Christianity
Islam
Judaism
Hinduism
Buddhism
Incarnation & Avatars
The idea that the divine takes on human or earthly form to intervene in history appears prominently in Christianity and Hinduism, and finds echoes in other traditions. Whether as Christ the Word made flesh or Vishnu's ten avatars, incarnation theology expresses the conviction that God draws near to humanity.
Across the World's Religions
Christianity
- 修行
- The Incarnation — God became man in Jesus Christ
- Key Text
- John 1:14; Philippians 2:6-8
Islam
- 修行
- Rejected — Allah does not incarnate; Jesus is a prophet only
- Key Text
- Quran 4:171, 5:72-75
Judaism
- 修行
- Rejected — God is incorporeal and does not take human form
- Key Text
- Deuteronomy 4:15-16; Maimonides 13 Principles #3
Hinduism
- 修行
- Avatars of Vishnu — Rama, Krishna, Narasimha, and others
- Key Text
- Bhagavad Gita 4:7-8; Bhagavata Purana 1.3
Buddhism
- 修行
- Tulku / Nirmanakaya — emanation body of a Buddha
- Key Text
- Lotus Sutra (Saddharma Pundarika), ch. 16