Similarities/Differences to the Bible.
Hindu
Hinduism: believed to have been practised in the Indus Valley Civilization from 1300 BC predates Abraham an important character in both Judiasm and Christianity called by God from a culture which worshipped multiple gods as the Hindu faith do today.
Hinduism was possibly in the same era as Adam and the garden of Eden 20 generations before Abraham.Hindus believe the Hindu Scriptures are Divine revelations, unchanging truths of the universe and ultimate reality.Hindus teach there are three primary deities, Vishnu (preserver) Brahma (creator) and Shiva/Yamaraz (destroyer). The Bible teaches of one God who is described as Father Son and Holy Spirit. Hindus teach there are physical manifestations, "Avatars" of Vishnu: Matsya (fish) Kuma (tortoise)Varaha (boar) Narasimha (half man half lion) Vamana (dwarf) Parashurama (warrior) Rama (prince) Krishna (divine prince) Buddha (enlightened one) Kalki (a future Avatar). Rama and Krishna are known for their love and compassion towards us. Kalki will bring the current age of darkness and ignorance to an end by destroying evil and bringing an era of truth and righteousness after which he will return to his divine abode. The Bible teaches that Jesus will judge evil and bring a new heaven and a new earth but Jesus will return to reign with his followers on earth, see below Bible 1Thessalonians:4. and 1 Peter:3
Hindus tell of "Isha" who is the son of God born of a virgin,Christians teach that Jesus was born of a virgin.
Hindus teach that that Matsya (see above) warns "Manu" to build a boat to survive a flood, as Noah is told to build an Ark; Bible Genesis 6:7-10 Matsya guides the boat to safety but as Peter explains Bible 1 Peter3:18-21 Jesus becomes our ark and our bad karma My activity His consequences, I get bitten by a snake He takes my poison.
Hindus teach Krishna shows his love and compassion to guide us how by good karma we can break free of "the cycle" Bible Peter; 1Peter 3:18-21 Because Messiah (Jesus) also suffered for sins once . the righteous (good karma) for the unrighteous (bad karma) that he might bring you to God being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the Spirit in which He also went and preached to the spirits in prison who before were disobedient when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ship was being built. In it a few that is eight souls were saved through water. This is a symbol of immersion which now saves you- not a putting away of the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience towards God- through the resurrection of Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah who is at the right hand of God,having gone into heaven , angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him.
Funeral Practices and Bereavement issues
Hindus believe their soul can go to heaven if in their last miutes of life they can breathe oxygen from a Tulasi plant at a shrine of the godess Tulasi.
After the soul has left the body it must be cremated. As Christians do not worship the cow (and may have eaten cow meat) they are deemed by Hindus to be defiled so their presence at a funeral may be forbidden.To show good will Christians may supply and carry wood for the cremation. The sons of the deceased shave their heads, dress in white robes and for 12 days sleep on straw, eat only one meal each day and must not touch any person. On the thirteenth day to complete their cleansing Alms must be paid to their sisters and the Priest.
A Christian funeral is very different. Bible 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 But we don't want you to be ignorant, brothers,concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you dont grieve like the rest, who have no hope. For if we believe that Yeshua died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Yeshua. For this we tell you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord,will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with God 's shofar (ram's horn used in Jewish tradition). The dead in Messiah will rise first, then we who are alive, who are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore comfort one another with these words.
Zoroastrian
The Iranian prophet "Zoroaster" (Zarathustra) around 1500 to 1000 BC practised the religon we know as "Zoroastrian" Teaching there is only one God emphasing good thoughts words and deeds - "Hear no evil,see no evil, think no evil" There is a dualistic universe (good v evil), practice religous tolerance. Was Persian Emperor Cyrus who rebuilt the Jerusalem Jewish temple Zoroastrian? Wher the wise men who came from the East to visit baby Jesus responding to prophecy in Zoroastrian scripture (Yasna 30:9-11, Yasht 13)
Muslim
Those who practice Islam are called Muslims. Islam was founded by the Prophet Muhammad 570 to 632 AD. Prior to his encounter with the angel Gabriel Muhammad had followed the Hanii religonwhich holds that Abraham was a Hanii prophet.
Like Christians Muslims believe there is only one God but Muslims do not believe Jesus was "begotten" from God. As I understand Muslims do to believe the following scriptures to be true;
Bible John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only born Son,that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life
Bible Philippians 2:5-8 Have this in your mind which was also in Messiah Yeshua who existing in the form of God, didn't consider equality with God a thing to be grasped but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself becoming obedient to the point of death, yes the death of the cross.
Bible Colossians 1:15-20. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.For by him all things were created in the heavens and on the earth visible things and invisible things, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things and in him all things are held together. He is the head of the body, the assembly , who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he might have the pre-eminence.For all the fullness was pleased to dwell in him, and through him to reconcile all things to himself by him,whether things on the earth or things in the heavens having made peace through the blood of his cross.
Muslims do not accept the above scriptures and believe Jesus was only a prophet. Muslims state the "Quran" is the final Canonical scripture, the literal word of God superseeing all previous scriptures.
Mormons
In 1830 the Church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints was formed by Joseph Smith in New-York. Also known as the Mormons in a similar manner to Christians they used the King James version of the Bible, but unlike Christians also use the book of Mormon, a narrative of ancient American civilization including information on the Nephites also the Lamanites and Jaredites. The book of Mormon provides Doctrine including a plan of salvation, the pearl of great price (built on Bible Matthew 13:45-46)the book of Moses, JosephSmith portions of Matthew , excerpts from Joseph Smith's history teaching on church governance, 13 Artcles of faith ,sacraments,and family structure.
The Mormons teach that Jesus Christs atonement can enable a man or woman to return to live with God (Celestical Kingdom) but personal choices matter in relation to specific ordinances and covenants , temple marriage , priesthood authority
Bible Romans 4:2 Who was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification Like the Mormons I believe Jesus was delivered to the cross for my tresspasses but unlike the Mormons I believe the resurrection of Jesus is evidence that God has accepted what Jesus accomplished on my behalf.
Choices I make are a sign of how God has changed me. When I "pass " my Spirit will be for a time with Jesus but Jesus will give me a new life/body to reign with Him in a renewed world
Jehovah's Witnesses
The Zion's watch Tower Society formed in 1870s by Charles Taze Russell was renamed the Jehovah's Witnesses in 1931 and uses a translation of the Bible called "New World translation". The name Jehovah is used to emphasise Gods personal covenantal relationship with humanity. In keeping with their belief that Jesus is not God the New World translation changes Bible John 1:1 from the Word was God to the Word was a god The New World translation also changes references to the Trinity 1 John 5:7 For there are three who testify. Jehovah's Witnesses teach that the Holy Spirit is not a person but Gods energy as an impersonal force. The New World translation omits reference in Bible Revelation 19:11-13 the name that no one knows but he himself , omits the robe dipped in blood and omits his name is the word of God