Is Jesus like an avatar?

There are echoes, God drawing near in a person, but also a real difference. Christians believe Jesus is the one God incarnate once for all, not one of many descents in a repeating cycle, and that he offers grace rather than a further turn of karma.

Does Christianity have anything like bhakti?

Yes, deeply. At its heart Christianity is loving devotion to a personal God who first loved us. The grace given in Jesus is meant to be met with wholehearted love and trust.

Where should I start?

The Gospel of John, which unfolds the incarnate Word, alongside the short pages on avatars, bhakti, and grace.

Come and See

I'm Hindu and Curious About Jesus

If your heart is drawn to bhakti, loving devotion to a personal God who draws near, then the Christian story may speak to something you already sense. Christianity claims that the one God did not stay distant but became flesh in Jesus, out of grace, to be known and loved. It is not one avatar among many cycles, but God giving himself once, in love, for you. Come and see who he is.

Where to begin

Jesus and the idea of avatarsIncarnation and avatar, where they meet and where they differ.Bhakti and graceLoving devotion to a personal God, and the grace at the centre of the gospel.Christianity & Hindu TraditionsAtman, karma and grace, moksha and salvation, the fuller comparison.

Read the Gospel yourself

John opens with the eternal Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us. If the nearness of God and the mystery of incarnation move you, John is the Gospel to begin with.

Read John →

Frequently asked questions

Is Jesus like an avatar?: There are echoes, God drawing near in a person, but also a real difference. Christians believe Jesus is the one God incarnate once for all, not one of many descents in a repeating cycle, and that he offers grace rather than a further turn of karma.
Does Christianity have anything like bhakti?: Yes, deeply. At its heart Christianity is loving devotion to a personal God who first loved us. The grace given in Jesus is meant to be met with wholehearted love and trust.
Where should I start?: The Gospel of John, which unfolds the incarnate Word, alongside the short pages on avatars, bhakti, and grace.