...Week 3 Assignment: Hinduism Paper Week 3 Assignment: Hinduism Paper Hinduism is a religion that lacks a uniting belief system like many other religions possess. Cultural and societal influences have made Hinduism vital to India, the region in which it originated. India is one of the last places holding onto its ancient cultures. Hinduism is able to bring together different beliefs, customs, and traditions, which helps each maintain their historical traditions. The dharmic traditions that are found in India are all a mixture to some degree of each other. Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism have all shared characteristics between one another. Hinduism is at its core monotheistic, although the Supreme God or Brahman may be worshipped in many different forms. Hindus believe in one Supreme Being who created the earth. India has a long history and many varieties of religion have developed over time. There are some unified religions like Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. The various other religions have been grouped together and labeled as “Hinduism” like they are a single religious practice. This grouping and categorization of Indian religions was began by the Colonial British during their rule in the nineteenth century (Fisher, 2014). There is much debate surrounding the classification and labeling of Indian religions by non-Indian people. The argument is made that these outside people use their own religious concepts and ideas as means to judge, understand...
Words: 883 - Pages: 4
...Meng Li Exam Essay 1 RELS-U277-001 Dr. Wessinger Hinduism is defined as an animistic Basic Religion. The term Basic Religion is created and introduced by an American historian of religions, Lewis M. Hopfe. Indigenous peoples “original inhabitants” who are living in simple economics and people who are living in industrialized and information economies practice Basic Religion in their daily lives. There are many characteristics of Basic Religion. For example, as other religions, Basic Religion also has an ultimate concern that is whether the believers are in harmony with sacred beings and forces. Also, for the view of human nature, Basic Religion emphasizes on the relationship between the living and the dead. For instance, the spirits of the dead will continue to exist, and the living and their ancestors will affect one another. Moreover, Animism is a term that is used to describe the cosmology of Basic Religion. Personal gods, impersonal forces throughout nature, in natural objects, animals, and humans, and spirits in nature are three very important components of Animism. Therefore, Animism is absolutely polytheistic. Monism is a philosophical term that asserts there’s only one ultimate reality that is considered to be the essence of all existing things in the world. As opposed to polytheism that believes in multiple gods, monotheism believes in only one god or the oneness of god. One of the evidence of Indian tradition’s oneness is Upanishads. These texts come at the end...
Words: 739 - Pages: 3
...Hinduism Hinduism is a complex and multi-faceted variety of religions and belief systems. These Indian beliefs and traditions are categorized together as ‘Hinduism’, though the term originally referred only to inhabitants of the Indus River valley in modern day Pakistan. A more precise term is Santana Dharma, meaning ‘ageless religion’, and encompasses all of the Indian subcontinent beliefs and religions. Hundreds of millions of separate deities are involved and many Hindu beliefs are that the divine has countless faces. The traditions and beliefs can be traced back to the Vedic age, as early as 8000 BCE. It is during the Vedic age, at approximately 1500 BCE, that the written form of the Vedas emerged. The Vedas is a collection of religious texts that are the written basis of much of the Santana Dharma. It is theorized that the Vedas may have been written by Aryan invaders from Eastern Europe, but true or not, the Vedas is the earliest written compilation of the beliefs of the region. Elements of Hinduism Among the Santana Dharma, there exist concepts central to all belief systems. Reincarnation is the belief that when the body dies, the soul enters a new body and is reborn again and again, but including forms such as those of animals as well. Another central belief is that of Karma. Karma is used to define a belief that one’s actions result in consequences and that if the actions are good and pure, then the consequences will be as well. If one lives...
Words: 808 - Pages: 4
...What Is Hinduism? What is Hinduism? According to Yahoo education.com, the definition of Hinduism is, “A diverse body of religion, philosophy, and cultural practice native to and predominant in India, characterized by a belief in reincarnation and a supreme being of many forms and natures, by the view that opposing theories are aspects of one eternal truth, and by a desire for liberation from earthly evils.” (2009) The diversity comes from questioning, “what makes up Hinduism?” To understand it you must understand part of the history of the religion. The history of the religion is as diverse as the “body of the religion”. Hinduism is also identified as Sanatana Dharma the “ageless or eternal religion”. The Hindu origin dates back to 8000 BCE, by Indian tradition, when the first Vedas, religious texts, were heard by rishis, ancient philosophical teachers, and passed by word of mouth. To some the birth of Hinduism is dated more around 3000 BCE when the Vedas were put into written form. Even though eighty percent of people from India believe in some form of Hinduism, there is a disputed belief that an Aryan invasion from southern Russia brought the religion to India and did not originate in India. However Hinduism came to the Indian people, it is a strong belief among them. The Hinduism religion has 330 million deities according to Hindu customs and yet there is a focus on Brahman, the ultimate infinite reality. The Brahman has no form or shape, is never-ending, and philosophically...
Words: 731 - Pages: 3
...Hinduism as a whole is a simple yet complex religion that has had a great impact on the region of its conception. The Hindu religion as a whole has one ultimate goal and that is to become liberated from the earthly existence we know and to be without worldly limitations of this earth. Even though Hinduism lacks a uniting belief system there are many aspects that make Hinduism a religion. There are also many cultural and societal influences that have made Hinduism a vital influence to many across the world but most notable in the region it was originated in. In the religion Hinduism or also referred to as Sanatana Dharma “eternal religion” followers acknowledge that there is good in all and a link that good to the cosmos. Sananta Dharma’s foundation is set in the Vedas which is the religious text of the key principles of Hinduism. All though the followers of Hinduism have over 330 million deities the Devas are the controlling forces in the cosmos. Even with all of the deities the sages perceived one unseen reality. This reality is beyond human understanding and creates and sustains life and everything that exists. Hinduism may lack a unified belief system but it is undoubtedly a religion by definition. A religion can be translated as a set of strongly-held beliefs, values, and attitudes that somebody lives by. One of the beliefs that are a crucial part to how Hindus follow their religion is concept of reincarnation. In reincarnation when a being dies the soul leaves the...
Words: 842 - Pages: 4
...ancient China (and Greater Asia) Activity and Objectives: You will engage in a roundtable discussion with representatives from each of the five philosophies (Confucianism, Legalism, Daoism, Buddhism and Hinduism) to gain an understanding of how people of one country with different philosophical views respond to complex life situations. * You will gain foundational knowledge on Confucianism, Legalism, Daoism, Buddhism and Hinduism. * You will identify the strengths and weaknesses of the belief systems. * You will understand how various philosophies throughout Asia shaped its rich, cultural past. * You will synthesize ideas generated in the roundtable discussion in order to problem solve with their peers. * You will examine the effects contrary philosophies have on social interaction. Roles: Within each group, you will be assigned to one of five philosophies. * Confucianism * Legalism * Daoism/Taoism * Buddhism * Hinduism MY NAME IS: Alana L. Edwards____________________________________________________ MY PHILOSOPHY IS:_Hinduism________________________________________________________ ASIAN PHILOSOPHIES NOTES 5). HINDUISM (pgs. 66-67) Reincarnation – Being reborn in another body. Several religions, including Hinduism, believe that the human spirit returns to Earth in different forms again and again as it strives for perfection. Karma - action, seen as bringing upon oneself inevitable results, good or bad, either...
Words: 1131 - Pages: 5
...Buddhism is nontheistic religion and is closely related to Hinduism. This belief is more of a philosophy, which includes an array of customs, beliefs and spiritual practices mostly based on the teachings of Buddha or otherwise known as the “awakened one”(Mann 265) . Buddhism is an offshoot from Hinduism because of their similar beliefs such as, reincarnation, that there is an ultimate spiritual reality beyond this earth and it’s physical world, and that there are different paths one can take on their road to enlightenment. They defer however, by the Buddhist rejection of priests and their conflicting views on reality. Hinduism see’s reality as being everything united as one divinity in contrast with Buddhism which see’s reality as the ultimate...
Words: 387 - Pages: 2
...Hinduism Paper HUM/130 March 17, 2013 Hinduism Paper Hinduism, otherwise known as Sanatana Dharma is one of the oldest religions in the world. Sometimes it is defined as the religion of India because of its origins in the Indus River region (Tri State Hindu Temple Newburgh, n.d.). Hinduism is a difficult religion to define because there is no founding father, no main religious book, and a multiplicity of deities. It arose out of a combination of religious, philosophical, and cultural practices so varied that there is no central tradition. It has evolved from the diverse Indian cultures for over four thousand years. This could explain why the matter of listing all things that Hindus believe in or even what all Hindus do is not a simple matter. Nevertheless there are some basic tenants of Hinduism and some key Hindu scriptures that help us to understand the concepts and beliefs which are held by many Hindus in a somewhat unifying principle. Central Themes in Hinduism The desire for liberation from earthly existence could be consider the ultimate goal of a Hindu. This desire to exit the cycle of birth, death and rebirth is directly related to the concept of reincarnation which is a major cornerstone of Hinduism. Reincarnation is the belief that when the soul leaves the dead body it enters a new one, living again and again in countless bodies whether human, animal, or plant. The key is that the self remains the same. The ultimate goal is to end the suffering of reincarnation...
Words: 1129 - Pages: 5
...Hinduism Paper Rory Richards HUM/130 June 30, 2013 Dawn Tawwater Hinduism Paper Hinduism does not have a set orthodoxy, but there are several main beliefs that share a commonality among the different sects. The caste system is one of the oldest principles of Hinduism, an aspect as much religious as it is social. According to Hindu teaching, there are four basic social classes, or castes. Each social order has its own rules and obligation for living. The select few are the Brahman, or priest caste. Second are the warriors and rulers, the Kshatriyas. Third are the Vaisyas, or merchants and farmers. Finally, the fourth caste is the Shudras, or laborers. Existing outside of the caste system are the untouchables, the outcasts of society. One does not get choose to enter his or her caste, rather, that is decided according to what family the person is born into. Some other aspects of Hinduism that are shared among the different sects are the belief in the three-in-one god known as “Brahman,” which consists of: Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the Preserver), and Shiva (the Destroyer). There are three gods that make up Brahman – Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Hindus also worship the “wives” of Shiva, such as Kali, or one of Vishnu’s ten incarnations (avatars). There are literally millions of Hindu gods and goddesses, by some counts, as many as 330 million! At the same time, Hinduism teaches that all living things are Brahman at their core. In other words, all living...
Words: 768 - Pages: 4
...Hinduism and its Role in Religion Hinduism (Sanatana Dharma) is ordinarily regarded as the oldest organized religion in the world. It is noted that it has about 950 million followers or 14% of the world’s population (Religious Tolerance, 2011). It is the leading religion among the people in Nepal, India, and in the Tamils in Sri Lanka (Religious Tolerance, 2011). Hinduism is based on a holistic and spiritual approach and uses many scriptures (Verdas) about theology, mythology, and philosophy. These Verdas are the foundations of Sanatana Dharma. Hinduism is considered to be one of the most complex religions in the world and is sometimes referred to as hetheism, which means one has devotion to one “God”, but does not deny the existence of others. Hinduism or Sanatana Dharma is the eternal faith and is the practice of Dharma. It is the belief in one Supreme Being, represented by many gods. The Hinduism religion is based off the scriptures of Vedas which were written over a 2,000 year period and reflect about the belief, rituals, and practices of those who follow it, but it has changed significantly over the last 3,000 years. The Vedas include hymns, texts, and prayers that explain the Hindu belief. There are four parts in the collection and include the Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda and Atharva Veda. The Vedas are the texts of Hinduism (Fisher, 2005). They believe that there are 33 devas (divines) that each have a significant function that supports humans living in the...
Words: 750 - Pages: 3
...realizes the self discovers everything in the cosmos… all come from the Self” (Easwaran, 190). This ideology is completely different from the one presented in Islam. In Dharmic traditions God is no longer the answer to the equation but rather a part of the equation. Islamic ideology and Dharmic tradition can be seen as quite different from each other from a surface level. Where Hinduism is a henotheistic religion with many Gods, and Islam...
Words: 412 - Pages: 2
...Great World Religions: Hinduism Lectures # 6 and # 8 Lecture six discusses men and women and their stages of life. The stages of life for men and women are very different but they do have some similarities when it comes to certain aspects of life. Men undergo four orders during the cycle of life. These four orders are referred to as asramas. The first stage of life is known as the brahmacarya stage which is the student stage. This typically takes place between the ages of seven and eleven. During this stage boys are to learn about personal purification and sacrificing. The second stage is the household stage where young men are to marry and to start a family. The third stage is when a man and his wife move to a place where they can withdraw from their active social life. In order to do this a man must have his family and must be financially stable. This place is usually somewhere in the forest according to Mark W. Muessee the professor who gave the lecture on Hinduism. The fourth and final stage of the life cycle is a stage that not many men accomplish. During this final stage of life men are to renounce their former identity along with anything known with it. He is to leave his family and his wife and all of his belongings. The color of renunciation that these men where is orange. In classical Hinduism women were to follow three stages in the cycle of life. Now typically women follow the same stages of life that men do. The three stages women preciously followed were the girlhood...
Words: 611 - Pages: 3
...Hinduism May 13, 2012 Axia College HUM 130 Hinduism is an ancient and complex religion that is composed of a variety of myths, gods, and philosophic ideas. Much like Buddhism, Hinduism is a belief structure founded on fundamental concepts such as karma and reincarnation. Hinduism believes that humans are trapped in a cycle of rebirth which places one in a particular place within the caste system in accordance with their actions in the prior life. Ultimately, the object of Hinduism is to break the cycle of rebirth by realizing the ultimate reality (Brahman) with all their being; enlightenment. For the Hindu, the liberation from the earthly existence is to become one with the Brahman (Flesher, 1998). These beliefs have a variety of interpretations and this allows for people of many different beliefs to be considered Hindu. The uniting concepts of Hinduism include: * Dharma- virtue, specifically this concept refers to one’s duties within a particular caste. It is virtuous to perform one’s duties in a willing and correct manner. * Samsara- the cycle of rebirth or reincarnation. * Karma- the belief that one’s actions accumulate over one's life and at death this accumulation of actions determines one placement in the next rebirth, either higher or lower in status. * Moksha- the end of the cycle of rebirth or liberation from it. This is the ultimate goal and result for understanding Brahman (Flesher, 1998). Hinduism is very similar to Islam in that it...
Words: 727 - Pages: 3
...Hinduism Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world, behind Christianity and Islam. Sanatana means ageless and believes in the ways that have always existed. Hinduism has no single founder of the religion. Hinduism does not have a bible and does not require practicing one main idea. Hinduism is considered more of a culture than a religion. And, unlike Islam or Christianity, it does not have a single belief system, a central religious organization, did not have a single Prophet/Messianic founder, or a single system of law/morality. Despite this, about 14% of the world’s population consider themselves Hindu, most located on or near the Indian subcontinent. (Religious Tolerance.org, n.d.). It is often quite difficult for westerners to understand Hinduism, not just because of the number of sects that exist within its areas of predominance, but because it does not need the formulization and intellectual overlord that many western religions seem to require. This is why, according to some, Hinduism is seen as a philosophical belief system rather than a religion – but this is likely picking nits since it adheres to most of the formal definitions of “religion.” Because there is no central text, it is sometimes difficult to construct an overview of the context of Hinduism. There is controversy, for instance, as to whether Hinduism is monotheistic or polytheistic – Hindus recognize only one supreme God (Brahman) and that all things constitute an overall unified reality...
Words: 744 - Pages: 3
...main goal of Hinduism is. The ultimate goal of Hinduism is Moksha not the worship of a god or 2 gods or many gods. This is a very important point to understand Hinduism. We do not pray to gods because we believe in their superiority but because we believe that they can show us the path towards enlightenment and consequently Moksha. Gajendra Moksha (pictured) is a symbolic tale in Vaishnavism. The elephant Gajendra enters a lake where a crocodile Huhu clutches his leg and becomes his suffering. Despite his pain, he constantly remembers God Vishnu. God liberates him. Gajendra symbolically represents man, Huhu represents sins and the lake is saṃsāra. Let me explain, now, the different forms of Theism in Hinduism. Monotheism : is the belief in theology that only one deity (God) exists. This form is not widely practiced in Hindusim today but Hindus can believe in monotheism. Polytheism : Polytheism is the belief that there is more than one deity. This is a widely popular belief in Hinduism of today and one of the defining characteristics of Hinduism because no other mainstream religion believes in Polytheism.Within polytheism there are hard and soft varieties: Within polytheism there are hard and soft varieties: Hard polytheism views the gods as being distinct and separate beings; an example of this would be certain schools of Hinduism as well as Hellenismos. Soft polytheism views the gods as being subsumed into a greater whole. Some other forms of Hinduism such as Smartism/Advaita...
Words: 820 - Pages: 4
