1.1 Explain The Beliefs Of Christianity And Hinduism

Edward Fletcher Folio of Responses T1

Question 1:

Explain the different beliefs held by Hindus and Christians about the purpose of life.

Christianity and Hinduism are two religions with vast differences, this includes their expressed beliefs on the purpose of life. For Hinduism, according to Stimulus 1 (Katha Upanishad 1:3:12), “Brahman is the supreme goal.” Brahman can be explained as a form of ‘divine consciousness’ and when union with Brahman is attained one can achieve ultimate peace and liberation. Christianity in contrast, it is believed that through having faith and dedication of your life’s doings to God then you will be ‘saved’ and allowed to enter the kingdom of heaven. As described in Stimulus 2 (Ephesians 2:8-10), “For by grace

They have specific worldviews which can be differentiated using the provided stimulus’ 3 and 4. Stimulus 3 presents the Buddhist worldview; “Our life is shaped by our mind; we become what we think.” (Dhammapada: Collection of teachings of the Buddha). This implies that Buddhists have power to shape their experience of life by cultivating positive thoughts and attitudes. In contrast, Stimulus 4 presents the Christian worldview on God’s love for the world to which “he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16-17). This demonstrates that rather than, in Buddhism, having your mind as the sole source of power, having faith in God can grant eternal life specifically in the Kingdom of Heaven after

Judaism believes that loving and serving God will result in a close relationship with Him. Stimulus 10 (Deuteronomy 6:4–9) focuses on the unity of God and the significance of loving Him with all your heart, soul, and strength. This emphasises the importance of a person's devotion to God. According to Islam, life is meant for worshipping Allah and submitting to His will. The Quran's teachings, such as those shown in Stimulus 11, place a strong emphasis on the idea that there is only one God and that He is the one who created everything. The verses 5.17 and 3.83 of the Qur'an also emphasise Allah's limitless power and authority over all things in the heavens and the earth. These teachings stress the significance of yielding to Allah's will and acknowledging His rule as the goal of life. Overall, their unique perceptions of God or the "Other" are influenced by the Jewish and Islamic teachings on the meaning of life. While Allah is viewed as an all-powerful and sovereign God in Islam, God is viewed as a personal and loving God in Judaism. Although both religions emphasise devotion to and submission to God or Allah as the goal of life, they have different conceptions of God's nature and place in the