Hinduism vs Judaism
Comparison chart
| Improve this chart | Hinduism |
Judaism |
|---|---|---|
| Place of origin: | Indian Subcontinent | Israel |
| Founder: | Not credited to a particular founder. | Abraham |
| Geographical predominance: | India, Nepal | Israel, North America, Europe. Has varied over time, due to various persecutions and migrations. |
| Clergy: | No official clergy. Gurus, Yogis, Rishis, Brahmins, Pundits, priests, priestesses, monks, and nuns. | Traditionally, no clergy other than priests (Cohanim). Religious functionaries like Rabbis, Cantors, Scribes, Mohels. People who specialize in public Torah reading ceremonies. Anyone can lead service or prayer. |
| Practices: | Meditation, Yoga, contemplation, yagna (communal worship), offerings in the temple. | Orthodox Jews recite prayers 3 times daily, with a fourth prayer added on Shabbat and holidays. Shacarit prayer in the morning, Mincha in the afternoon, Arvit at night. Musaf is an extra Shabbat service. |
| Scriptures: | Vedas, Upanishad, Puranas, Gita. | Tanakh (Jewish Bible) , Torah. |
| Concept of Deity: | Dependent on school of thought. Monism/polytheism/Monotheism. | Belief in one God and teachings of the tradition, prophets and rabbis. |
| Principle: | To follow dharma, i.e. eternal laws | They are the Chosen people of God, and must follow their Covenant with Him. A unique ethnicity. Early monotheists. |
| Use of statues and pictures: | Encouraged | Not allowed as it is considered Idolatry. |
| Definition: | The word Hindu has geographical significance and was used originally for those people who lived beyond the river Sindhu or the region watered by the river Indus. Hindus themselves, call their religion "Sanatana Dharma, " meaning "Eternal Law." | Of the tribe of Judah. |
| Literal Meaning: | The followers of Vedas are called as Arya, noble person. Arya is not a dynasty, ethnicity or race. Anyone who follows the teachings of Vedas is considered Arya. | A Jew (Hebrew: יְהוּדִי, Yehudi (sl.); יְהוּדִים, Yehudim (pl.); Ladino: ג׳ודיו, Djudio (sl.); ג׳ודיוס, Djudios (pl.); Yiddish: ייִד, Yid (sl.); ייִדן, Yidn (pl.))[1] is a member of the Jewish people/ethnicity |
| Life after death: | A constant cycle of reincarnation until enlightenment is reached. | World to come, Reincarnation (some groups); temporal suffering in Hell; eventual return to Paradise(Garden of Eden), unifying with God, there are different opinions and beliefs |
| Place of worship: | Temple (Mandir) | Synagogues, Western Wall |
| Means of salvation: | Reaching enlightenment by the Path of Knowledge, the Path of devotion, or the Path of Good Deeds. | Through belief in God, good deeds, complete faith. |
| Goal of religion: | To break the cycle of birth, death and reincarnation, and attain salvation. | To live. fulfill the Covenant with God. Love God with all your heart and a perfect faith (from the morning service). |
| Branches: | Myriad | by traditions based on location: Sephard, (Spain, Islands, Arab countries, Turkey) Ashkenaz (Central/Eastern Europe, Germany, France) Greek, MIzrachi: Jemen, India etc. By approach to tradition: Orthodox, Conservative, Reconstructionist, Reform |
| Belief of God: | Several beliefs depending on school of thought: polytheism, monotheism, pantheism, etc. | God is the one True Creator. God has always existed, none existed before him and will exist forever. He transcends life and death. |
| Rites: | Some Hindus believe in a "thread ceremony" for men. | Mitzvahs. |
| Angels: | The concept of angels does not apply in Hinduism. Some mythological stories include rishis, who sometimes serve as the messengers of God. | Angels serve God as messengers. World is full of beings existing that we cannot see or understand |
| Human Nature: | Depends on sects. | two equal impulses, one good and one bad. People decide which one they follow. Human nature is in human hands. You must judge each person for innocence (Avos chap. 1). |
| Time of origin: | circa 3000 BC | c 1300 BC |
| Population: | 1 Billion. | Around 13-20 Million, debated |
| Place and Time of origin: | Indian Subcontinent, beginning with the Vedic civilization circa 3000 BC | 1300 BC, Middle East. Religion formed over several centuries; was present by the Babylonian exile; Jews faced Jerusalem and replaced animal sacrifice with prayer as early as 700 BC. |
| Views on the afterlife: | A constant cycle of reincarnation until enlightenment is reached after which moksha is attained. | World to come. different opinions.on nature The life after is commonly recognized as the next world. Human soul can be reincarnated, stay in the next world or unify with god. Different beliefs and opinions. |
| Confessing sins: | Repentance for unintentional sins are prescribed, but intentional sins have to be repaid through karmic consequences. | Temple destroyed in 70, there was a sin offering for individuals, and Yom Kippur confessions, Today people must individually repair their sins, recognize what is wrong and improve themself. People individually confessing sins. Talking with God, Vidui |
| Marriage: | Man may marry one woman. However, kiings in mythology often married more than one woman. | Between one man and woman. Marriage can be arranged or it can be a love marriage. In our times monogamistic, against premarital sex. Marriage is the merging of two souls as one |
| Belief: | Diverse beliefs depending on sects. | The Jews' central belief is that the people of all religions are children of God, and are equal. The role of Jews is to follow God Law and to certify his presence, The Messiah is important element of beliefs. There are many concepts. |
| Offshoot religions: | Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism. | Christianity, Mandeanism, Islam. |
| Religious Law: | dharma shastras | Halakhah |
| View of God: | Monists believe only Brahman exists, Pantheists believe all things/entities are God, Monotheistic sects consider God as immanent and transcendent and different from others. The Nasadiya Sukta even explores creation-ex-nihilo. | God is the one True Creator. God has always existed, none existed before him and will exist forever. He transcends life and death. God is one and the only holiness. God is the creator he is beyond human understanding, he is omnipotent |
| Day of worship: | Orthodox schools prescribe three prayer times a day: at dawn, noon and dusk. | Every day in particular Holidays. The most important is Saturday (Sabbath), many Holidays correspond to agricultural seasons of Israel and the work week, and the prayers explicitly mention this. |
| God's role in salvation: | Beliefs vary by sect. Upanishads (scripture) say God chooses who gets salvation. Salvation is attained via good deeds and righteousness (following the "dharma" and avoiding sin) | Divine revelation of his law and judge mans actions. The role of mankind is to be an example that is is possible to live according to God's Law. |
| Original Language(s): | Sanskrit | Hebrew |
| Prophets: | No prophets in religion, but Rishis would be considered equivalent to prophets in Vedic times. Avataras of Vedic God are different from human reincarnations, but would be considered equivalent to Christian idea of God in flesh. | Moses, and the subsequent Prophets of Israel. No prophets or magic until the world to come and world peace (according to the Talmud).. |
| View of Oriental religions: | Buddhism and Jainism were considered false religions by traditional schools of Hinduism. Their popularity threatened traditional Hinduism so some Hindus tried to enfold these new sects by claiming that Buddha and Mahavira were incarnation of Vishnu. | N/A. Many different views Must obey the law of the land, if ethical. |
| Use of statues: | Allowed | Forbidden |
| View of Animistic religions: | Various animistic religions were absorbed into Hinduism as rishis proselytized and the influence of Vedas and Upanishads grew. | Pagan (however, like paganism, the earliest Jewish holidays correspond to agricultural and work seasons as do the prayers). |
| Virtue(s) in which religion is based upon: | Follow dharma (righteouness), eternal law. | Justice & adherence to God's law |
| Belief of God: | The deity often varies from sect to sect. Smarta/Monists sect believes Everything is God. There are monotheistic sects also. | Belief in One God, often called HaShem, which is Hebrew for 'The Name' or Adonai, "the Lord". |
| Promised Holy one.: | The 10th Avatar of Vishnu | The Coming Messiah |
| Religion which atheists may still be adherents of: | Charvakas and Sankyas are atheistic groups in Hinduism. | Yes, since Judaism emphasizes Deed over Creed; Many Jews profess to be atheists, in spite of their commitment to Judaism. |
| Views on other religions: | Some scriptures say the path they describe is the only path to God and salvation. Other scriptures are more philosophical than religious. Beliefs vary. | They believe that all humanity should obey 7 Commandments, regardless if they are Jewish or Gentile however all religions are just different ways to the same God. God is one. Must obey all ethical laws of the land they are in. |
edit Further Reading
For further reading, there are several books available on Amazon.com on Hinduism and Judaism:
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