Hinduism and Christianity have been in existence for thousands of years. The two religions, though very different, have developed similar philosophies and beliefs on various subjects over time. For instance, they are both considered monotheistic (worship of one God) and both have the concept of Trinity. In Christianity, the Holy Trinity consists of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit while in Hinduism,the concept is analogous to Trimurti. Another subject that can be reflected in these religions is the concept of afterlife. Overall, the main similarities between Hinduism and Christianity are typical of the similarities between Eastern and Western religions.
Hinduism and Christianity both present a Trinitarian view of God. In both religions, the Trinity consists of three beings who are co-equal and internal. In Christianity, God is described as three persons (God, the father, God, the son and God, the Holy Spirit), but with a single divine nature. In Hinduism, the three beings are Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva; they are distinct but are one substance. According to Arion (2016), the Christian Trinity, holds that “God is one God, but three coeternal and consubstantialperson” (p. 90). In Hinduism, the three beings are the “manifestation of Brahman, or Godhead” while in Christianity they represent the one, true God (Arion, 2016, p.90). The slight difference between the two religions lies in the roles played by the three beings. For instance, the Hindu Trinity brings both joy (the good) and destruction (the bad), but the Christian Trinity brings only joy. The two compliment each other, which explains why Shiva and Brahma are inseparable. Some scholars argue that Brahma and God the father share similar attributes unlike Shiva and the Holy Spirit who are different. This is the case because the two perform distinct roles: Shiva is the world’s destroyer while the Holy Spirit acts as the comforter.
Life after death is a fundamental belief in both Hinduism and Christianity. They both agree that actions, rather than beliefs, are the key determinant of fate. Hindus believe that after death, they will attain new lives. Simply put, the actions in the previous life determine the type of life one will inherit next. According to White et al. (2019), Karma, which represents the sum of actions (good or bad), is used to determine the type of rebirth; good karma means better rebirth. Christian beliefs about life after death are deeply embedded in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Similarly, the notion about heaven and hell represents the basic belief that there is life beyond the grave. Christians agree that after death, they will be taken in the presence of the Supreme Being and judged for their actions. The Roman Catholic Church believes that there is a place after death where the sins are purified (state of Purgatory). However, the purification of sin is not for everyone. Overall, the two regions believe in life after death where the actions committed during one’s lifetime determines their next life.
Both Christianity and Hinduism believe in one supreme divine being, despite having different views on who that Supreme Being is. Hindus have multiple Gods and Goddess, but they all represent one Supreme Being, Brahman. The Supreme Being exists in multiple divine forms ranging from having form to formless. In essence, Hindus encourage the worship of one God by acknowledging the existence of other Gods. In Christianity, God is presented as the Supreme Being described as being omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient. He is the creator and the preserver of all things and life. Chajes (2016) explicated that the Christian and Hindu Trinities shows the monotheistic nature of the two religions. The three beings in Hinduism, Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, are the manifestation of one true God who presents itself in different ways and names. This is the case because Indians have different cultures and languages, which allow them to view one God in different ways.
In conclusion, Hinduism and Christianity are the two religions that have been in existence for many years. The comparison of these religions is one that has many differences with corresponding few similarities. Some of the similarities that are reflected across the spectrum include,first, the belief in afterlife where individual’s actions overtime determine their fate, and secondly, the concept of Trinity where God exists in three Beings. For instance, the doctrine of Holy Trinity in Hinduism is analogous to Trimurti, a triad of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Similarly, both religions believe in one supreme divine being, despite having different views on the nature of worship. In Hinduism, the Supreme Being has uncountable divine powers and many names (when he has form, he is described by the term Paramatma but when formless, he is referred to as Brahman). In Christianity, God is presented as omnipotent (all powerful), omnipresent (present everywhere) and omniscient being (He knows every way in which evils can come into existence). However, the fact that these religions share few similarities does not mean that one is superior to the other.
References
Arion, A. C. (2016). The concept of “persona” in Hinduism and Christianity. A theological approach. ICOANA CREDINTEI. International Journal of Interdisciplinary Scientific Research, 2(04), 90-100
Chajes, J. (2016). Blavatsky and Monotheism: Towards the Historicisation of a Critical Category. Journal of Religion in Europe, 9(2-3), 247-275. Web.
White, C. J., Norenzayan, A., & Schaller, M. (2019). The content and correlates of belief in Karma across cultures. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 45(8), 1184-1201. Web.