Religion can be described as a centralized belief in which a group of people live their lives according to a set of practices, relating to the existence of a particular deity in order to achieve a purpose. Religious studies are classified so that each religion can be comprehensibly conveyed in the way it is intended. Many religions attribute, intentionally or unintentionally, so-called philosophical parallels. Achieving these parallels involves a big problem with how vocabulary is used. The philosophical parallel: the problem of syncretism raises the question of whether an authentic religion exists. Most religions use this feature under such conditions that they use some features of other religions in their own. A big problem with syncretism is the permanence of a religion; all religions must adapt to society to survive. A religion known as Hinduism can best be described as a “two-room cottage.” Whenever Hinduism originated, around 1000 BC or so, it began in India as something small and progressively renewed itself by adding new and changing concepts. Hinduism has expanded to the West, showing its accelerated growth as a religion. After Hinduism, the fourth largest religion, widely illustrated as a cousin, is Buddhism. It is known to be the oldest missionary religion practiced in all of Asia. Buddhism existed as a religion after the birth of Buddha, also known as Siddhartha Gautama. While Hinduism and Buddhism share many similarities, one feature that makes them unique is how they recognize the existence of atman/soul/life energy within an individual. Classical Hinduism has a… . middle of the card ......he follows. If people are “blind,” then their ability and use of their eyes to see is in some sense (literally and metaphorically) useless. When people are given a toolbox, there is a particular means to use it, such as religion, it is a toolbox, and there are numerous apparatuses inside it, so they should be used; although each uses a particular and different tool, all are just a mass of means used for solitary use. Works Cited Buddhism. (2011, January). Retrieved March 20, 2011, from The Big View: http://www.thebigview.com/buddhism/karma.htmlEastman, R. (1999). The ways of religion. New York: Oxford. Gavin Flood, P. (2009, August 24). Religions. Retrieved March 20, 2011, from BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/concepts/concepts_1.shtmlJacob, K.J. (2008). Hinduism. Retrieved March 20, 2011, from Patheos: http://www.patheos.com/Library/Hinduism