Gandhi and Jesus have similar teachings which include the golden rule, respect for sacrifice, and the power of love. While their stand points slightly differ about sacrifice and the symbolism of the cross, the idea is considered alike. Although Gandhi was a devout Hindu, he still was very open to understanding and learning about the Christian faith. Gandhi told many of his students that Jesus had a large influence on his life and even went as far as tell other Hindus that their life would be incomplete unless they too studied the teachings of Jesus. Gandhi was inspired by the Sermon on the Mount and the symbol of the Cross. Jesus and Christianity also had similar teachings on love.
The Sermon on the Mount is found in Matthew 5-7 and was a sermon from Jesus that told them to treat others the way they wanted to be treated and to turn the other cheek when they had been wronged. This message resonated with Gandhi from a Gurarati poem from his child that ended with “return with gladness good for evil done.” Gandhi also saw the message as a political message that could be applied to India’s turmoil as a nonviolent way to solve the violent problems that were plaguing India. Gandhi claimed that “An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind.”
Gandhi also identified with the symbol of the cross because of the way that he chose to live. Through his reading of the Bible he saw that Jesus ended up on the cross because society was scared of him and the life that he preached. The concept that God was giving up his only Son as a sacrifice for humankind’s sins was very revolting to Gandhi. Gandhi’s feelings toward the cross show his reverence and respect toward the Christianity. This quote embodies Gandhi’s feelings toward the cross: “…Chance threw Rome in my way. And I was able to see something of that great and ancient city … and what would not I have given to bow my head before the living image at the Vatican of Christ crucified. It was not without a wrench that I could tear myself away from that scene of living tragedy. I saw there at once that nations like individuals could only be made through the agony of