Hinduism Paper

Hinduism 1

Hinduism Paper

June 3, 2007

Hinduism 2

Hinduism Paper

Hinduism is different from other known religions in that its greatest strength is its ability to unite the diverse beliefs and practices of its people in a way that welcomes and incorporates a variety of outside influences. Hinduism is the world’s third largest religion, mostly dominant in India, Nepal and part of Sri Lanka.

(www.religioustolerance.org, 2006) As opposed to other religions, Hinduism does not have a known originator and is possibly the oldest religion in the world that dates back to the Indus Valley from about 2500 to 1500 B.C. (NationalGeographic.com, 2007) There is no written doctrine that unites Hindus together. Hindus are free to believe in whatever they choose. They can choose to be polytheistic and believe in multiple deities or monotheistic and believe in just one. (hindunet.org, 2006) Rather than one centralized core idea, there are many ideas about Hinduism which sometimes makes it a difficult religion to understand.

The main widely accepted ideas of Hinduism include reincarnation, the caste system, merging with Brahman, finding morality, and reaching Nirvana. The Vedas are the sacred texts of this religion. These include mantras, brahmanas and Upanishads. Each is important to the sacred teachings. Hinduism is based on the idea that human and animal spirits reincarnate, or come back to earth to live many times in different forms as either human or an animal. (Living Religions, pp. 75) Hindus believe that souls move around in an endless cycle that depends on the actions that they displayed in their lives.

Hinduism 3

The caste system is the belief that each person should be in the social class that he or she was born into. Basically, the poor should remain poor and the rich should stay rich.

According to tradition, a person born into the best class or highest must have been a wonderful person in a past life. A person that is born destitute must have led an evil existence in a past life. The goal of existence to a Hindu is liberation from the cycle of rebirth and death, and entrance into the indescribable state of moksha. According to the textbook moksha is, “liberation from the limitations of space, time and matter through realization of the immortal Absolute.” (Living Religions, pp. 75) The Hindus road to salvation includes the knowledge of rituals, the way of knowledge (realization of reality and self-reflection), and the way of devotion (devotion to the god that they choose to follow). If the practitioner follows the paths of these ways, salvation can be achieved and escape from sufferings of every kind, obtain spiritual blessings and continue with life and existence. This is the ultimate goal that all Hindus would like to realize.

There are lots of possible answers to the cultural and societal