SimilarBeliefsStart exploring

Explore beliefs and shared ideas

Four billion peoplewere taught compassionby different books.

Explore what religions and philosophies share. See where they differ. Read the sources behind each comparison.

Mercy to strangersCare for the poorThe golden ruleFasting
BuddhismChristianityIslamJudaismHinduismSikhismJainismTaoismConfucianismZoroastrianismBahá'íShintoIndigenous traditionsSecular humanismStoicismand many more. This is not a full list.

Side by side

Choose an idea. Compare four traditions.

Read passages side by side. Each one includes a source so you can look it up.

Which traditions teach mercy toward strangers?

Buddhism

“Just as a mother would protect her only child with her life, even so let one cultivate a boundless heart towards all beings.”

Metta Sutta, Sn 1.8

Islam

“The merciful are shown mercy by the Most Merciful. Be merciful to those on the earth.”

Sunan Abi Dawud 4941

Christianity

“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

Luke 6:36

Confucianism

“What you do not wish for yourself, do not do to others.”

Analects 15:24

Where they
differ

These passages call for mercy or care for others. Their reasons differ. They refer to suffering, God, or how people should treat each other.

Compare all 15 traditions

The atlas

See how ideas connect.

One idea can lead to another. Charity can raise questions about justice, humility and care for strangers. The map shows some of these links.

18
traditions mapped
240+
cited passages
0
editorial verdicts
CompassionCharityJusticeForgivenessHumility

shared ground

“Treat others as you would be treated.”

How we compare beliefs

We use four rules to guide our work.

01

Start with sources

We cite sources so you can check them. We aim to explain translation choices and disagreements.

02

Show the differences

Shared ideas do not make beliefs the same. We explain the differences too.

03

Treat each tradition fairly

We describe each tradition on its own terms. We do not rank beliefs.

04

Explain the context

Who wrote a passage? When was it written, and who was it for? These details help explain its meaning.

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