World Religions Engagement Paper: Interview Assignment
APOL525: Pluralism and World Religions (B02)
June 15, 2025
Contents
Interview Assignment.............................................................................................................1
Introduction............................................................................................................................1
Brief Description of Hinduism.............................................................................................1
Interview Report..................................................................................................................3
Comparison Between Hinduism and Christianity................................................................4
Sharing Gospel-Evangelistic Strategy...................................................................................5
Conclusion..............................................................................................................................6
Bibliography............................................................................................................................7
ii
1
Interview Assignment
Introduction
In a world which is characterized by religious diversity, it becomes important for
Christians, especially those in chaplaincy or ministry roles to deeply understand the values and
beliefs of people from other faith backgrounds. A profound avenue to understand another
worldview is personal engagement through interviews or conversations and establishing
respectful dialogue. This paper explores Hinduism which is one of the world’s major religions
through academic research along with a personal interview with an individual of Hinduism. The
interview with the Hindu individual served as a resourceful avenue and opportunity to deepen
my understanding of the religion and interpretation of other faith backgrounds in a better way.
It has been a great way to understand the person’s religious beliefs and religious worldview
through the conversation. The objective of the interview and the personal conversation is to
obtain deeper insights into Hindu beliefs and practices and comparing and contrasting these
with Christianity. It also aimed at developing a strong and effective strategy for sharing the
Gospel with followers of Hinduism.
Brief Description of Hinduism
Hinduism is believed to be the oldest religion in the world. It is one of the most
organized religions which could be observed to exist even for more than 3000 years. Hinduism
developed in the Indian subcontinent and there is no single founder of this religion. It is a more
diverse yet complex religious tradition comprising several scriptures, philosophies, practices,
and deities.
The concept of Brahman is at the center of Hindu belief which is the ultimate infinite and
formulas reality pervading all things. Brahman manifestation is observed in different personnel
2
deities such as Shiva, Vishnu, and goddesses Devi who are worshipped in various traditions in
Hinduism. Research identified that the term Hindu was originated from the river Sindhu and the
Hindu Vedas people received on the bank of the river.1 However, people from that geographical
context moved to various parts of India and were known as Hindus. Hinduism cannot be
considered a revealed religion as it does not have a single founder. With time, Hinduism has
incorporated new beliefs and ideas and developed as one of the most organized religions in the
world.
The sacred takes of Hinduism are the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads, the Vedas, and the
Puranas. Hinduism believes in the principle of Karma which is the law of moral cause and effect.
Other beliefs in Hinduism include Dharma which is duty or righteousness and Samsara which is
the cycle of birth and rebirth.2 The ultimate goal in Hinduism is the pursuit of moksha which can
be attained through different paths such as the way of knowledge which is known as jnana
yoga, the way of works, which is known as Karma yoga, and the way of devotion which is known
as the bhakti yoga. The significance of individual spiritual experience is highly emphasized in
Hinduism which also allows for different beliefs and practices. In Hinduism, liberation from
Samsara is the way to moksha which is believed to be achieved through these pathways.
Sometimes meditative disciplines like Raja yoga are also practiced as a means to attend moksha.3
Interview Report
To deepen my understanding of Hinduism, I interacted with a Hindu individual. I
interviewed the person face-to-face after explaining the objective behind the interview. The
1 Violeena Barman, “HINDUISM: AN OVERVIEW OF THE RELIGION,” PalArch’s Journal of Archaeology of
Egypt / Egyptology 17, no. 9 (December 24, 2020): 3661–67.
2 Shyam Ranganathan, “Hinduism, Belief and the Colonial Invention of Religion: A before and after
Comparison,” Religions 13, no. 10 (September 22, 2022): 891.
3 Shyam Ranganathan, “Hinduism, Belief and the Colonial Invention of Religion: A before and after
Comparison,” Religions 13, no. 10 (September 22, 2022): 891.
3
individual was supportive and respectfully participated in the interaction as well as contributed
rich insights into Hinduism. The person is a 35-year-old practicing Hindu who was born in India
and has settled in the United States for the last eight years. The person’s understanding of
Hinduism is highly influenced by her upbringing including her family practices and continued
involvement in traditional Temple worship as well as community events. I asked the person
about his ideology of God at which he described God as both transcendent and innate.
He explained that in Hinduism, Brahman is considered the ultimate reality. I asked him
about his worship practice at which he mentioned that he primarily worships Lord Krishna
whom he regards as the loving and personal deity. He also mentioned that his wife and mother
are strong devotees of God Shiva. He and his family perform traditional Hindu worship rituals
and also participate in temple festivals. They read the Bhagavad Gita almost regularly. I asked
him about his view of religious practices in his religion at which he mentioned that he and his
family view religious practices and rituals as a way to match their life with divine principles. He
strongly believes in good deeds which makes him to sincerely practice religious rituals to reduce
the consequences of past karma. When asked about salvation, the person explained it as
liberation from Samsara or the cycle of rebirth and union with the spiritual Divine. When asked
about how to achieve liberation or salvation, he highlighted ethical living, devotion, and
meditation. He also expressed his admiration for Jesus Christ whom he considers a wise and
Holy teacher or avatar or God, similar to Lord Krishna.
However, he explained that he does not believe in exclusive truth concerning any
religion, rather he believes that every religion has its own distinct path leading to the divine
source. The conversation revealed the depth and sincerity of his spiritual life. He expressed
appreciation for Christianity and its moral teachings but she is strongly rooted in the pluralistic
idea of Hinduism.
4
Comparison Between Hinduism and Christianity
Hinduism and Christianity differ fundamentally especially in their understanding of God,
religious authority and salvation. The interview with the Hindu individual has also highlighted
significant differences in these areas. In Christianity monotheism is affirmed which means one
God existing in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God is considered personal and distinct
from creation. It is believed in Christianity that God has revealed himself through Jesus Christ.4
The Bible also highlights the same. On the other hand, Hinduism encompasses both polytheistic
and monotheistic elements with different others worshiping different deities which form a
single divine reality. Jesus Christ remains at the heart of Christianity who is considered the
incarnate Son of God. Jesus Christ sacrificed His entire life and died for the sin of humanity and
also resurrected from the dead.5 Salvation in Christianity is the gift of God’s grace which is
received through strong faith in Christ.
In contrast, Hinduism considers Jesus Christ as a wise and spiritual teacher who can also
be considered an avatar. However, Hinduism does not approve of His exclusive divinity and
redemptive work. Salvation or moksha in Hinduism is not considered a God’s gift but an
objective which can be achieved through personal effort, devotion, and meditation.6
Furthermore, there is a clear distinction between creation and the Creator in the Christian
worldview, while Hinduism often considers divinity as innate to all things. There is a difference
in moral frameworks as well. Ethics in Christianity views ethics in the character of God and His
word, while ethics in Hinduism are grounded in dharma and karma.
4 Prof. Angelo Nicolaides, “A Brief Comparative Study of the Hindu and Orthodox Christian Faiths and Their
Weltanschauung,” Journal of Electrical Systems 20–10s (2024): 7202–14.
5 Sonam Upadhyay, Kiran Sanwal, and Prof. P.K. Goswami, “The Concept of Liberation (Moksha) in Indian
Philosophy: An Analysis,” African Journal of Biomedical Research, 2024
5
Sharing Gospel-Evangelistic Strategy
Sharing the Gospel with a Hindu individual requires a relational approach which is
responsive to respectfulness taking into account the religious and cultural context of the
individual. As emphasized by Corduan in “So You Meet a Hindu”, Christians should avoid
aggressive conversation or debate when converting with people from Hinduism and instead
seek
to develop genuine relationships. Many Hindu individuals consider Jesus Christ respectfully but
sometimes misunderstand His divine authority and unique claims. Therefore, it is important to
clarify the truth of Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior. One effective strategy is to discuss
personal testimonies concerning how faith in Jesus Christ could change someone's life, as this
subjective approach will resonate with Hindu values of transformation and experience.
Additionally, themes of grace, love, and forgiveness found in the Gospel contrast with the
impersonal justice of Karma and can be considered compelling themes to discuss with a Hindu.
Corduan emphasizes, “Hinduism includes a tremendous amount of diversity in what people
actually 7
6Joseph Chukwuemerie Nwankwor, “The Afterlife in Christianity, Hinduism, and Islam:
Comparing Beliefs about Heaven, Hell, and Reincarnation,” Crowther Journal of Arts and Humanities 1,
no. 2 (2024): 86–98.
7Corduan, Neighboring Faiths: A Christian Introduction to World Religions, 334.
This highlights how important it is to explain the uniqueness of Jesus Christ gently and
clearly to a Hindu individual. It is also important to demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ through
humidity service and prayer. Stories and parables can also be used to highlight the nature of
God's Love and mercy. By emphasizing that to earn salvation it is important to confront the
challenges with a work-based mindset. Above everything, patience, prayer and the guidance of
the Holy Spirit are significant when sharing Gospel to Hindus.
believe and practice”.
6
Conclusion
This assignment has deepened my appreciation for the richness and complexity of a
different faith background, Hinduism which is one of the major religions in the world. It has also
presented opportunities through a personal window to explore Hindu spirituality and its
worldview effectively. While both Hinduism and Christianity share some similarities, especially
as the pursuit of moral living and spiritual growth, they diverge on essential principles such as
the nature of God, the means of salvation, and the personal nature of Jesus Christ. Engaging
followers of Hinduism needs respect, love, and humility combined with a faithful and clear
presentation of the Gospel. This interview has also given me the opportunity to understand the
religious beliefs and values of Hinduism which has made me more confident to initiate and
engage in more effective communication regarding the transformative and unique message of
Jesus Christ to people from different faith backgrounds.
Bibliography
Barman, Violeena. “HINDUISM: AN OVERVIEW OF THE RELIGION.” PalArch’s Journal of
Archaeology of Egypt / Egyptology 17, no. 9 (December 24, 2020): 3661–67.
https://archives.palarch.nl/index.php/jae/article/view/4436.
Corduan, Winfried. Neighboring Faiths: A Christian Introduction to World Religions. 3rd ed.
Westmont: InterVarsity Press, 2024.
Nicolaides, Prof. Angelo. “A Brief Comparative Study of the Hindu and Orthodox Christian Faiths
and Their Weltanschauung.” Journal of Electrical Systems 20–10s (2024): 7202– 14.
Nwankwor, Joseph Chukwuemerie. “The Afterlife in Christianity, Hinduism, and Islam:
Comparing Beliefs about Heaven, Hell, and Reincarnation.” Crowther Journal of Arts and
Humanities 1, no. 2 (2024): 86–98.
Ranganathan, Shyam. “Hinduism, Belief and the Colonial Invention of Religion: A before and
after Comparison.” Religions 13, no. 10 (September 22, 2022): 891.
https://doi.org/10.3390/rel13100891.
Upadhyay, Sonam, Kiran Sanwal, and Prof. P.K. Goswami. “The Concept of Liberation (Moksha)
in Indian Philosophy: An Analysis.” African Journal of Biomedical Research, 2024.
https://doi.org/10.53555/AJBR.v27i4S.6093.
