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Running head: Christianity 1 Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism Brandy Thornton ENG121 Jay Lorenz June 25 2012 Running head: Christianity 2 Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism I have always been intrigued with all the different religions. We are going to compare 3 of the biggest religions in the world. According to David Barrett and team, there are 19 major world religious groupings in the world which are subdivided into a total of about 10,000 distinct religions. Of the latter, there were 270 religions and Para-religions which had over a half million adherents in the year 2000 CE. Within Christianity, they have identified 34,000 separate groups (denominations, sects, individual unaffiliated churches, Para-church groups, etc.) in the world. "Over half of them are independent churches that are not interested in linking with the big denominations." Christianity is biggest religion in the world. Christianity has over 2.1 billion followers. Within Christianity it has 1,000’s of different denominations. Christianity means the religion derived from Jesus Christ, based on the Bible as sacred scripture, and professed by Eastern, Roman Catholic, and Protestant bodies. It was founded around 1 century A.D. Christianity is one of the three major monotheistic world religions. Christians believe one God who created the world and takes an interest in the humans who inhabit it. The Christian God is a personal God. This does not mean that God is a human being, but that God has "personality" and the capability of both relationships with other personal beings. This is seen clearly in both the Old and New Testaments, in which God Running head: Christianity 3 is described in strongly personal terms (father, shepherd, etc.) and establishes relationships with human beings. Jesus Christ is one the most fascinating and enigmatic figures in history. Despite his humble origins (a son of a carpenter from the Judean countryside), short life (about 33 years), and very short public career (between one and three years), Jesus is the central focus of the world's largest religion and has meant many things to many people since his death almost 2,000 years ago. Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of World Religions calls Jesus "arguably the most important figure in the history of western civilization." Christians believe that Christ is God. This concept seems to be stated explicitly in the New Testament in at least the following places: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.... The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. (John 1:1,14) Thomas said to him [the resurrected Jesus], "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28) But about the Son he [God] says, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever." (Hebrews 1:8) Christianity tends to take beliefs quite seriously. The early fathers and councils carefully distinguished between "orthodoxy" from "heresy" in an effort to preserve what they saw as the true Christian message. Christians follow a book they call the bible. They believe the bible is the Word of God. It is inspired and inerrant in its original autographs. It is a complete and final revelation of God. The bible gives Christians rules and guidelines for them to follow. Running head: Christianity 4 Christianity has very strong beliefs on Hell. In Christian theology, hell is the place or state into which unrepentant sinners pass after this life. Hell is generally thought to be eternal. Hell was a strong incentive to lead a righteous life in the early church. Christians also believe in heaven. Christianity has historically taught that everyone has only a single life on earth. After death, an eternal life awaits everyone either in Heaven or Hell. There is no suffering in Heaven; only joy. In Christianity heaven is being in the presence of God with places prepared for the faithful by Jesus and is viewed as eternal bliss beyond that which can currently be known. Those who are allowed into heaven are said to be given new bodies that do not decay and death will be gone. Islam is the second largest religion with 1.5billion followers. Islam means the religious faith of Muslims including belief in Allah as the sole deity and in Muhammad as his prophet. It was founded around the 7th century. Like the Christians they believe in one God but they call theirs Allah. To a Muslim, Allah is the Almighty, Creator and Sustainer of the universe, Who is similar to nothing and nothing is comparable to Him. They also believe in Jesus Christ. Though they do not believe everything the Christians believe. Muslims believe Jesus was a prophet along with Moses and Muhammad and that He was born of a virgin mother. Muslims believe Jesus was able to speak while still in the cradle and that he performed many miracles, including giving sight to the blind, curing lepers, and bringing the dead to life. But all these things they Running head: Christianity 5 believe were done by God, rather than believing Jesus is God. They do not believe that Jesus was His son, nor do they believe in the Holy Spirit. The Muslims have a book they call the Qur'an. The Quran is a compilation of the verbal revelations given to the Holy Prophet Muhammad over a period of twenty two years. The Quran is the Holy Book or the scriptures of the Muslims. It lays down for them the law and commandments, codes for their social and moral behavior. Islam has a very different take on hell. The have “hell” broke into two different parts. The first part is to have a torture chamber for all the kafirs (unbelievers and people of other religions). The second is to terrorize people into accepting Islam. The purpose of Hell in Islam is not to punish the Muslim wrong-doers. Because, for them Mohammed will recommend paradise, beautiful virgins and young boys on the Day of Judgment. His recommendation is final and Allah cannot deny it. It is available to all murderers, rapists, arsonists, cheats, thugs, pickpockets and pimps provided they are following Islam. On the contrary, a flaming Hell is reserved only for all Hindus, Sikhs, Jews and Christians, no matter how pious and God-fearing they may have been. Remember Thy Lord inspired the angels (with the message): "I am with you: give firmness to the believers, I will instill terror into the hearts of the unbelievers, Smite ye above their necks and smite all their fingertips of them." (Koran 8:12)Here Mohammed is giving step by step instruction on how to torture and kill Kafirs if they don't follow Islam. Koran 47:4 When you meet the unbelievers in the Jihad strike off their heads and, when you have laid them low, bind your captives Running head: Christianity 6 firmly. Then grant them their freedom or take ransom from them, until War shall lay down her burdens. In that verse, Mohammed is giving detailed instruction about how to maim and torture unbelievers in Jihad. And finally when the Muslims are satisfied enough after torturing and maiming the unbelievers, they should proceed to demand ransom for the captives. All for the sake for all-merciful Allah !! Koran 98:1-8 The unbelievers among the People of the Book and the pagans shall burn forever in the fire of Hell. They are the vilest of all creatures. Here "People of The Book" refers to Christians and Jews. So according to Prophet Mohammed, Christians, Jews and pagans are the vilest of all creatures in the world. Islam in deed holds a high respect for people of other religions! Koran 22:19-22:23 Garments of fire have been prepared for the unbelievers. Scalding water shall be poured upon their heads, melting their skins and that which is in their bellies. They shall be lashed rods of iron. Whenever, in their anguish, they try to escape from Hell, back they shall be dragged, and will be told: 'Taste the torment of the Conflagration!' Here Mohammed has imagined vividly how people of other religions will be punished in Hell. By his sick and disgusting imagination, he is trying to make sure that people of other religions convert to Islam out of sheer terror of Hell. And if this terror doesn't work, then the Muslims are always instructed to convert unbelievers to Islam brutally by force in Jihad. Muslims also believe in Heaven. They believe that heaven is broke into seven different levels. The levels of Heaven represent closeness to God – the higher the level the closer to the understanding of Allah. All people from the highest to the Running head: Christianity 7 lowest levels will be able to communicate with each other.  However, no one will be able to live or enjoy the pleasure of the higher levels than what he already has.  He can go to the lower levels, but he can't go to the higher ones: "They will recline (with ease) On Thrones (of dignity) Arranged in ranks; And We shall join them To Companions, with beautiful Big and lustrous eyes.  And those who believe And whose families follow Them in Faith -- to them Shall We join their families:  Nor shall We deprive them (Of the fruit) of aught Of their works:  (Yet) is each individual In pledge for his deeds.   (The Noble Quran, 52:20-21)" So, let's say we have a mother and a son.  The mother was admitted to level 2, and the son was admitted to level 7.  Both the mother and the son can still see each others, but she won't be able to enjoy the things her son is enjoying, nor will he be able to share them with her. No jealousy or bad feelings will exist.  Allah Almighty will cause everyone to be happy for what he/she has.  Hinduism is the third largest religion with 1.4 billion followers. Hinduism means "the dominant religion of India that emphasizes dharma [way of higher truth] with its resulting ritual and social observances and often mystical contemplation and ascetic practices". Hinduism was founded around 2nd millennium B.C. Hinduism is never imposed on anybody. In fact it is the only religion in the world, which does not encourage conversion. As far as their belief in “God” they believe you worship God without denying the existence of other Gods. That is called Henotheistic. They have 3 main Gods which set them apart from the other two religions. In the Hindu faith, there is a trinity as in the Christian faith, where God is in three persons: Running head: Christianity 8 Brahma: is the creator of all reality, Vishnu or Krishna is the preserver of all of the creations, and Shiva is the destroyer. There are some major divisions in the Hindu faith. Many see Brahman as the ultimate deity. Others see Vishnu or Krishna as the supreme being and another sect see Shiva as their ultimate reality. Hinduism is a religion which does recognize a single supreme deity but is tolerant of all other religions and gods or goddesses as forms or manifestations of this one single deity or supreme being. Their philosophy is that, although they believe there is but one truth, there are different "Stages" or spiritual leaders who call the truth by different names. Krishna is compared to the other religions Jesus. He is believed to have been on Earth at least 14 centuries before Jesus. According to most Hindu traditions he is one of the major incarnations of Vishnu. However in Gaudiya Vaishnavism, he is considered to be the only true God, or the source of all incarnations. According to most Hindu traditions he is one of the major incarnations of Vishnu. However in Gaudiya Vaishnavism, he is considered to be the only true God, or the source of all incarnations. They also have something similar to the Bible and the Quran. It is called the Vedas. The say Vedas are the most important and sacred texts of Hindus. They say Vedas are the world's most ancient scripture. The earliest written Vedas date to about 1400 B.C.E (Before the Common Era), but the songs they capture in letters are a great deal older, although no one can say by how much. It is also a book of laws that need to be followed by the believer. Running head: Christianity 9 They also have a Hell but they call it Naraka. Naraka is a place of punishment for sins. Where the spirit is judged, or partial fruits of karma affected in a next life. It is believed that people who commit sins go to Hell and have to go through punishments in accordance with the sins they committed. These punishments include dipping in boiling oil, burning in fire, torture using various weapons. Individuals who finish their quota of the punishments are reborn in accordance with their balance of karma. All created beings are imperfect and thus have at least one sin to their record; but if one has generally led a pious life, one ascends to svarga, a temporary realm of enjoinment similar to Paradise, after a brief period of expiation in Hell and before the next reincarnation according to the law of karma. In Hinduism, with its emphasis on reincarnation, the concept of Heaven is not as prominent. While heaven is temporary (until the next birth), the permanent state that Hindus aspire to is Moksha. Moksha is seen as the soul's liberation from the cycle of life and death, a re-establishment in one's own fundamental divine nature and may include union with or joining God. In closing there are many different religions in the world but we have to find our own path. Several religions have the same view points. Some are not even close to sharing anything. This is what makes the world unique. In whatever you do make sure you do proper research so you can make an informed decision. Running head: Christianity 10 References used: David B. Barrett, et al., "World Christian Encyclopedia: A Comparative Survey of Churches and Religions in the Modern World," Oxford University Press, (2001). "Hell." F.L. Cross and E.A. Livingstone, eds., The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, 3rd ed. (Oxford UP, 1997), p. 748-49. McGrath, Christian Theology, 327. http://www.allaboutjesuschrist.org/jesus-and-islam-faq.htm Al-Hilali, Muhammad T.; and Muhammad M. Khan. 1994. Interpretation of the Meanings of The Noble Quran in the English Language. 4th revised ed. Riyadh: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam. The Holy Bible, Containing the Old and New Testaments (Revised Standard Version). 1971. New York: William Collins Sons & Co., Ltd. The Islamic Affairs Department, The Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Washington, DC. 1989. Understanding Islam and the Muslims. Washington, DC: The Islamic Affairs Department, The Embassy of Saudi Arabia. Clarke, Peter B., editor), The Religions of the World: Understanding the Living Faiths, Marshall Editions Limited: USA (1993); pg. 125.) http://www.allaboutreligion.org/hinduism-gods-faq.htm The Cross and the Crucifixion in The Secret Teachings of All Ages by Manly P.Hall, Penguin Group(USA) Inc, Reader’s Edition, 2003 Kersey Graves, "The World's Sixteen Crucified Saviors," Adventures Unlimited Press, Chapter 32, Page 280. (1875; Reprinted 2001). Avari, Burjor (2007), India: The Ancient Past, London: Routledge, ISBN 978-0-415-35616-9  Sullivan, B. M. (Summer 1994), "The Religious Authority of the Mahabharata: Vyasa and Brahma in the Hindu Scriptural Tradition", Journal of the American Academy of Religion 62 (1): 377–401, DOI:10.1093/jaarel/LXII.2.377