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6/26/2012

Hinduism Worldwide

World Religions: India

Hinduism – More of a than a Religion. • Third largest “religion” behind Christianity and Islam – Approximately 1 Billion Worldwide

Important facts: Hinduism is a philosophy first.

• “Hinduism” – ancient word meaning • Hinduism is a way of life, “”, and an ethic. “to run”, or “flow like a river”. – Hinduism does have a religious undercurrent that guides their . • Does not trace itself to a founder. • Believe in a two-pronged concerning • Does not have a starting point in history. existence. – Organized largely after 's conquered the – and evil are illusions. Indian peninsula in 1500 BC. – Time is cyclical. • Intentionally vague doctrines. • Because evil is not real, one must spend life fighting against anything that is related to this • Believe in over 330 million . illusion. If you fail in this life, then you must try again.

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Seven Core Beliefs of Hinduism Seven Core Beliefs of Hinduism

1. All evil is (an illusion). • A word about : when the Hindu is able 2. There is an equanimity among the gods, and to release themselves from all desire they the number is beyond comprehension. achieve , and have reached nirvana. 3. All existence is infused with , and every – The end result is that the of man combines with , the impersonal and living has a god-, called the atman. pantheistic form of god. 4. Time is cyclical, and is the fate for every single living thing until the person has climbed the ladder of existence, reaching nirvana.

Seven Core Beliefs of Hinduism Four Goals of Life

5. Nirvana is a state of nothingness. • While Hinduism clashes over rituals and what gods to worship they do agree on the four goals 6. Not only is time cyclical, but so are . of life: What a person does will return to him. – Pleasure () – Wealth () The four goals are at 7. Hindu’s believe in a caste system. (More on – Harmony (dharma) war with one another. this later!) – Liberation (moksha)

This is what all agree on, but Hinduism is a very The first two goals are the general task of young diverse, complicated philosophy of life. all the way through raising children. After children have left the home Hindus focus on reaching the last two goals which if fulfilled lead to nirvana.

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Spiritual Texts of Hinduism Spiritual Texts of Hinduism

• Believe in an open canon. This means new – – “remembered” sacred books. holy books can still be written. This makes it • Include national histories and epics of the gods. hard to know what Hindu’s actually believe. • (Song of God). • Also includes all contemporary writings and additions • Texts fall under two categories: accepted by scholars and different groups of Hindus. – Shruti – “heard” holy books. Translated more closely and valued as most authoritative. • Four (Rig, Sama, Yajur, Atharva) • – outline the rituals of Hinduism • – commentaries on the Four Vedas

Hindu gods Hindu gods

• The gods a Hindu worships are • : the god of and not just gods, they are time. identifiers. Whichever god is • Half of all Hindu people worshipped tells you what follow Vishnu. sect and people a Hindu • Followers are called belongs to. Vaishnavites. • All Hindus worship Brahman. • Believe Vishnu incarnates Brahmanism though is more himself, which are known as of a political and social . movement. – Believe in a final incarnation of • Brahman Hinduism in Vishnu as a man coming on a the three main Hindu gods Brahman white horse. (Sound familiar?) loosely working together.

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Hindu gods Hindu gods

• : called the • : personal, creator destroyer. Known as god. destroying evil. • Not a major Hindu god. • Followers are Shaivites. • Legend says that Shiva cut • Worship can be harsher, including -inflicted off one of his faces. extremes of devotion. Known to have a fiery temper.

Hindu gods Hindu gods

• Vishnu, Shiva, and Brahma • Each male god has a female called a make up a kind of a divine . called a . • Shakti means: the god’s wife. • Brahman manifests itself • There is a complete school of Hinduism that as these three gods. worships the Shakti directly. Called .

The possibility of Hindu gods is endless. These are just the main objects of their worship.

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Hindu Practices Hindu Practices

• Worship in temples and also the home. • Hinduism celebrates the new year, birthdays – In the home, Hindus must care for their god just like a person in the family. for their various gods, and Dipavali. • Temple service is called meaning sacrifice. • Dipavali is the festival of lights. Hindus light Rituals, (), dancing and music lamps in their homes to bring prosperity. make up their service. • A priest and assistant lead the worship with • Hindus also celebrate the life cycle in music. numerous rites of passage. • Service is closed as heads are marked with ashes – Marriage is prearranged, and only allowed within and flower paste. their caste. • Worship is offered to appease the gods and lead Hindus into victory over maya.

Hindu Practices Hindu Practices

• Caste System: Came from the Vedas. • The lowest caste, , make up the Originated with light skinned , trying to majority of people in India today. They have retain superior status over dark-skinned native no standing in society and cannot intermingle Indians. with other caste groups. – Mahtma Gandhi referred to them as “children of – – priests, scholars God” which began to increase their status. – – warriors, rulers • The goal in the other three is to be – – merchants, land owners reincarnated up the ladder to become a part – Shudras - Workers of the Brahmins which will lead to nirvana.

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So you meet a Hindu person… So you meet a Hindu person…

• Most are strict vegetarians. • Relating the gospel is very difficult. – Believe that an animal may be an ancestor – They have no absolutes. reincarnated at a lower level. • Hinduism is a very tolerant religion. • Most professional Hindu’s in America today – Surface level conversions to Christianity abound, have abandoned their Hindu roots. They may but they shutter at the fact of the exclusivity of still respect certain aspects of tradition. the Gospel Message. • Most function at a strictly philosophical level. • Ministry to the lowest caste is very effective. To them, Hinduism is way to live a better life. Freedom is found in Christ!

So you meet a Hindu person…

• Hinduism is based on fear. Fear of continual reincarnation with no certainty of reaching nirvana. – Share the certain hope of Jesus Christ. • Jesus is another incarnation of God, He has many times before. – The resurrection of Christ is a huge stumbling block due to reincarnation. • Many cannot cope with sin. They know it is more than an illusion – Trusting in Christ’s sacrifice for sin provides genuine redemption.

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