What are the similarities and differences between the five major world religions?

Six great religions have shaped the major civilizations that exist today: the three Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) and the three Eastern religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, and Taoism/Confucianism). These religions seem to be quite at odds with each other when we look at their outer, or exoteric, forms. Not only do they have different rites, rituals, prayers and precepts, but in many cases their most fundamental doctrines about the nature of Reality appear to contradict each other.

All mystics agree that Ultimate Reality—whether It is called Allah, Brahman, Buddha-nature, En-sof, God, or the Tao—cannot be grasped by thought or expressed in words. Every religion has its own philosophies, scriptures, and guidance. The religion is by the people, for the people and to the people.

All religions goal is one. Aim is one. Motivation is one.

All Roads lead to Rome. The religious tradition of Hinduism is solely responsible for the original creation of such concepts and practices as Yoga, Ayurveda, Vastu, Jyotish, Yagna, Puja, Tantra, Vedanta, Karma, etc. These and countless other Vedic-inspired elements of Hinduism belong to Hinduism, and to Hinduism alone. As per Hinduism, the teaching of sacred Bhagavad Gita... human form is the highest manifest stage in the cosmic life cycle... particularly our planet Earth!

Only in the human form our soul atman gains release from the cycle of birth and death forever... never otherwise! The moment human beings reached the stage of enlightenment (kaivalya jnana) all is over for the soul atman. One another important belief of Hinduism is the doctrine of karma... the ultimate master and controller of all things cosmic!

In absence of the laws of karma... the entire Cosmos simply could not sustain! If the Cosmos exists... so do the laws of karma! In absence of karma.

Another great difference is the abrahamic religions have one god, one guide and with a single holy text,whereas the hinduism is guided by many great Rishis, acharyas with various kind of scriptures, texts besides vedas, upanishads but surprisingly it is in various languages with one aim, goal and structure without any differences. The main upadesa is to live in righteous way of living or following dharma. Of course there are many conflicts over the religion, but now all are united and standing one umbrella.

The shaivats are following their rituals and vaishanavas are doing in their way. But, all are hindus. Hinduism is based on vedas, Upanishads, agamas, Upanishads, puranas, and ithihasas.

The Abrahamic religions (in most of their branches) agree that a human being comprises the body, which dies, and the soul, which need not do so. The soul, capable of remaining alive beyond human death, carries the essence of that person with it, and God will judge that person's life accordingly after they die. The importance of this, the focus on it, and the precise criteria and end result differs between religions.

Reincarnation and transmigration tend not to feature prominently in Abrahamic religions. Although as a rule they all look to some form of afterlife, Christianity and Islam support a continuation of life, usually viewed as eternal, rather than reincarnation and transmigration which are a return (or repeated returns) to this Earth or some other plane to live a complete new life cycle over again. Kabbalic Judaism, however, accepts the concept of returning in new births through a process called "gilgul neshamot," but this is not Torah-derived, and is usually studied only among scholars and mystics within the faith.

Christians display the cross in many churches, hang pictures of Jesus and images of Jesus on the cross in churches and homes. The cross is simply an image upon which to focus the mind, and also serves as a reminder of the sacrifice Jesus made for mankind's salvation. Catholics often hang pictures of saints to whom prayers are offered, and Orthodox Greeks carry and display holy icons during mass.

Many Muslims hold an image of the Kaaba stone while doing prayers on their knees, facing Mecca.

Hinduism is a science to find the trueness of the universe, there are a many concepts of god in Hinduism (including monotheistic Brahman and the pure atheism) and the research still continues, Hindus can chose the belief what is appropriate to a person or can still find a new answer, where are Abrahamic religions are religions who already have definite answers about god and one must believe in it and nobody is permitted to question what is told in their religious books through their founder/prophet. If questions they are out of religion and blasphemous and have to face punishment.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.