Hinduism - Religions of the World - Hum 127

Hinduism

Michael Lane Mercer

Western International University

RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD HUM/127

JEFF HINELINE

April 8, 2006

One of the oldest religions in the world, that is believed to be on record, is one that is often the one that has the following question: “Considering that Hinduism lacks a uniting belief system, what makes up the Hindu religion?” The answer to this question is very much like going into an art gallery and asking for an interpretation by fellow viewers of the same piece of art. Although this religion does vary from having a uniting belief it is important to note that there are things that are quite common in this religion as well as many others.

When looking up the article entitled “Relgious Beliefs” from the following website, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_belief , There is a section that that speaks about how religions approach the mentioning and following of other religions. Ther is basically two groups that a religion can fall into and this is either exclusisvlm or inclusivist. Exclusismn. People with exclusivist beliefs sometimes typically explain other religions as either in error, or as corruptions or counterfeits of the true faith. People with inclusivist beliefs recognize some truth in all faith systems, highlighting agreements and minimizing differences, but see their own faith as in some way ultimate. Hinduism falls into the inclusivist grouping. Some examples of how this religion can be considered inclusivient can include but not limeted to the following:

• A well-known Rig Vedic hymn stemming from Hinduism claims that "Truth is One, though the sages know it variously."

• Krishna, incarnation or avatar of Vishnu, said: "Whoever resorts to Me in whatever manner, in the same manner do I favour them; men experience Me alone in different ways, O Arjuna." (Gita: 4:11);

• Krishna said: "Whatever may be the form [of the deity] a devotee-whosoever he may be-desires to worship with faith, I assume that form which is firm and is according to [his] faith. Endowed with that faith, he seeks to worship that deity and therefrom receives his desired objects that are ordained by none but Me.(Gita: 7:21-22)

• Another quote in the Gita states: "O Arjuna, even those devotees who worship other deities (e.g., Devas, for example) with faith, they also worship Me, but following non-injunction" (Gita: 9:23)

When looking into what is considered to be the cultural and societal influences that have made Hinduism vital to the region in which it originated it is so very important to look inward at the people that make up Hinduism and not just at the country that it is predominant in. The Hindu faiths, practices and philosophies have evolved from the Vedic tradition (Vaidika paramparā) and from the beliefs of the other Indian peoples; and philosophies such as Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism, which conversely share common philosophical and spiritual traits in varying degrees with Hinduism. Many Hindus would argue that while the aforementioned philosophies have gained recognition as independent world religions, the great diversity within Hinduism itself is even greater and therefore it is best to refer to all Indic Religions under one umbrella.

In order to best sum up the thought process and way of Hinduism, perhaps it is best done and expressed in the following mantra from the Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upanishad:

ॐ । असतो मा सद्गमय । तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय । मृत्योर्मामृतं गमय ।।

Which translates to the following:

OM (Lead me) from falsehood to truth, from darkness to light, from death to immortality

In looking into this vast religion even more closely we are made aware of the depth and displine it takes to follow Hindiusim. Themes common to the value system of Hindus is the belief in Dharma (individual ethics, duties