Aspect | Hinduism | Buddhism | Christianity | Islam |
Creator | The creator is the soul/spark of the universe, with a multitude of gods as expressions
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The issue of the creator is not addressed as it is not seen as relevant to the issue of suffering | The creator, Jehovah, is our father. Jehovah is a Trinitarian being | The creator, Allah, is our master. Allah is one |
Life
after death |
Reincarnation up and down a ladder of life based on how well we lived (karma). Heaven (nirvana) is the ceasing of reincarnation and rejoining the Brahma spirit
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Reincarnation based on a continuous loop of life, no ladder of existence. Heaven (nirvana) is the ceasing of existence (suffering) | We live once, then enter either heaven or hell based on our response to the offer of adoption into Jehovah’s family. Access to heaven guaranteed | We live once and then either heaven or hell based on our obedience to Allah’s rules for living. Access to heaven not guaranteed |
Ethics | Law of karma. Live morally and obey caste expectations | Law of Karma. Suffering is the issue. All moral effort should be to help alleviate suffering | Ethics begins in the heart of Jehovah. He has given humans these standards and they are how we should live
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Ethics is esteemed but subordinate to the character of Allah who can do both good and evil as he wills |
Status &
Power |
Elitism entrenched through the caste system. Priestly caste has all the power and privilege. Non-Hindus treated with respect
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Caste system rejected. All people are equals. Non-Buddhists treated with respect | All followers of Jesus are priests. There is no more any priestly class. All people to be loved | All power belongs to Allah and he gives it to Muslims. Non-Muslims treated as inferior |
Spirit | Deeply entwined with the spirit world. Occult and New Age practices wide spread | Philosophical Buddhism not interested in the spirit world, folk Buddhism involved in ancestor and spirit worship | Spirit world divided into good and evil. Power over the evil side given to followers of Jesus | Spiritual aspect of life given lip service. Jin said to inhabit many localities. Folk Islam involved in some aspects of occult. Mohammed was very superstitious
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Key point | Worship of idols as expressions of Brahman and obey caste rules | The destruction of desire which is the cause of all suffering | The worship of, and relationship with Jesus, the human expression of Jehovah
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The worship of Allah and obedience to the teachings of his prophet, Mohammed |