religion.

Temples and Idols

The religious activities in both religions are similar. They both have temples and conduct idol worshiping. They also have times when they fast as a way of worship and purification of the soul.

The concept of Karma

In Hindu, Karma is an essence of transgression to atone for blessings to get in the next life. Jains consider Karma a kind of activity that attaches to the soul in each life. While Hindus try to do the right thing to atone for the spiritual debt, Jains follow actions intended to clean the soul of a polluting nature.

The idea of Moksha

Hindus believe that Moksha and liberation take place where the soul meets the universal soul and results to eternal life in Vishnu’s territory. The Jains considers moksha an activity-less and tranquil that is said to take place in Siddhabhumi.

Animal Sacrifices

Jainism do not engage in animal offering because they value all kinds of life and appreciates them through non-violence. Hindus allow the concepts of violence provided it helps reach enlightenment

Belief in creator

The Hindus believe in deities such as Vishnu, Shiva. They also believe in the gods and acknowledge them as creators of the universe, that they preserve the world and punish people who do wrong (Long & Sullivan, 2011). The Jains do not believe in the almighty God. They also don’t think that the universe is mighty or in any laws of the world.

References

Babb, L. A. (2015). Understanding Jainism. Edinburgh: Dunedin Academic Press.

Doniger, W. (2010). The Hindus: An alternative history. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Long, J. D., & Sullivan, B. M. (2011). Historical dictionary of Hinduism. Lanham, Md. : Scarecrow Press