Summary:
The three main Semitic religions are: Christianity, Judaism and Islam. They are related by a common belief in God and the constant battle between good and evil. The main Indus root religions are: Hinduism and Buddhism. They are linked by a belief in karma. Life is regarded as a continual cycle of birth, life and re-birth) and that the deeds or desires of part lives determines persons fate in this and future lives.
Compare and contrast the Semitic and Indus root religions
The three main Semitic religions are: Christianity, Judaism and Islam. They are related by a common belief in God and the constant battle between good and evil. The main Indus root religions are: Hinduism and Buddhism. They are linked by a belief in karma. Life is regarded as a continual cycle of birth, life and re-birth) and that the deeds or desires of part lives determines persons fate in this and future lives.
One of the main similarities between the Semitic religions is that no matter how difficult the past and present may be, the three religions are hopeful about the future. Evil and suffering cannot ultimately prevail. All three religions also believe that God communicates revelations through prophets. These revelations are recorded in the Holy Scriptures of each religion. The key Scripture of Judaism is the Torah, the key Scripture of Christianity is the Bible, and the key Scripture of Islam is the Qur'an. Another similarity between the Semitic religions is God's guidelines. God provided us with basic rules to live by. All three religions, for example, detest murder and the arbitrary killing of innocent people. While the similarities between Hinduism and Buddhism are that both believe in the migration of souls and the cycle of births and deaths for each soul. They also emphasize compassion and non-violence towards all living beings. These 2 religions both believe in the existence of several hells and heavens or higher and lower worlds and the existence of gods or deities on different planes. They also accept as true certain spiritual practices like meditation, concentration, and cultivation of certain bhavas or states of mind.
The main difference between the Semitic and Indus root religions is that Semitic religions' purpose of life is to bring creation of God to fulfillment during our lifetime and our life should be lived in commitment to thanks and praise of God. While the Indus religions believe that life is a movement either towards Nirvana and reaching enlightment or the purpose of life is to release Atman (innermost self) of bondage. Distinction in question of death between 2 branches of religions is that Semitic religions believe that death is a doorway to next life, which is determined by a person's response to God in this life. It is also a return to a loving creator who shares his life with creation. While the Indus root religions believe its part of an endless cycle leading to rebirth and reincarnation. Finally, Semitic religions believe that evil and suffering are part of our world and has entered our world through the work of Satan and malicious doings of humans. Hinduism and Buddhism believe evil and suffering are effects of past Karma and it could come in a form of punishment by a reincarnation in a lower form.
Therefore, we can conclude that religions from Semitic root - Christianity, Judaism and Islam have many similarities in questions of life, death and evil and suffering, as do religions from Indus root - Buddhism and Hinduism. But there are several differences between the two religious roots, such as, a dissimilar view on meaning of life. This can be accounted for the different areas they originated from and the variation in age between the religions.
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