...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
...Hinduism Elyse Adams Axia College of University of Phoenix Hinduism is the term that was applied by foreigners to the people that live in the region of the Indus River in the nineteenth century. Now it is known as a major religion practiced in the Indian subcontinent and contains in it a diverse family of devotional and ascetic cults and philosophical schools, all sharing a belief in reincarnation and involving the worship of one or more of a large pantheon gods and goddesses. The preferred label for Hinduism today is Santana Dharma. “Santana, “eternal” or “ageless,” reflects the belief that these ways have always existed. Dharma, often translated as “religion,” encompasses duty, natural law, social welfare, ethics, health, and transcendental realization.” (Fisher, 2005, p. 69) There are so many different variations of Santana Dharma and they all lack a uniting belief system. So what makes up the Hindu religion, since there is no uniting factor to this belief system? “Hinduism is not a religion in the normal sense, but it is a set of traditions and beliefs evolved over a long period of time. There are different sects of Hinduism, but they all admire the ancient scriptures called Vedas.” (Hinduism.ygoy.com. ¶1) Reincarnation is also a doctrine that is central to all forms of Santana Dharma. This is the belief that the soul leaves the body upon death and enters a new one. Birth happens again and again until the soul advances toward its ultimate goal of liberation from rebirth...
Words: 742 - Pages: 3
...Hindu Religion Marshenia Francis May 10, 2014 Hinduism is the worlds third largest and oldest religion.Hinduism is the belief that has evolved over the years. This religion has stood the test of time. from many generations and has many people follow. It is not a religion but traditions and there are different scts that go along with it as well. One conce pt of Hinduism is the ultimate reality belief called Brahman.. It means that all creatures go through a birth cycle and rebirth and this is deermined by the principle of Karma. Karma is the belief that if you do something bad unto a person then in your next life after reincarnation it will be done to you. reincarnation is the belief that your soal will return to earth in another form or body. This is something that was also taugt. There are different Gods in the Hindu religion, and one of the uultimate gods Is Brahman. These gods are all personified and associated with different Attributes. The mythology of Hindu roots lie in the civilization of vedic The major sources are mahabharata, ramay and puranas. The practices Of Hindu include the seeking of gods awareness and looking for blessings From different gods. The hindu believe in an persuasive supreme being that is immanent and transcendent to the creater and unmanifest reality. They also believe that the universe goes through endless cydes of creation, preservation, and dissdution. The cradle of the Hindu religion is...
Words: 690 - Pages: 3
...ways have been categorized together as if they were a single tradition named “Hinduism (Fisher2005).” The Hindu religion does not have a uniting belief system. It is made up several spiritual expressions and some extreme variations. These traditions can range from extreme asceticism to extreme sensuality, from the heights of personal devotion to a deity to the heights of abstract philosophy, from metaphysical proclamations of the oneness behind the material world to worship of images representing a multiplicity of deities. Today, Sanatana Dharma is the preferred alternative label, which means that these traditions have always existed. When researching Hindu religion, its origins are can be traced by to the Vedic age, thousands of years ago where the Vedas were taught in various schools. Vedas are the religious texts that are often viewed as the foundations of Hinduism according to the Aryan Invasion Theory. The religion is made up of various traditions and philosophical systems the have certain features in common. The most well-known systems are Samkhya, Advaita Vedanta, and Yoga. The original idea of Hinduism is the belief in the ultimate reality called Brahman (universal soul) and its classification with the Aatman (individual soul). All creatures go through a cycle of birth and rebirth. The status of the being in each birth is determined by the principle of Karma. Post-Vedic Hinduism in all its forms accepts the doctrine of karma, according to which the individual...
Words: 341 - Pages: 2
...Hinduism Scott Haller HUM/130 February 16th, 2014 University of Phoenix Hinduism is not so much a religion, but more of a set of traditions and beliefs that have evolved over a long period of time. There are quite a few different sects of Hinduism, but they all follow the ancient scriptures called Vedas. Hinduism is one of the oldest living religions in the world and does not have a recorded beginning. It also has no single human founder. Instead, the founder is said to be a semi-mythical sage Kapila. They believe in a Supreme Being and follow certain concepts such as Trust, dharma, and karma. They also believe in the authority of Vedas, which are a revered collection of ancient sacred hymns. The Vedas transcend human time and are as relevant today as they were thousands of years ago. Hindus worship a variety of gods and goddesses. According to the Vedas, Truth is One, but the wise express it in a variety of ways. Brahman is the one true God who is formless, limitless, all-inclusive, and eternal. He is a true entity that encompasses everything in the universe. Vedas is the ultimate authority. Dharma is the right conduct, righteousness, moral law, and duty. To have dharma as your center means to strive for the right thing all the time. The Hindus believe in reincarnation, which is the thought of the soul leaving the dead body and entering into a new one. The soul...
Words: 782 - Pages: 4
...Color Symbolism in Hinduism For the Hindu, colors play a very important role in the religion and culture and have a very deep significance, transcending purely decorative values. Hindu artists use color on the deities and their dresses signifying their qualities. Proper use of colors creates an environment, which should keep a person cheerful. Some of the main colors used in religious ceremonies are red, yellow (turmeric), green from leaves, white from wheat flour. etc. Red indicates both sensuality and purity. In Hindu religion, red is of utmost significance and the color most frequently used for auspicious occasions like marriages, birth of a child, festivals, etc. A red mark is put on the forehead during ceremonies and important occasions. As a sign of marriage, women put red powder on the hair parting. They also wear a red sari during marriage. Red powder is usually thrown on statues of deities and phallic symbols during prayers. It is also the color of Shakti (prowess). A red colored dress is put on deities who are charitable, brave, protective, and who have the capacity to destroy evil. On the death of a woman, her body is wrapped in a red cloth for the cremation. Saffron The most sacred color for the Hindu saffron. Represents fire and as impurities are burnt by fire, this color symbolizes purity. It also represents religious abstinence. This color connotation has a sacred meaning for the Hindu. It is the color of holy men and ascetics who have renounced the world. Wearing...
Words: 562 - Pages: 3
...is University of Phoenix | Hinduism | Religion | 7/20/2010 | Basically, anyone can be of Hindu religion. When we are born we are giving a choice of what religion we want to peruse. A person is not forced to worship or be of one type of religion, but what religion that is chosen predicts was the person will be in the next life. People of Hindu religion are considered to have pure hearts so if you feel that your heart is pure you can consider yourself Hindu. Although flexibility is good is does bring up an argument about the real meaning of Hinduism. Whether or not a person is Hindu or not. The one thing about Hinduism that I believe to be true is that the religion is very flexible. It doesn’t have strict rules on how to worship or what to worship and still can be considered as practicing Hinduism. Hinduism is a different but interesting religion because of its beliefs and how open and flexible it is. “According to historians, the origin of Hinduism dates back to 5,000 or more years. The word “Hindu” is derived from the name of River Indus, which flows through the northwestern India. In the ancient times the river was called the “Sindhu”, but the Persians who migrated to India called the river Hindu (Melissa Lorentz, 2008).” Hinduism is the belief of what you feel such as peace and freedom. People of Hindu religion believe and accept that there is a higher power that is makes the world go round. God is known to have a higher power, and if you believe...
Words: 838 - Pages: 4
...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
...Hinduism, which is generally regarded as the worlds oldest organized religion (B.A Robinson), has beliefs and strengths like many religions, however is a very different and diverse practice. Hinduism lacks what is commonly a uniting belief system, in religion. As opposed to being held together by that uniting system, Hinduism is bound by traditions and beliefs which have developed over centuries. Amongst these traditions and beliefs in Hinduism there are different sects, however each one venerates the Vedas. (What Makes Up The Hindu Religion) The Vedas are the main text of Hinduism, such as the Bible to Christianity. Aside from their importance related to Hinduism, the Vedas also donate insight on life in India four thousand years ago. India, is the region of Hindu origination, there is no one person, however that it can be traced to as Hinduism is too old. Through Indo- European tribes invading Northern India, the religion took on influence. (Hinduism, A General Introduction) This influence through invasion took place over thousands of years. When Russia and Central Asia brought their religion of Vedism, which eventually mingled with Hinduism, (Hinduism, A General Introduction) This is the type of societal influences Hinduism faced and conformed well with. As far as cultural influence is concerned, Hinduism is practiced by eighty percent of India's population. Also, according to hindustanlink.com: India is one of the few countries on earth in which the social and religious...
Words: 756 - Pages: 4
...Hinduism February 27, 2012 By: Crystal Carter Hinduism is a religion that is mostly different from any other religion in the world. Hinduism is different from other monotheistic religions in that it does not have a single founder, a s single concept of deity, or the concept of a prophet. These things alone separate the Hindu religion from the many different religions. Along with being different from other religions, Hinduism is also regarded as the worlds oldest organized religion. It ranks third in the survey of population who practice this religion. It falls just behind Christianity and Islam. Hinduism is the dominate religion in India, Nepal, and among the Tamils in Sri Lanka. According to an article on religious tolerance.org, Hinduism has over 950 million followers, which is about 14% of the world’s population. The Hindu belief system is not one that is very organized. Although it is not very organized there all still some beliefs that are strictly followed by the Hindu’s. The Hindu fundamental beliefs are in the authority of the Vedas. The Vedas are the oldest Indian Sacred Texts. The Brahmans are highly respected in the Indian culture also. These are the priests that perform the offerings. They believe in reincarnation, which is the idea that when you die your spirit finds another body to inhabit. Lastly they believe in karma, which is the idea that you get back whatever you put out into the universe. Hinduism does not seem to stand out in today’s...
Words: 814 - Pages: 4
...Religions of the World Hinduism Tammy Beaker University of Phoenix May 8, 2012 Instructor: Ryan Shockey Hinduism Hinduism known as the Sanatana Dharma or eternal truth having many uniting belief systems is a way of life rather than a religion. Hinduism originated in India and today, is one of the oldest practices having over a billion participants with most living in India. Over many years the religion of Hinduism has developed a wide variety of scriptures, for spiritual guidance and insight. Hinduism was originated from ancient traditions and other indigenous beliefs created over a period of time. In a normal sense Hinduism is not a religion it is a set of beliefs and traditions that evolved over time. These traditions take on many means for enlightenment viewing things a little different. There are many sects of Hinduism that admire the scriptures they call Vedas. Hinduism is Unique and one of the oldest practiced religions in the world. Hinduism is an extremely logical and inspirational religious system offering experiential results to anyone who practices its various forms. Hinduism has not one founder but many over the 4,000 years of syncretism with cultural and religious movements of India’s subcontinent. The concept in the Hindus beliefs is the identification with the individual soul called the Aatman meaning...
Words: 711 - Pages: 3
...Hinduism Chandler W. Morgan HUM/130 3/10/2013 Dr. Virginia Merlini Hinduism Paper Hinduism originated in India around 2000 B.C.E. (Before Common Era). At the time of origination Hinduism had 1,000,000,000 followers (Reincarnation of Hinduism, 2012). This religion has originated from the ancient Vedic Age and other indigenous beliefs. Incorporated over time, Hindu religion comes in many different religious beliefs. Hindu religion includes Dharma, meaning religion, encompasses duty, social welfare, natural law, health, ethics, and transcendental realization. Karma is another well-known belief of Hinduism, meaning action or the consequences of action, followed by Samsara, which is the ultimate goal of the eternal cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. Lastly, Moksha, which means the liberation from the limitation of space, time, and matter through realization of the immortal absolute (Fisher, M.P., 2005). Considering that Hinduism lacks a uniting belief system, what makes up the Hindu religion, includes Veda, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, and Epics, also known as Sanatana Dharma. Still practiced today, Sanatana Dharma or Hinduism is one of the oldest religions known to mankind. The spiritual expression of Sanatana Dharma range from extreme sensuality, from the heights of a personal devotion, to a deity, to a abstract philosophy (Fisher, M.P., 2005). This religion is still one of the major religions in the world and has been able to hold itself together...
Words: 740 - Pages: 3
...Week #3 Checkpoint Hinduism Essay Considering the Hinduism lacks a unified belief system, what makes up the Hindu religion? What are the cultural and societal influences that have made Hinduism vital to the region in which it originated? Explain the desire for liberation from earthly existence. From the standpoint of the outsider, comprehending the attributes and the many facets of the Hindu culture may seem difficult and cumbersome. I believe one of the reasons lies within the fact that in the traditional sense of organized religions, one of which is united under a particular belief system. Hinduism is not applicable in such a regard, however over 80 percent of those making up the population of India consider themselves Hindu. In “Hinduism, with mind absorbed and heart melted in love”, Fisher defines the original usage of the term”Hinduism” as a means of categorizing several Indian religious ways which could not be classed under any of the existing unified religious systems within the region of the Indus River. This nomenclature was introduced in the 19th century for the purpose of census-taking, Sanatana Dharma is the term more preferably used today in describing the devout people of the region, and when translated, carries a meaning which suggests an eternal or ageless way of life (Fisher, pg. 69). The term further conveys a tone of profound insight in that the historical development of the religion is not directly traceable. Fisher observes, however, that although no...
Words: 1183 - Pages: 5
...The Origins of Hinduism 1 What features of geography might have contributed to Hindu religious sensibilities? The river Ganges 2 Explain one of the analogies the author uses to understand Hinduism (a great river or a palace added to over centuries). Both convey the idea that nothing is ever lost in Hinduism. The religious life of India is something like the river Ganges. It has flowed along for thousands of years, swirling from its own power but also from the power of new streams that have added to its force. (Molloy 78) But the limitations of Hinduism may also be its strengths. It is like a palace that began as a two-room cottage. Over the centuries, wings have been built on to it, and now it has countless rooms, stairs, corridors, statues, fountains, and gardens. (Molloy 78) 3 What features have enabled Hinduism to develop freely in many directions? Many influences—early indigenous religion and influences from later immigrants—have added to its inherent momentum. It has no one identifiable founder, no strong organizational structure to defend it and spread its influence, nor any creed to define and stabilize its beliefs; and in a way that seems to defy reason, Hinduism unites the worship of many gods with a belief in a single divine reality. (Molloy 78) Molloy, Michael. Experiencing the World's Religions, 5th Edition. McGraw-Hill Learning Solutions, 2010. VitalBook file. The Earliest Stage of Indian Religion ...
Words: 1343 - Pages: 6
...Hinduism Jyliene Pozzuolo HUM/130 Robert Rowland November 9, 2014 Hinduism, often considered the third most popular religion in the world, is technically not a religion at all. The only two larger religions are Christianity and Islam. It is considered the world’s oldest religion, considering it precedes recorded history. It is more of a set of beliefs and traditions. Hinduism is also, actually, a broad spectrum of many different religion originations in the Indian subcontinent. It covers Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. Hinduism is not just about seeking awareness of a God, but also seeking awareness of one’s inner self. There was no human founder of the Hinduism beliefs. A devout Hindu must personally experience one’s truth within in order to reach the pinnacle of consciousness. The four main denominations of Hinduism are Saivism, Shaktism, Vaishnavism, and Smartism. There are many different ideas and teachings of Hinduism. Hindus believe in an all-encompassing Supreme Being who is an Un-manifest Reality, as well as a creator. There is a belief in the divinity of the four Vedas. The Vedas are considered to be the oldest written scripture in the world. Belief that the universe is constantly undergoing a cycle of creation is a firm belief of Hindus, as well as preservation and dissolution. There is a strong belief in Karma in Hinduism. They believe that every person creates their destiny through their thoughts and actions. In Hinduism, whenever any being dies...
Words: 822 - Pages: 4
