Major World Religions - Comparison Chart

Aspect

Hinduism Buddhism

Judaism

Christianit
y
Islam

Title
Belief
System
Nation of
Origin
Language

Hindus

Buddhists

Jews

Christians

Moslems

Polytheistic
India

Polytheistic
India

Monotheistic
Mesopotamia

Monotheistic
Middle East

Monotheistic
Arabia

Indian

Hebrew

Symbol

Om
No Founder - <
3,000

Indian
Wheel of Life
(Samsara)

Latin, English, Greek Arabic

The Cross,
(crucifiction)
Crescent & Star

Siddhartha Guatama

Abraham (Made
covenant w/ G*d
3400
years ago if
Hebrews
worship G*d, they
will
be the chosen
people.

Founder &

Time

Sacred
Texts
Major
God(s)

Place of
Worship
Clergy

years old.

(563-483BC)

Upanishads,
Mahabharata, & 4
Vedas

Sutras

Brahman, Vishnu,

No rituals, Gods, or
Priests.
Enlightenment
through meditation
only
Temple

& Shiva. Atman =

Essential
self/Perfect
understanding.
Temple
Brahmins (Priestly
Class)

1st 5 books of the

Bible

Jesus Born in

Muhammad (570-632)

Bethlehem, Raised in Born in Mecca, driven to

Nazareth, Crucified
in
Medina (Hajira).
Jerusalem.

The Bible

Quran or Koran

Yahweh, G*d

God

Allah

Synagogue

Church

Mosgue

Rabbi

Priest, Preacher,
Bishop,

Prophet

& Talmud

Monks, Dalai Lama,

no
rituals, Gods, or
Priests.

Law

Sacred
Ideas

Star of David

and Pope.
10 Commandments
&
10 Commandments.
Mishna (Rabbinic
Law)
Moses was a prophet
Moses was a
prophet
given Gods law.
given G*ds Law.
Torah.

Cattle, Monkeys,
Tree
Squirrels, & some
snakes.
Ganges River & City
of

Trinity: Buddha,
Dharma

Varanasi. All Hindus

are vegetarian.
Daily
declaration of
prayer,
pilgrimmage to
places
where Buddha
traveled.

Believers.
April 8: Buddhas
birth.

(teachings/laws), and
Sangha (community
of

Dec 8: Buddhas
Enlightenment.
Feb 15: Buddhas
Death.

Goal of Life

Moksha

Nirvana

Moral Code

Kharma (Actions) +
Dharma (Religious

4 Noble Truths & 8Fold

Path. Prayer,

Sunday Worship,
Golden
Rule, Jesus died for
G*d and the Jewish mans
People.
sins. Trinity: Father,
Hannukkah,
Son,
and Holy Ghost.
Passover, Bar/Bas
Messiah.
Covenent b/w

Mitzvah, Zionism,
Rosh Hashhanah
(New
Year), Yom Kippur
(Day of
Atonement).
Jesus was just a
man.
Wailing Wall.
A moral life
through
obedience to G*ds
law.
A moral life
through
obedience to G*ds

Disciples. Baptism,
Communion
(Eucharist)
& Confirmation.
Sunday,
Christmas, Easter.
Jesus

No separation of Church
and
State Theocracy. Sharia

Laws based on the

Quran.
Moses was a prophet
given
Gods law.
Ablutions (washing of
hands,
face, and feet) before
prayer,
Muezzin (Call to Prayer),
Minaret Towers, Friday
Worship, Ramadan, Jihad
(the
effort of a good Muslim
to
preserve community).
Jesus
was a prophet.

was the Son of God.

Salvation

Other World Paradise

Faith, prayer.

5 Pillars: Creed, Prayer,

Pilgrimage, Fasting,

Attitude

meditation,
and Moral Duty) =
and ritual to achieve
Reincarnation up or enlightenment.
down.
Ahimsa
Ahimsa

law.

Zakat.

10 Commandments 10 Commandments

Concept of Jihad the

effort of a good Muslim
to
preserve community.
Context
sometimes perverted.
Pleasant based on
reward and

Golden Rule

towards

Golden Rule

violence
Afterlife

Sects

Importance
of

Reincarnation based
on
moral code and
Caste
system:

Release from wheel

of life
Arrival of Messiah
and cycle of
birth/rebirth.
Union w/the universe. Do not presume to
know. Lead a good
Priests, Warriors,
life
and the afterlife
Merchants, Servants
will
(Untouchables).
Contact
take care of itself.
w/lower class
requires
ritual cleansing in
the
Ganges River.
Caste System
Theraveda: Strict
Orthodox /
fundamentalists
(monks).
Conservative
Mahayana: Less
strict
observance commoners
None

None

Jerusalem
Modern

Issues
Members (#

or %)

Widow Burning,
Ghandi,
Caste Abolishment.

1/8 world population

Heaven/Hell

punishment

Catholic, Protestant,
hundreds of other
groups

Fundamentalist, Shiite
(radical traditionalists),
Sunni

and denominations.

(Majority), Sufi (Mystics)

Church of Holy
Sepulcher
Site of Crucifixion
Temple Temple of of
Solomon.
Birthplace.
Jesus
Middle East
Political conflict s
Conflict
with
Muslim world
Israel v Palestine
concerning
Jerusalem
ownership
Israel and Palestine.
17 Million
Diaspora
<1 Billion Complex
has forced
preservation
doctrine and factional
through small,
denominations make
tightly
unity
knit communities.
impossible.
Site of 1st Jewish

Gabriels ascendance to
Heaven on horseback.

Ban against symbols

representing Allah.
Approx 750 Million
Simple
doctrine is unifying.