Religious Texts Comparison

Parables

• Parables are stories used to teach morals or lessons.
• For example, in class, we studied biblical and Buddhist parables.
• I will focus on biblical parables in this presentation.

HYMNS

• Hymns are religious songs or poems used for praising God.
• In class, we studied the Rig Veda.
• I will focus on the Rig Veda for this presentation.

DIFFERENCES OF BASIC BELIEF OF RELIGION OF TEXT

• A biblical parable is based on Christianity and evident in the Bible.
• The Rig Veda, a collection of hymns, is based on Hinduism, and part of the sacred texts known as the Vedas.
• The religion of worship makes these two different.

SIMILARITIES OF BASIC BELIEFS OF RELIGION OF TEXT

• They are both similar in that they are both religiously motivated pieces of text.

DIFFERENCES OF PURPOSE AND MANNER OF USE OF THE TEXT

• A parable is used to teach a moral or lesson. For example, “The Parable of the Prodigal Son” teaches the lesson of humility. However, by also including forgiveness (by the father), it also encourages people to convert to Christianity.

DIFFERENCES OF PURPOSE AND MANNER OF USE OF THE TEXT

• A hymn, however, is used as praise to a divine being, or deity, which in the Rig Veda’s case, is used to give thanks to the many Hindu gods and goddesses.
• For example, the Rig Veda is divided into a) Astakas, Adhyayas, and Vargas, and b) Mandalas, Anuvakas, and Suktas, which are essentially made up of mantras.

SIMILIARITIES OF PURPOSE AND MANNER OF USE OF THE TEXT

• The similarities between parables and hymns is that they are both for religious purposes, though one may be for teaching and another for praise.

DIFFERENCES OF LITERARY STRUCTURE AND STYLE OF THE TEXT

• With a parable, the main point is to hear and imagine the literal story, but be able to delve into a deeper meaning.
• Biblical parables have double meanings, with one being “just a scenario”, and the other being a second meaning about God and His teachings. For example, going back to “The Parable of the Prodigal Son”, the son not only represents the unfaithful son, but also God’s sinners who end up becoming devout followers after finding His forgiveness.

DIFFERENCES OF LITERARY STRUCTURE AND STYLE OF THE TEXT

• A hymn, on the other hand, is poem with the intent of sung for the adoration of deities and or heroes.
• The Rig Veda, for example, mainly gives praise to Indra, king of gods and god of thunder. One of the early Vedic poems show the bravery of Indra when killing Vritra, a serpent dragon.

Conclusion

• These were the differences and similarities between parables and hymns.
• Thank you! Have a nice day!