The world’s six major religions—Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism—represent diverse yet intersecting worldviews that have shaped human civilisation for millennia. While these traditions differ in theology, ritual, and cosmology, they share common moral foundations such as compassion, justice, and the pursuit of truth. According to Kripal (2014), comparative religious studies reveal both the unity of spiritual aspiration and the diversity of cultural expression in humankind’s quest for meaning. This article presents a comparative analysis of major religions drawing upon evidence from academic literature including journal articles, books.
1.0 Foundational Beliefs and Worldviews
Islam, Christianity, and Judaism—the Abrahamic religions—are monotheistic, affirming belief in one transcendent God. Islam’s Shahadah proclaims that there is no god but Allah, while Judaism upholds monotheism through the Shema (“Hear, O Israel: the Lord is one”), and Christianity affirms the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—as the single divine essence (Morgan, 2007).
In contrast, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism—traditions originating in the Indian subcontinent—approach divinity through non-dualistic or pluralistic frameworks. Hinduism recognises Brahman as the ultimate reality, manifested through countless deities (Howard, 2017). Buddhism, founded by Siddhartha Gautama, diverges sharply, denying a creator god and instead focusing on the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path to attain Nirvana, the cessation of suffering (Deming, 2025). Sikhism, founded by Guru Nanak (1469–1539), integrates monotheistic devotion to the One Universal Creator (Waheguru) with egalitarian and ethical ideals drawn from both Hindu and Islamic contexts (Wani, 2018).
2.0 Scriptures and Sources of Authority
Each faith anchors its teachings in sacred texts that function as divine revelation and moral guidance.
- Islam’s Qur’an is viewed as the literal word of God revealed to Prophet Muhammad, supplemented by the Hadith (sayings and practices).
- Christianity’s Bible comprises the Old and New Testaments, culminating in the message of Jesus Christ as the Messiah and Saviour.
- Judaism’s Torah and Talmud guide both ritual and ethical conduct, framing the covenant between God and the Jewish people (Gwynne, 2011).
- Hinduism’s Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, and Puranas encompass philosophical, ritual, and narrative dimensions of dharma.
- Buddhism preserves the Tripitaka (Pali Canon), while Mahayana Buddhism adds sutras such as the Lotus Sutra.
- Sikhism’s Guru Granth Sahib serves as a living Guru, containing the spiritual hymns of Sikh Gurus and saints from multiple traditions (Chopra, 2022).
Each text reflects its culture’s epistemological approach: revelation, meditation, or reasoned discourse. For instance, Judaism and Islam emphasise law and covenant, while Buddhism and Hinduism highlight experiential wisdom and liberation.
3.0 Ethics and Moral Philosophy
Despite differences in metaphysics, all six traditions uphold ethical codes that guide human conduct.
In Islam, Shariah defines the path of righteous living through justice (adl), compassion (rahmah), and submission to God (Islam) (Rossi & Malik, 2023).
Christianity teaches agape, the selfless love exemplified by Christ’s sacrifice. The Sermon on the Mount embodies ideals of forgiveness, humility, and nonviolence.
Judaism grounds ethics in the 613 mitzvot, focusing on justice (tzedek) and loving-kindness (chesed).
Hindu ethics rest on dharma (duty) and karma (moral causation), promoting harmony through ahimsa (non-violence) (Masih, 2000).
Buddhism’s ethical precepts—avoiding harm, theft, falsehood, sexual misconduct, and intoxication—are tools for cultivating right conduct.
Sikhism advocates honest labour (kirat karni), charity (vand chakna), and remembrance of God (naam japna), merging ethics with social equality (Wani, 2018).
A comparative study by Pereira-Salgado et al. (2017) found that religious leaders from all six traditions view ethical living as inseparable from spiritual fulfilment, demonstrating cross-cultural convergence on moral universals.
4.0 Rituals and Worship Practices
Ritual is central to religious identity, serving as a medium for expressing belief and communal solidarity.
- Islamic rituals include the Five Pillars—faith declaration, prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and pilgrimage to Mecca.
- Christian practices vary by denomination but revolve around baptism, Eucharist, and prayer.
- Judaism’s rituals, such as the Sabbath, Passover, and Yom Kippur, embody remembrance and covenantal renewal.
- Hinduism celebrates puja (worship), yoga, and festivals like Diwali, combining devotion and cosmic balance.
- Buddhist rituals—meditation, chanting, and almsgiving—aim to cultivate mindfulness and compassion.
- Sikhism’s daily prayers (Nitnem), community service (seva), and the langar (communal kitchen) emphasise equality and devotion (Braswell, 1994).
While Abrahamic rituals stress obedience and remembrance, Dharmic traditions emphasise spiritual realisation and karma. As Yew et al. (2021) observe, ritual differences mirror contrasting worldviews: transcendence versus immanence.
5.0 Concepts of God and the Afterlife
In monotheistic traditions, God is personal, moral, and creator of the universe. Islam rejects any division in divinity (tawhid), while Christianity conceives of God incarnate in Jesus Christ, and Judaism perceives God as the eternal lawgiver.
By contrast, Hinduism allows both personal (Bhakti) and impersonal (Brahman) worship. Buddhism, often described as non-theistic, views existence as interdependent and impermanent. Sikhism’s God is both transcendent and immanent, realised through meditation and ethical living (A Kasa, 2025).
Afterlife beliefs also vary: Islam envisions heaven and hell, Christianity preaches resurrection, Judaism holds diverse eschatological views, while Hinduism and Buddhism emphasise reincarnation and liberation (moksha/nirvana). Abdullah et al. (2024) found that despite doctrinal differences, all faiths share belief in moral accountability beyond death.
6.0 Social and Cultural Influence
These religions profoundly shape social values, law, and identity.
Judaism’s covenantal ethics influenced Western law; Christianity’s universalism underpins human rights discourse (Saleem, 2019).
Islamic civilisation preserved scientific and philosophical knowledge during Europe’s medieval period.
Hinduism fostered caste-based organisation, though reinterpreted in modern times towards equality.
Buddhism spread non-violence and meditation practices, influencing global mindfulness movements.
Sikhism, through its Khalsa tradition, defends justice and human dignity (Mugambi, 2015).
Contemporary interfaith dialogues reveal growing recognition of shared values such as peace, compassion, and stewardship of the earth (Bluck et al., 2013).
7.0 Comparative Summary
| Aspect | Islam | Christianity | Judaism | Hinduism | Buddhism | Sikhism |
| Deity | One God (Allah) | One God (Trinity) | One God (YHWH) | Many forms of Brahman | Non-theistic | One God (Waheguru) |
| Text | Qur’an, Hadith | Bible | Torah, Talmud | Vedas, Gita | Tripitaka | Guru Granth Sahib |
| Goal | Paradise | Salvation | Righteousness | Moksha | Nirvana | Union with God |
| Ethics | Shariah | Love (Agape) | Mitzvot | Dharma | Eightfold Path | Seva, equality |
| Afterlife | Heaven/Hell | Heaven/Hell | Varied | Rebirth | Rebirth | Liberation |
This table illustrates how, while differing in cosmology, all religions converge on moral discipline, spiritual growth, and service to others as pathways to transcendence.
The comparative study of these six world religions reveals a mosaic of beliefs unified by the human search for meaning, morality, and transcendence. The Abrahamic traditions stress obedience to divine law, while Dharmic religions prioritise inner realisation and cosmic order. Yet across all, one finds the ethical imperative to live rightly, serve others, and seek union with the divine—whether conceptualised as God, Brahman, or Enlightenment.
In a globalised world marked by pluralism, such understanding fosters mutual respect and peaceful coexistence, affirming that diversity in faith enriches the shared human spirit.
References
A Kasa (2025) The Influence of Religious Beliefs on the Formation of Historical Events and Cultural Traditions: A Comparative Analysis of World Religions. Pharos Journal of Theology, 106(3).
Abdullah, S.C., Salim, S., & Sahad, M.N. (2024) Comparing Afterlife Beliefs in Buddhism and Islam via Muslim Converts’ Views. International Journal of Religion and Philosophy.
Bluck, R., Gilliat-Ray, S. & Graham, D.J. (2013) Judaism, Sikhism, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism: Post-war Settlements. Routledge.
Braswell, G. (1994) Understanding World Religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Judaism, Islam. Thomas Nelson.
Chopra, M.R.M. (2022) A Study of Religions. New Delhi: Munshiram Manoharlal.
Deming, W. (2025) Understanding the Religions of the World: An Introduction. Routledge.
Gwynne, P. (2011) World Religions in Practice: A Comparative Introduction. Wiley-Blackwell.
Howard, V.R. (2017) Dharma: The Hindu, Jain, Buddhist and Sikh Traditions of India. Routledge.
Kripal, J.J. (2014) Comparing Religions. Wiley-Blackwell.
Masih, Y. (2000) A Comparative Study of Religions. Motilal Banarsidass.
Morgan, P. (2007) Ethical Issues in Six Religious Traditions. Edinburgh University Press.
Mugambi, J.N.K. (2015) A Comparative Study of Religions. African Heritage Press.
Pereira-Salgado, A., Mader, P., O’Callaghan, C. & Boyd, L. (2017) Religious Leaders’ Perceptions of Advance Care Planning. BMC Palliative Care, 16(23).
Rossi, A. & Malik, H. (2023) Ethics and Morality: A Comparative Study Across Religious Belief Systems. Al-Awaan Journal of Religious Studies.
Saleem, R.M.A. (2019) Religious Values and Worldviews. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Politics.
Wani, A.M. (2018) Hinduism, Islam and Sikhism: A Comparative Study. Oxford University Press.
Yew, W.C., Awang, A.H., Selvadurai, S. & Noor, M.M. (2021) A Comparative Study of Islam and Buddhism: A Multicultural Perspective. Religions, 12(12), 1098.
