Hinduism differs from Buddhism in Hinduism's acceptance of

• A. reincarnation
• B. karma
• C. nirvana
• D. the caste system

Answer: (D)

The key idea here is how social structure shapes religious practice. Hinduism has historically encompassed and upheld a caste system that organizes society into hereditary groups, influencing who can participate in religious life and what roles people hold. Buddhism, by contrast, centers the belief that spiritual progress and liberation are available to all beings regardless of birth, and it does not base spiritual standing on caste. This contrast—acceptance of a birth-based social hierarchy in Hinduism versus its rejection in Buddhism—is what sets them apart.

Reincarnation and karma are beliefs shared by many Hindu and Buddhist traditions, so they don’t distinguish the two. Nirvana is a central term in Buddhism describing liberation, whereas Hinduism typically speaks of moksha as the goal of union with the divine; this difference further explains why caste-based social structure is the standout distinction.