All the main patterns in the famous world religions are present somewhere in Hinduism. Besides the direct offshoots, like Sikhism and Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Confucianism, and Taoism too find their ideas somewhere in Hinduism.

At some point, this may seem contradictory by a narrow and thus overlooked perspective. But that contradiction is present within Hinduism itself! Like they tried to do too much. Namely, jnana yoga and bhakti yoga’s metaphysical view of the cosmos. Without delving into details, jnana yoga is nondualist, while bhakti yoga is dualist. I guess this sort of discrepancy isn’t too uncommon within other religions; think all the flavors of Christianity. But the disagreement in Hinduism, I feel, is on such a foundational level in how to think about anything. Of course, in Hinduism, this is from the acknowledgement that people are different. However, this feels like a square-inch bandage on the cross-section of your open gut.

Anyhow, this fundamental discrepancy allows for, essentially, most religious thought to be a subset of Hinduism. By subset, I mean by the same sentiment as above, their core belief patterns, since there are definitely tangential things in these religions not present in Hinduism. Confucianism and Taoism are subsets in a more opaque way. From what I can see so far without having read too much about either, Taoism’s ceaseless ebb and flow, go and return of nature is akin to Hinduism’s eternal cosmic cycles, Middleway. Confucianism speaks of social order, which is but a small part of Hinduism’s outline towards enlightenment. In particular, the second/third in the path of hedonism to worldly success to civic duty to beyond. There are intermediary stages too, just fyi.

I said a minute ago, “this feels like a square-inch bandage on the cross-section of your open gut.” To this Hindus probably say, it’s not a bug, it’s a feature! To my knowledge, many or some or just the contemporary ones or all, endorse all the world’s religions! They’re simply different paths leading to the same place. Not necessarily the same goal though, their claims and mission statements can be vastly different. But nonetheless the same, although perhaps so unrealized, place.

Now, to qualify everything I say and add reasonable doubt as preemptive defense against most everything: I am but a conceited westerner who is reading up on this stuff for fun. Hinduism rating: 6.9/10 because tantric sex.