Hinduism

1
Hinduism

• Points of View

2
Perspective

• Worldview
• The Absolute
• The World
• Humans
• The Problems for Humans
• The Solution for Humans
• Community and Ethics
• Rituals and Symbols

• Life After Death
• Hinduism and Other Religions

3
Worldview

• The Absolute
• The force of life is everywhere
• The depictions of deities are not to be taken
  literally
• The number of deities heighten the belief that
  one can worship many manifestations of the same
  essence.

4

• The World
• The world is.
• It is good and bad.
• Creation involves destruction.
• Life leads to death.
• The gods represent a balance of forces.

5

• Humans
• Humans are more than corporeal nature.
• The physical is only a glimpse of that which was,
  and is and is to come.
• One follows the Law of Karma.
• Although one cannot change what one is now, one
  can change now what one will be in the future.

6

• Problem for Humans.
• Samsara. The endless cycle of birth and death of
  the immortal soul.
• The caste that one is in is the one that one is
  supposed to be in based on ones previous actions.

7

• Solution for Humans
• One wants to break free from the cycle and be
  united with Brahman.
• Atman is liberated from maya (illusion)
• One can be reconciled to Brahman through one of
  the many paths.

8

• Community and Ethics
• Hinduism has strong moral code.
• The family is sacred.
• Husband and wives should be loyal to each
  other. (116)
• They have the responsibility for caring for the
  children.
• Hindus are not to harm other people or property.
• The are responsible for helping holy people who
  are seeking god.
• The cow is a symbol for the value of all living
  things. (116)
• Hindus have strong humanitarians concerns.

9

• Rights and Symbols
• Samskaras the rites by which a Hindu becomes
  integrated into the community.
• Upanayana in initiates a boy as twice born
  signifying that he is responsible for his
  actions in religious regulations. (117)
• Vivaha marriage it is the entrance into the
  second stage of life, that of a householder.
• Antyesti funerals are the last rites for
  Hindus. Most people are cremated in a shraddha
  and is usually performed by the eldest son.
• Puja is a form of worship that an individuals
  addresses toward a deities or a pair of deities.

10

• Life After Death
• Each soul is indestructible and the Law of Karma
  is in effect.
• Hinduism and Other Religions
• Although Hinduism response to other religions is
  varied Hindus usually do not try to convert
  others and also resist conversion.
• In fact, many Hindu religious leaders point out
  similarities between Hinduism and other religions.