Comparative religion

Comparative religion is a field of religious studies that analyzes interpretive differences of common themes and ideas among the world's religions. Often in parallel with comparative mythology, this field of study relies heavily upon the examination of myth and spirituality, deriving essential themes from religious metaphor, and tracing in various ways a possible direct cultural connection between them. It also makes comparisons between the rituals and other aspects of various faiths besides just the myths.

Comparision of beliefs

Religion	Abrahamic religions			Dharmic religions
	1. Christianity	2. Islam	3. Judaism	4. Hinduism	5. Buddhism	6. Sikhism
A. One God	Yes	Yes	Yes	Some	No	Yes
B. Prophets, Messiahs, or Avatars	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
C. "Exclusive Path to God"	No	No	Yes	No	No	No
D. Fasting Tradition	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
E. Pilgrimage Tradition	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
F. Religious Conversion Encouraged	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No
G. Reincarnation - life after life	No	In Kabbalah	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
H. Karmas -Deeds & actions now effect ones life later	matter of discussion	in the afterlife	No	Yes	Part	Yes
I. Members of other religions can reach God	Yes	Yes	Part	Yes	Part	Yes
J. Vegetarianism	Yes	No	Some	Yes	Yes	Some
K. Self sacrifice	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
L. Equality for Women	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
M. Safeguard personal rights of others	Yes	Yes	Part	Yes	Part	Yes
N. Equal rights for other communities	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
O. Personal prayers encouraged	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
P. Pictures or Statues of God Prohibited	Yes, with exceptions.	Yes	Yes	No	No	No

Definitions of terms used in the chart

• C. "Exclusive Path to God": Does the religion regard itself as the only path to God or can adherents to other religions reach God as well?

• I. Members of other religions can reach God – Does the religion accept that members of other religions can reach God?

Fields of study

• Origin belief
• Humanism
• Fundamentalism

• Abrahamic Monotheistic
  • Judeo-Christo-Islamic
  • Judeo-Christian
  • Christo-Islamic

• Mysticism and Esotericism
  • Kabbala (Judaism), Gnosticism (Christianity), Sufism (Islam), Zoroastrianism (Magi)
  • Chakra
  • Ideal perfection: "Baqa" (Sufism), 'Najat' (Islam), 'Nirvana' (Buddhism), 'Salvation' (Christianity), and 'Mukti' (Hinduism).

• Comparing Eastern and Western religious traditions
• Buddhist-Christian Parallels
  • Ayyavazhi and Hinduism
  • Judaism and Buddhism
  • Christianity and world religions
  • Christianity and Buddhism

See also

• Religious pluralism
• Religion
• Comparative mythology
• Hierographology

External links

• Academicinfo.net
• Comparative-religion.com