Hinduism and Christianity are two biggest religions of the world. Hinduism is the oldest continuing religion and Christianity has enlightened a majority of population of planet earth. Both religions have sacred texts that describe everything about both Hinduism and Christianity. Sacred texts of both these religions have very significant place in establishing and spreading ideas of both these religions. Sacred texts are very important for followers of Hinduism and Christianity and these texts have a function of guiding followers of both these religions. This paper intends to discuss the place of sacred texts in Hinduism and Christianity along with discussing various other related aspects.
Hinduism has a huge number of sacred texts including Vedas, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagwat Gita, Upanishads and various Smritis. All these texts are considered very pious and they teach and guide followers of Hinduism. All of these texts have different importance and they educate their followers and believers. Vedas are the most ancient and sacred books of Hinduism. These sacred texts are considered created by divine powers. Vedas suggest about the rituals and methods of worship and pleasing gods. Yagnas and other worship methods are extensively described in these sacred texts (Muller).
Ramayana presents examples of ideal life by portraying an ideal son who leaves his palace, empire and all amenities in order to fulfil a promise of his father. This son is known as the Lord Ram who has is considered the biggest god of Hinduism. Ramayana suggests its followers to live an ideal life but at the same time it also suggests to fight against injustices and evil powers who create hindrances for the society. Mahabharata is the biggest epic; another sacred text of Hinduism that educates its flowers to live with honesty and stand against all injustices.
Bhagwat Gita presents a practical approach of life. Bhagwat Gita is also a guide on life and regulates social, economic and political behavior of its followers. This sacred text is one of the oldest legal codes of the world. Apart from all these abovementioned texts, various Upanishads, Manuscripts, and Smritis are very important part of Hinduism that educates, suggests and regulates followers of Hinduism. Hindus enthusiastically believe in their sacred texts and follow them in their life.
Bible is the main sacred text of the Christianity. Old Testament and New Testament are two main parts of the bible. The bible is considered the holiest sacred text among followers of the Christianity. Bible is so descriptive that it alone educates and regulates the social, political and ethical behavior of followers of the Christianity. Bible is the main guiding power of millions of Christians who follow the largest religion of this planet. Bible focuses on every aspect of the Christianity and educates its believers to live with peace and love (Cannell).
Bible has been interpreted in different other forms by scholars and its different forms are in use in different parts of the world. There is also a slight difference in the interpretations of the Bible between Catholics and Protestants. Apart from the bible there are several other texts including Maccabees and prayer of Manasseh that focuses on different aspects of Christianity and regulates religious and behavioral parts of Christianity and its followers. These sacred texts have very significant place in the Christianity and among its followers.
Since Hinduism and Christianity are two different religions, here are several similarities and differences between the sacred texts of Hinduism and Christianity. But sacred texts of Hinduism and Christianity religions teach and educate their followers to live with peace and honesty. Sacred texts of both these religions provide ample space and liberty to their followers. None of these texts support radical views and educate their followers to indulge in hate and violence of any kind.
It has been observed in recent times that irrespective of teachings of sacred texts of Hinduism and Christianity, some radical elements have emerged in both these religions. They want to implement religious ideas in the real life and further advocate for more strict regulations in order to implement their religious ideas. These elements have created a new debate about the fundamental religious behavior and its relation with the sacred texts of both the religions, Hinduism and Christianity (Cannell).
Emergence of sects like Mormons in the Christianity and right-wing Hindu groups in the Hinduism is the new development that advocates for more fundamental religious behavior. These elements have their ways to interpret or rather misinterpret their religious texts. The biggest concern is their manipulation of their religion and spread hatred against other communities. These newly emerged fundamental elements are becoming powerful as they influence people easily with the help of their interpretations of their religions. They want to implement their understanding of the sacred texts and religion on the followers of their religion. There is a need of regulating such elements and their behavior.
There is another aspect of this issue that suggests this new development has to do a lot with social and political aspects rather than the religious aspect. The way terrorist activities are being spread in different parts of the world and some people are creating destruction in the name of religion, followers of every religion get opportunity to raise fundamental issues. These elements manipulate their religion and in the name of saving their religion and society, they spread hatred against others.
The world has become a global village and if unpleasant incidents takes place in one part of the world, another part of the world cannot remain unaffected by the incident. Recent developments in Iraq and brutal deeds of ISIS have compelled followers of other religions and such incidents are manipulated by religious fundamentalists in different parts of the world. Religion is very sensitive issue and the same is manipulated by these elements in order to gain support of the people and to become stronger. They take the help of fear, gather support of people and rip political advantage.
Having observed an overview and succinct analysis of the abovementioned subject, this paper concludes that sacred texts have very significant place in the Hinduism and Christianity. These texts educate and regulate social, economic, ethical and political behavior of followers of both the religions. Though both these religions and their sacred texts educate its followers to leave with peace and love but in recent times some fundamental elements have emerged in both the religions. There are various other aspects of the emergence of such elements in Hinduism and Christianity and they are rather political and social than being merely religious.
Works Cited
Cannell, Fenella. The Anthropology of Christianity. USA: Duke University Press, 2006.
Muller, Friedrich Max. The Sacred books of the East. USA: General Books LLC, 2010.
