Vaishali Institute Research Bulletin 4

Author(s): R P Poddar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 76

SALIENT FEATURES OF HINDU AND CHRISTIAN ETHICS
DR. RAMESH CHANDRA SINGH
In this paper, an attempt has been made to present comparative accounts of the central ethical problems of Hinduism and Christianity. If the Compara ive study is to be possible, there must be a proper sense of both differences and similarities. The Sense of difference recognizes traditions and views historically separate, and radically variant for But the sense of similarity makes possible some meaningful
centuries. communication.
The reason for undertaking this comparative study of the ethics rather than of other aspects of Hinduism and Christianity is, that it is in the field of ethics that the misunderstanding has been most acute. Moreover, this field is almost unexplored and very scanty literature is available. Mention may be made of John Mekenzie and S. K. Maitra who have written "Hindu Ethics" and "Ethics of Hindus"2 respectively. DR. Maitra has given clear, exhuastive and philosophical exposition of Hindu ethical ideas. DR (Mrs.) Surma Dasgupta has done extensive research on Development of Moral Philosophy of India. The book traces the development of moral philosophy from the time of the Vedas and the upaniṣads through the different systems of Indian Philosophy. Both DR. Maitra and DR. Dasgupta have compared different concepts within Indian systems. On the other hand, Mckenzie has made occasional comparison between Hindu and Christian values. He has put together historical and critical essays. Though Mckenzie is sympathetic to Hindu ethics yet at times he suffers from missionary zeal. Mckenzie in his book entitled "Two Religions"4 also mentions that Ahimsa in Salient feature of Hindu ethics and love of Christian ethics. But he has not dealt them fairly and analytically. Of late, a dissertation work bearing the title Hindu and
1. John; Mckenzie; Hindu Ethics (Humphrey Milford, Oxford University Press, 1922).
Maitra, S. K.; Ethics of Hindus (Calcutta University Press, 1925). Dasgupta, Surma; Development of Moral Philosophy in India, Orient Longman, 1961.
Mckenzie, John, Two Religions.
2.
3.
4.