Western Religions
Solution/salvation = forgiveness/atonement.

Salvation from Hell and Gods judgement

Goal:Heaven, bodily resurection, God will come down to earth and get rid of all of the "bad" people and there will be peace.
There will be a fellowship/union with god. The people will retain personal existence, no more suffering, or death. You will be a physical component in after life.

The Authentic Sacred text very important/central.

They have an emphasis on history.

Eastern Religions
Solution/Salvation (Desire+Spiritual discipline and enlightenment.
Release from Samsara (the wheel of rebirth). Reincarnation is a negative thing

Goal: To merge with God/nirvana (A state of bliss) Not a personal existence.
Spiritual afterlife/impersonal existence. (You will exist as a part of God)

Sacred text/guides are less important. Experience is more important

History is not very important.

Early Hinduism

Hinduism is a persian word meaning Indian Religion.
There is no founder.
The religion started in the Indus River Valley 2500 BC. There were huge communal pools. Purification and Fertility rites. Fertility worship of Lingum God Shiva. the symbol is of a large black penis with a circular platform that it sits on(It is a big black stone). Represents male and female. They were Agricultural Beliefs are similar to there fertility beliefs. They had indoor toilets and water pumps.

They used a language/writing that can not be translated