Evangelism to Easterners Sibu Rajappan
[email protected] Outline Hinduism • Brief Overview on Eastern • Sanathana Dharma Religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, • Sanathana – eternal Jainism, and Sikhism) • Dharma (Dhri) – which binds/upholds • Major Obstacles • Monotheistic, Atheistic, Polytheistic, and Pantheistic belief systems. • Witnessing to Easterners Hinduism Hinduism Scriptures • Yajur Veda • Brahmanas: Satapatha, Taittiriya • Shruti (‘heard’) – by rishis • Vedas Samhitas (hymns) • Aranyakas: Brihadaranyaka Brahmanas (prose) • Upanishads: Isa, Brihadaranyaka, Katha, Svetasvathara Aranyakas (forest literature) Upanishads (philosophical lit.) • Atharvaveda Veda • Brahmanas: Gopatha • Smriti (‘remember’) – tradition • Aranyaka: Not known • Bhagavad Gita, Mahabharatha, Ramayana, Puranas etc. • Upanishad: Mundaka, Mandukya • 4 Vedas- Rig, Sama, Yajur, Atharva Hinduism Hinduism • Vedanta • The six schools of thought • Advaita (Adi Shankara (8th AD) – non- • Purva Mimamsa (‘investigation’) dualism) • Vedanta (Uttara Mimamsa) • “Man is identical with Brahman or the Eternal Soul” • Samkhya (‘enumeration’) th • Yoga (samkhya plus God) • Dvaita (Madhavacharya (13 AD) - • Nyaya (system of logic) monotheism) • “Man is the servant of God” • Vaisheshika (‘particularity’/atomism) • Vishitadvaita (Ramanuja (12th AD)– attributive non-dualism) • “Man is a ray or spark of God” Hinduism: Basic Tenets Hinduism: 4 Questions • Soul is neither created nor destroyed (BG 2:20) • Cycle of creation and destruction of universe.(Srimad Bhagavadam • Origin – No absolute beginning – eternal. 3.11) • Law of Karma (Karma defined as duty one must do) • Meaning – Life is to pay off the karmic debts. The reason why • Reincarnation (BG 2:22) you are in this life is because of previous life. • Moksha • Vedic (ritualism) • Upanishadic (mysticism/knowledge) • Puranic & Gita (Bhakthi/devotion) Hinduism: 4 Question Buddhism • Problem of Evil • In Pantheistic view, although they claim there is evil, there exists no basis for evil and good because all is one reality.