The World’s Religions Differentiated
Directions: To compare is to tell how two or more things are alike. To contrast is to tell how two or more
things are different. Clue words such as like or as show comparisons. Clue words such as but or unlike
show contrasts. Often authors don’t use clue words. Readers must make comparisons for themselves.
Use this chart to compare and contrast any two major religions of the world.
Major Religions
Judaism Christianity
● Judaism was the foundation of Christianity ● Christians believe Jesus was God's Son
since the first Christians were Jews, and a member of the Trinity, which
Christianity was regarded as a branch of consists of God the Father, God the Son,
Judaism. Encouraged by the Apostle Paul, and God the Holy Spirit. And according to
the converts finally admitted that their Judaism, Jesus was just a human, a
religion was distinct from Judaism. great storyteller, and a prophet, He did
not claim to be the Son of God.
● Despite the fact that they share certain
beliefs, both religions. Judaism, the Jewish ● Christians agree that no one is accurate
faith, was the first to believe in a single God. in asserting that Jesus is not God's son,
While Christianity arose as a result of this but they do not go to extraordinary
belief. Both religions are based on lengths to disprove or persecute those
monotheism (that there is only one God). who do, and they also believe that
everyone has the right to their own
opinion.
Major Religions
Islam Hinduism
● Islam contains some basic beliefs, including ● Hinduism is a religion with personal
the that Allah is the only God. They also autonomy. Since it is an ethnic religion, it
believe that every Muslim must adhere to has not spread as widely as the far-
the Five Pillars and they conclude that the reaching Islam religion. Hindus believe in
Quran is God's revelation, revealed to Brahma, the Supreme Being who created
Muhammad (the United Religions Initiative). all. Brahma appears in three separate
“faces.” They believe that humans
reincarnate and that your current life
aims to behave gracefully enough to get
a better next life. Karma is the concept
that a person's actions determine the
outcome of their next life.
The cycle of reincarnation continues until
all karmas have been satisfied, and
Hindus believe that all life is sacred and
deserving of respect and love.
Major Religions
Sikhism Jainism
● Sikhs believe in a God beyond comparison ● Jains do not believe in a creator God,
and meditate on the Absolute Reality, which believing instead that "you are the
is a formless God. Sikhism encourages controller of your destiny according to
people to believe in God's grace. They physics." The Jains' meditative emphasis
believe that God is capable of forgiving and is on the inner or Tirathankaras (ones
pardoning humans for their transgressions. who reached salvation). They believe in
Sikhs believe in the existence of a loving the theory of evolution, which states that
God. Jains, on the other hand, talk about energy has its intelligence.
forgiveness without mentioning God.
Major Religions
Buddhism Confucianism
● Buddhism’s hearth is in Northern India and ● Confucianism is in China, which is
is in the region of Southeast Asia. It spread located in Southeast and Eastern Asia, it
hierarchically. Buddhists believe that their spread through relocation and
redemption comes from within, and it is hierarchical diffusion. Confucianists claim
neither polytheistic or monotheistic. that people control their destiny and that
Buddhism is a universalizing religion, which no higher authority is involved in their
means that it is accessible to people from all lives. Confucianism is focused on
walks of life and requires no prior cultural Confucius' teachings and how to live a
knowledge. good life.
