Essay on hinduism vs. jainism

Hinduism: Universally viewed as a polytheistic religion and one of the oldest. Its 900 million followers’ spiritual goal is to merge as one with Brahma, its supreme God. This achievement is through reincarnation determined on karma, depending ones past deeds coinciding to one’s future.

     Jainism earliest descriptions were thought of being a self centered search for personal salvation without having a personal God. Jains do not believe in one creator or God. Heinrich Zimmer, an expert on Indian Philosophy, states, ?Jainism is Tran theistic- it does not deny existence of God but that it goes beyond them.? (A 352) Others see it?s as a search for personal growth and a sense of higher personal ethics. Jainism is founded on the goal of overcoming the temporary cycle of earthly life in addition to be released from an endless cycle of existence. Human destiny was the center of Jain teaching. They were to rely on themselves to seek that which will save them from the domination of matter, this being moral elevation. Above all, Jainism is a religion of love and compassion, with an eternal universe. They have made significant contributions in logic, art, and architecture, grammar, mathematics, literature, philosophy, astronomy, and astrology.

Hindus worship everything around them. Hinduism is monotheistic, yet is thought to be polytheistic for the preceding reasons. The premise surrounding this belief is that the “Supreme Being” found in so many forms. Not placing limited parameters on the “Supreme Being”, as other religions are known to, is yet another modern appeal to Hinduism.

Hinduism believes in the reincarnation or rebirth of souls. They believe that souls are eternal and divine and that death is only temporary.

It is kind of difficult to understand how a religion can be both monotheistic and polytheistic, however Hinduism seems to have features of both. Hinduism is technically a polytheistic religion because they worship several gods but the fact that they focus on one main deity, Brahman, makes Hinduism monotheistic at the same time. On the other hand, Judaism is 100% monotheistic because they only worship one God, Yahweh. Judaism being a monotheistic religion has greatly influenced morality in Western parts of the world. In monotheism a moral code must be established that gives a sense of right and wrong, in terms of Judaism, this is the Ten Commandments. Having “ethical monotheism” is what made Judaism so different from a religion containing polytheism like Hinduism. In polytheism gods and goddesses did not encourage correct, moral behavior like a single god does in

Polytheism is the belief in more than one god or several gods. Monotheism is the belief in a single god. The Aryan’s believed in Brahmanism, which is classified as

Many will argue that Hinduism is polytheistic because there are these gods, goddesses and avatars that are prayed to and worshiped. Hindus would normally have a shrine with a specific god or goddesses that they worship to daily or when they feel is needed to at their homes. Hindus will also go to a Hindu temple and pray to completely different gods and goddesses.

There is still a debate within the religion if there is one god or multiple gods. The faith has been exceeding accommodation and inclusive because if the reincarnation capability. Prophets or other religious messengers become reincarnates from Vishnu or another god or goddess making them a part of the Hindu faith as well. It is often described to contain the belief in a trinity with Braham, Vishnu, and Shiva but just like humans cycle so do the cosmos as well. According to Smith, some would add the Mahadevi, the great goddess as a more accurate third part of the Trinity. Few Hindus celebrate Brahman, the creator therefore

Judaism believe in the concept of monotheism which is the belief in only one God. Jews have Rabbis or teachers whose clergy duty consists of teaching the sacred text of the Torah. In Judaism, the ultimate goal is to maintain a moral life by remaining obedient to God. On the other hand, Hinduism is considered a polytheistic religion since they worship multiple of deities. Hindus sacred text is the Four Vedas which is thought by the Brahmins to the fortunate castes. In Hinduism, its followers strive to attain moksha in other words to be released from the cycle of rebirth. Buddhism as well is a polytheistic religion because there is no one in specific to worship. Buddhism’s followers hope to reach the state of enlightenment or nirvana to liberate

Religion is a combination of beliefs, ceremonies and set of rules used to follow god or group of gods. I myself belong from a monotheistic religion, known as Islam. Islam is second largest religion in the world. Islam is revealed through Mohammad as a prophet of god. Quran is the holy book of Islam. The Quran was first revealed to Prophet Mohammad, being a messenger of god he started telling those teachings to the people of Mecca and Madinah. After that, people started to convert to Islam. I always wanted to know that how Hinduism is a monotheistic religion because Hindus believe in so many gods. I also wanted to know that why Hindu temples have a bell at their entrance. That’s why I choose Hinduism as my experience project.

Jainism is a nontheistic religion founded in India in the 6th century BC by the Jina Vardhamana Mahavira. The Jain religion teaches five pillars: Ahimsa, Asteya, Brahmachara, Apigraha, Anekantavada. The word "Jain" comes from the word "Jina" which means "a conqueror" of inner enemies such as ego, pride, anger, and lust. Jain followers keep strong, loving ties between each other and toward others because of their passion and dedication to peacekeeping and care in speaking.

Jainism arose during the sixth century B.C.E. in India as a protesting religion against Hinduism. Jainism, along with Buddhism, scorned the religious inferences of India’s caste system and declined the accuracy of the Vedas as being inspired scripture. Jainism’s precise origin is difficult to determine, however, Nataputta Vardhamana is traditionally acknowledged as the religion’s founder. In orthodox Jainism, Vardhamana, known to his followers as Mahavira, or “great hero”, is the most recent founder of Jainism, preceding twenty-three figures in the establishment of the religion. Jains believe that over great periods time, the emergence of truth is discovered, lost, and found again. These religious founders, including Mahavira, are referred

Jainism and Buddhism acknowledge extremely similar aspects in their respective religions. They both have a grounded belief of karma, samsara, and one of liberation. Although these basic principle are the same, they have differences within them. In this essay, it will discuss the similarities and differences between the basic beliefs and traditions regarding karma, samsara, recognition of the self, and final liberation in regards to Jain and Buddhist religions.

Although, Hinduism might be regarded by some as a polytheistic religion in its most basic form Hinduism is based around one deity. The Brahma is the god that all of the other gods are derived from and each god is a manifestation of the one being. There are four other main deities, aside from Brahma,

Jainism and Buddhism share some common ground and similarities in their beliefs and practices, and they also have features that make them unique and distinctively different from the other. Some of the central similarities of Jainism and Buddhism can be found in when and where their traditions originated, resemblances in their primary teachers, their religious goals, nonbelief in a creator, and their values of nonattachment and nonviolence. Some differences between Jainism and Buddhism are found in their karmic principles and the conception of the soul. There seems to be more parallels shared between Jainism and Buddhism than discrepancies.