Leandra Jacobson 4/28

While writing my final paper I have looked into Hinduism a lot. I did not know it had different sects, just like Christianity. This affirms my idea that the central concepts of all religions are similar. Treat others as you would like to be treated, practice kindness, and have morals and virtue. The differences are found in the details. Who to worship and how to worship are major factors in defining a religion. Hinduism is an eastern religion with gods, religious texts, and central teachings. A sect of Hinduism, named Jainism, has similar aspects to it yet is independent in several distinctive ways. It intrigues me and should be explored. A central teaching of Jainism and Hinduism is Karma, one of my most firm beliefs from religions. Karma is ‘action’; or a reaction to the positive or negative actions that bind us and cycle back in our next life. Both religions emphasize and share the importance of this concept but differ on their explanation of karma. These religions are similar in theory but differ in practice as most are, focusing on the details. Even though Jainism is derived from Hinduism, they have enough differences to separate them into two distinctive groups and even into sects within these sects. Each religion has their own distinctive set of rules and ethics but all religions share the same basic concepts of love and peace. Hinduism and Jainism are great examples of how two religions can be so similar but so diverse.