BEREA CHRISTIAN COLLEGE FOR INTERGRATED STUDIES 18TH

MAY 2020

NJENGA STANLEY MUNGAI

DTH/C001/3435/20

DTH109 (INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGION )

Q1 compare and contrast Hinduism and Christian concepts of salvation

(25mks)

It was not a missionary religion like Christianity

In Hinduism they believe in dharma as a way of which leads to salvation unlike

Christians who believe salvation is a attained through believe in Jesus Christ as
the son of God

Hindus set up is in moksha the religion in its broadest while Christian chief
Deity is God the almighty source of salvation .Hinduisms has no founder it is
not known when Hinduism came to being.

It is as result of a process of gradual evolution through many years their

salvation journey has been changing as evolution takes shape in different stages
of salvation but in Christianity it is known that Christianity with birth ,life and
death of Jesus Christ son of God and savior of mankind .this concept has not
changed since inception or evolved over a period of many years

Hinduism has no common creed there is no generally accepted system of

doctrines but Christianity there are accepted system and doctrines .the
Christians have creeds like Nicene creeds Apostles creed and organized
structures of organization in their way of salvation.

Hinduisms is not institutionalized. there is nobody of believers who follow one

common pattern of worship or even live according to one common code of
conduct but Christianity is institutionalized by an elaborate body of believe who
follow a common pattern of worship and have a code of conduct which they
subscribe to.

There is a varieties of believers and practices in Hinduism in their way of

salvation there is valid and various means which are described as a family of
religion this makes it very difficult to say who a Hindu is but in Christianity
they believe in the trinity God the Father ,Son and the Holy Spirit.

Hinduism way of salvation is so complicated they observe complicated system

of rules or non at all. One may give up the world or accept it .one may worship
one or many gods or worship no god at all and still in line with the Hindu
salvation . it is still acceptable in Hinduism that one may worship a man as God
while in Christianity there is a set of system on the way salvation and God is the
only deity who is worship by all Christianity according to Hinduism their
salvation is obtained in their scripture the Sruti and Smiriti and part of
subscription to the vedas they observe Ramayana and Mahabarata as part of
their common heritage while Christian s follow the holy bible and its teachings
as doctrines to be observed by all Christians and a way which leads to Christian
salvation .

a) Hinduism believes in four goals of life as way of their salvation

b) Dharma(righteousness)
c) Artha (worldly prosperity or materiel wellbeing )
d) Karma (enjoyment or pleasure )
e) Moksaha (liberation)

While Christian s believe the only chief goal of life is righteousness living
alive ,free from sin and way of pleasing God . Hinduism has four stages of life

A student , a householder ,meditation in forest on values of life and the holy

stage .this is a Hindu way of salvation but Christians have at least three stages
of life to exhibit salvation through : Birth , Christian living while on earth and
the death when one is united with his maker in heaven .

Hindu way of salvation upholds that salvation is and by a person deeds it is

earned through a person’s deeds I many lives accumulating credits in life and
death but Christian way of salvation upholds that one can only have it by god
grace through Jesus Christ son of God the saving power from sin and holy spirit
help .for a Christian to lead a life reflecting Christian salvation Hinduism and
Christianity however share on various views as a way of salvation eg

The Hindu three ways a way of good works (unselfishness that every man has
duties of right action (karma ) devotion , path of knowledge and all should do
good to others Christians holds the same view .
Conclusion

Hinduism and Christianity concept of salvations vary on wide range of issues,

however is paramount for the two to respect each other’s way of salvation and
try to co-exist a midst dissenting opinions . it is also of great importance to
followers leading a way of life reflected on the way of salvation one subscribes
to there are also few ways whereby Hinduism and Christians reads from the
same scripts

To my view some practices as a way of salvation in Hinduism are totally

hilarious and uncalled for e.g. worship of man as God among others.

It is also my opinion that Christians have uphill tasks to live a life that should be
emulated by others to desire to join Christianity as a way of salvation.

I also subscribe to the view that Christians should use all available Godly
procedures to win Hindus to Christianity.

Question two

Critically access the cause of inter faith conflicts and suggests possible
remedies in the face of Kenya’s religious pluralism(25mks).

They key factor to interfaith conflict in the face of Kenya’s religious pluralism
is that different religion are based on different faith foundations eg Christian
believes in Jesus Christ ,Muslims believes in Mohamed , Hindu Budha among
others .

Although there are many others factors which come to play there is also
completion of supremacy of deity each faith going out of their ways to prove
that their faith is the one that subscribes to the true God and trying to outshine
the other . this bring bad blood among different faiths .

The book of reference in different faith is another issue. e.g. Christian bible ,
Muslims Koran as well as Sruti and Smiriti for the Hindus among others .this
bring divergent and dissenting opinions which at times escalates to conflicts .

Fighting for influence in the government also creates an avenue for interfaith
conflicts some faith feels shortchanged during government appointments and
major government organs
Infiltration of places of worship. Christian put up churches in Muslims
dominated areas and vice versa among other faiths this creates tensions when
converts are won on either sides. Each side feels that their flock is taken away
from them also the various ways and means used by different faiths to win
converts causes conflicts .

Spiritual conman ship some faith believes of exploitations for person gain
,members aggreviated by being misused at the expense of some individuals
enriching themselves living lavishly in a luxurious homes and leading expensive
lifestyles .

Ethnicity – religion and faith being profiled on tribal and ethnic lines this
becomes an immotile issues which mostly leads to interfaith conflicts .

And mushrooming of various cults and sects eg Mungiki Genge Wakali Wao
Taliban and Alshabab Militia among others .this groups and their actions leads
to faith Conflicts .

Negligence of the youths as they get idle they engage in harsh argument of faith
resulting to conflict also as they try to win their space in different faith .fighting
for resources in many parts in many occasion different faith assets are a cause of
interfaith conflicts .also different faith festivals and rituals some becomes
offensive top others leading to disagreement and conflicts

Misappropriations of funds on different faith also results to conflicts ,also

technology has brought its fair share of conflict whereby it is used to demean
,discredit and publisher and spread of information and materials offensive to
different faith hence leading to conflict .

Dissenting opinions – e.g. religious organizations in Kenya being unable on a

similar cause of action each faith taking a hard line position as subscribe to its
faith the result is conflict also involvement of women in different faith their
exclusions leads to conflict .

Possible remedies

Coexistence it is possible each other with different faith and practices respecting
others position and being entitled to their decision of faith it is also important to
engage in fierce debates of faith each trying to outsmart the and proof there is
supreme deity and the right one to be worship.
 All faith should hold their books of reference without correcting others book of
reference and poking holes on their way that leads to worship and faith .the
government should also be inclusive in its composition for all and not
suppressing others faiths while glorifying others .

It should also flush out all faiths that accommodate people who exploit others.
Government should also eliminate all cults and sects with questionable practices
which may lead.

Ethnicity should also not be used as tribal tool on different faiths particularly
by spiritual leaders and those in position of authority from all faiths

Involvement of youths in affairs of different faiths they feel included and can
arrest pockets of trouble when they arise from their colleagues also involvement
of women in different affairs of the faith groups.

The resources available should be shared amicably as well as respecting each

other faiths festivals and rituals .integrity should be practiced by those who hold
position of authority in different faiths and shun away from acts corruption and
immorality. Technology should be used constructively to spread the agenda of
different faith in a constructive way not attacking other faith ideology .

There should be formed a commission of interfaith religions with composition

of members of all faiths and its chairperson should be a government official
with wide range of knowledge in religion and law.

There should also be established dialogue programs between people of all faiths
.in this platform healing and reconciliation on historical pain and injustices
should be addressed and solved amicably

Conclusion

Interfaith conflicts can be solved if all people choose to co exist and respect
each other minding their own business and valuing peace to advances each faith
agenda