Belief Systems: Differences

Animism Hinduism Judaism

Buddhism Christianity

Islam Confucianism

Daoism

1. Deity

●Animist = mostly nontheist or

primitive theist

●Hindu = hierarchical polytheist

●Jew = strict monotheist

●Buddhist = nontheist

●Christian = monotheist

●Muslim = monotheist

●Confucian = nontheist

●Daoist = nontheist

2. Time

●Linear

●Cyclical

3. Soul

●anatman

●atman

●reincarnation

●predestination

●moksha

●heaven & hell

4. Exclusivity

●Mostly NOT exclusive

- Hindu, Confucian,

Buddhist, Daoist,

Jewish

●Mostly exclusive -

Christian, Muslim

5. Purpose for Existence

●Hindu - moksha

●Buddhist - nirvana

●Christian - salvation

●Jewish - Torah

●Muslim - Allah

●Confucian - social harmony

●Daoist - peaceful simplicity

6. Books

●Hindu = Vedas, Upanishads

●Buddhist = Dhammapada,

Tripitaka

●Christian = Bible

●Jewish = Torah

●Muslim = Quran

●Confucian = Analects

●Daoist = Dao-de Ching

7. Geography

●Hindu = India

●Buddhist = Asia

●Christian = Europe - Americas

●Jewish = Israel - Americas

●Muslim = Middle East - Indonesia

- Africa

●Confucian = China

●Daoist = China