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Conversational Religion: Learning How to Talk With Those of Other Beliefs Hinduism History of Hinduism Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of South Asia. Hinduism is often referred to as Sanātana Dharma (a Sanskrit phrase meaning "the eternal law") by its adherents. Generic "types" of Hinduism that attempt to accommodate a variety of complex views span folk and Vedic Hinduism to bhakti tradition, as in Vaishnavism. Hinduism also includes yogic traditions and a wide spectrum of "daily morality" based on the notion of karma and societal norms such as Hindu marriage customs. Hinduism is formed of diverse traditions and has no single founder. Among its roots is the historical Vedic religion of Iron Age India, and as such Hinduism is often called the "oldest living religion" or the "oldest living major tradition". Demographically, Hinduism is the world's third largest religion, after Christianity and Islam, with more than a billion adherents, of whom approximately 1 billion, live in the Republic of India. Other significant populations are found in Nepal (23 million), Bangladesh (14 million) and the Indonesian island of Bali (3.3 million). A large body of texts is classified as Hindu, divided into Śruti ("revealed") and Smriti ("remembered") texts. These texts discuss theology, philosophy and mythology, and provide information on the practice of dharma (religious living). Major scriptures include: Vedas. Consisting of four “volumes”, these are the foremost in authority, importance and antiquity. Veda means “wisdom” or “knowledge.” The Vedas contain hymns, prayers, and ritual texts composed from about 1400 to about 400 B.C. Hindus believe that the texts were received by scholars direct from God and passed on to the next generations by word of mouth. Vedic texts are sometimes called shruti, which means revealed. For hundreds, maybe even thousands of years, the texts were passed on orally. The four volumes of the Veda are: •The Samhitas are the most ancient part of the Vedas, consisting of hymns of praise to God. •The Brahmanas are rituals and prayers to guide the priests in their duties. •The Aranyakas concern worship and meditation. •The Upanishads consist of the mystical and philosophical teachings of Hinduism. They elaborate on how the soul (Atman) can be united with the ultimate truth (Brahman) through contemplation and mediation, as well as the doctrine of Karma-- the cumulative effects of a person’s actions. Puranas. The Puranas are post-Vedic texts which typically contain a complete narrative of the history of the Universe from creation to destruction, genealogies of the kings, heroes and demigods, and descriptions of Hindu cosmology and geography. There are 17 or 18 canonical Puranas, divided into three categories, each named after a deity: Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Practices of Hinduism Worship. Hindu practices generally involve seeking awareness of God and sometimes also seeking blessings from Devas. Therefore, Hinduism has developed numerous practices meant to help one think of divinity in the midst of everyday life. Hindus can engage in pūjā (worship or veneration of gods), either at home or at a temple. At home, Hindus often create a shrine with icons dedicated to their chosen form(s) of God. Temples are usually dedicated to a primary deity along with associated subordinate deities though some commemorate multiple deities. Visiting temples is not obligatory, and many visit temples only during religious festivals. Hindus perform their worship through icons (murtis). The icon serves as a tangible link between the worshiper and God. The image is often considered a manifestation of God, since God is immanent (inherent and present in the world). The Padma Purana states that the mūrti is not to be thought of as mere stone or wood but as a manifest form of the Divinity. A few Hindu sects, however, do not believe in worshiping God through icons. Mantras are invocations, praise and prayers that through their meaning, sound, and chanting style help a devotee focus the mind on holy thoughts or express devotion to God/the deities. Many devotees perform morning ablutions at the bank of a sacred river while chanting the Gayatri Mantra or Mahamrityunjaya mantras.[102] The epic Mahabharata extols Japa (ritualistic chanting) as the greatest duty in the Kali Yuga (what Hindus believe to be the current age). Many adopt Japa as their primary spiritual practice. 1 Conversational Religion: Learning How to Talk With Those of Other Beliefs Hinduism Rituals. The vast majority of Hindus engage in religious rituals on a daily basis. Most Hindus observe religious rituals at home, but observation of rituals greatly varies among regions, villages, and individuals. Devout Hindus perform daily chores such as worshiping at dawn after bathing (usually at a family shrine, and typically includes lighting a lamp and offering foodstuffs before the images of deities), recitation from religious scripts, singing devotional hymns, meditation, chanting mantras, reciting scriptures etc. A notable feature in religious ritual is the division between purity and pollution. Religious acts presuppose some degree of impurity or defilement for the practitioner, which must be overcome or neutralized before or during ritual procedures. Purification, usually with water, is thus a typical feature of most religious action. Other characteristics include a belief in the efficacy of sacrifice and concept of merit gained through the performance of charity or good works that will accumulate over time and reduce sufferings in the next world. Occasions like birth, marriage, and death involve what are often elaborate sets of religious customs. In Hinduism, life-cycle rituals include Annaprashan (a baby's first intake of solid food), Upanayanam ("sacred thread ceremony" undergone by upper-caste children at their initiation into formal education) and Śrāddha (ritual of treating people to feasts in the name of the deceased). For most people in India, the betrothal of the young couple and the exact date and time of the wedding are matters decided by the parents in consultation with astrologers. On death, cremation is considered obligatory for most. Basic Beliefs of Hinduism Hinduism embraces a great diversity of beliefs, a fact that can be initially confusing to westerners accustomed to creeds, confessions, and carefully-worded belief statements. One can believe a wide variety of things about God, the universe and the path to liberation and still be considered a Hindu. This attitude towards religious belief has made Hinduism one of the more open-minded religions when it comes to evaluating other faiths. Probably the most well-known Hindu saying about religion is: "Truth is one; sages call it by different names." However, there are some beliefs common to nearly all forms of Hinduism that can be identified, and these basic beliefs are generally regarded as boundaries outside of which lies non-Hindu religion. The fundamental Hindu beliefs include: the authority of the Vedas (the oldest Indian sacred texts) and the Brahmans (priests); the existence of an enduring soul that transmigrates from one body to another at death (reincarnation); and the law of karma that determines one's destiny both in this life and the next. Note that a specific belief about God or gods is not considered one of the essentials, which is a major difference between Hinduism and strictly monotheistic religions like Christianity, Judaism, Islam and Sikhism. Most Hindus are devoted followers of one of the principal gods Shiva, Vishnu or Shakti, and often others besides, yet all these are regarded as manifestations of a single Reality. There is no eternal hell, no damnation, in Hinduism, and no intrinsic evil--no satanic force that opposes the will of God. Hindus believe that the cosmos was created out of God and is permeated by Him (immanent)--a Supreme Being who both is form and pervades form, who creates, sustains and destroys the universe only to recreate it again in unending cycles. Each soul is free to find its own way, whether by devotion, austerity, meditation, yoga or selfless service. The ultimate goal of all Hindus is release (moksha) from the cycle of rebirth (samsara). For some, this means entering into God's presence, while for others it means uniting with God as a “drop of rain merges with the sea”. Essentially, Hinduism teaches a continuous cycle of death and rebirth (reincarnation). Hindus seek to end this cycle by becoming aware of the true nature of life. Once the cycle of rebirth ends, they become one with Brahma, The Ultimate One. Foundational concepts in this belief include: Maya. Maya is the limited, purely physical and mental reality in which our everyday consciousness has become entangled. Maya is held to be an illusion, a veiling of the true, unitary Self, the Cosmic Spirit also known as Brahman (The Supreme One or God). In Hinduism, Maya is to be seen through, like an epiphany, in order to achieve moksha (liberation of the soul from the cycle of samsara). Ahamkar (ego-consciousness) and karma are seen as part of the binding forces of Maya. Maya may be understood as the perception of the universe and the Supreme One as being separate, sort of a lesser reality-lens superimposed on the unity of Brahman which distorts 2 Conversational Religion: Learning How to Talk With Those of Other Beliefs Hinduism the truth that ”all is one” as Hindus believe. This distorted view of perceiving a dual-nature to the universe and the creating God perpetuates samsara. Samsara. The cycle of action, reaction, birth, death and rebirth is a continuum called samsara, what we would call reincarnation. Reincarnation refers to a process whereby beings go through a succession of lifetimes as one of many possible forms of life, each running from conception to death. At death the physical body is shed and the “soul” continues until it again enters into birth. Through the ages, reincarnation has been the great consoling element within Hinduism, eliminating the fear of death. Hindus believe that the essence of a person is not the body in which they live but the immortal soul which inhabits many bodies in its evolutionary journey through samsara. After death, they continue to exist in unseen worlds, enjoying or suffering the harvest of earthly deeds until it comes time for yet another physical birth. The actions set in motion in previous lives form the tendencies and conditions of the next. Reincarnation ceases when karma is resolved, God is realized and moksha, liberation, is attained. “After death, the soul goes to the next world, bearing in mind the subtle impressions of its deeds, and after reaping their harvest returns again to this world of action. Thus, he who has desires continues subject to rebirth.” Yajur Veda, Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 4.4.6 Karma. Karma (from Sanskrit: "action, work") is the force that drives samsāra—the cycle of reincarnation for each being. Karma is essentially “cause and effect”. Good deeds and bad actions come to fruition either in this life or in a subsequent rebirth. There can be no divine salvation or forgiveness for one's karma, since it is a purely an impersonal process that is a part of the makeup of the universe. Karma literally means "deed" or "act" and more broadly names the universal principle of cause and effect, action and reaction which governs all life. Karma is a natural law of the mind, just as gravity is a law of matter. Karma is not fate, for man acts with free will, creating his own destiny. The Vedas (Hindu scripture) claim, if one sows goodness, one will reap goodness; if one sows evil, one will reap evil. Karma refers to the totality of a person’s actions and their concomitant reactions in this and previous lives, all of which determines the future. It is the interplay between one’s experience and how one responds to it that makes karma devastating or helpfully invigorating. The conquest of karma lies in intelligent action and dispassionate reaction. Not all karmas rebound immediately. Some accumulate and return unexpectedly in this or other births. “According as one acts, so does he become. One becomes virtuous by virtuous action, bad by bad action.” Yajur Veda, Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 4.4.5 Aspect Similarities Affect on Relationship to God Forgiveness Karma Sin Involved with moral issues. A cause-andeffect relationship occurs in which actions affect the state of the next life. Involved with moral issues, although measured against God’s absolute moral holiness. Cause-and-effect occurs (Prov 11:18, 22:8-9) Sin does affect our relationship with God. In sin, we rebel from God’s moral holiness and become alienated from Him. Does not affect one’s relationship with Brahman, which is the existence of all things. Good or bad Karma makes no difference to the fact we are all unconditional extensions of the oneness of Brahman. In Karma, morality becomes like a “physical law” of the universe. Its consequences are inevitable and inescapable. There cannot be “forgiveness” for Karma, only effect. God forgives us of our sins through the atoning work of Jesus, who bore the penalty of our sins on Himself. Moksha. The ultimate end of every Hindu's life is moksha, which can be understood in a variety of ways: liberation from rebirth, enlightenment, self-realization, or union with God. This is considered to be the highest purpose of life, although very few can achieve it in a single lifetime and there are a variety of paths to attain it. Dharma. Hinduism describes dharma as the natural universal laws whose observance enables humans to be contented and happy, and to save themselves from degradation and suffering. Dharma is the moral law combined 3 Conversational Religion: Learning How to Talk With Those of Other Beliefs Hinduism with spiritual discipline that guides one's life. Hindus consider dharma the very foundation of life. It means "that which holds" the people of this world and the whole creation. Dharma is the "law of being" without which things cannot exist. The ancient sage Manu, prescribes 10 essential rules for the observance of dharma: Patience, forgiveness, piety or self control, honesty, sanctity, control of senses, reason, knowledge or learning, truthfulness and absence of anger. Manu further writes, "Non-violence, truth, non-coveting, purity of body and mind, control of senses are the essence of dharma". Therefore dharmic laws govern not only the individual but all in society. Hinduism has no central doctrinal authority and many practicing Hindus do not claim to belong to any particular denomination. The spectrum of Hindu religion is found within four major sects or denominations: Saivism, Shaktism, Vaishnavism and Smartism. Among these four denominations, there are certainly more similarities than differences. All four believe in karma and reincarnation and in a Supreme Being who is both the form of the universe and is inherent in and pervades the universe (immanent). He creates, sustains and destroys the universe only to create it again in unending cycles. They strongly declare the validity and importance of temple worship, in three worlds of existence and the myriad Gods and devas residing in them. They concur that there is no intrinsic evil but that the universe is created out of God and is permeated by Him. They each believe in maya (though their definitions differ somewhat), and in the liberation of the soul from rebirth, called moksha, as the goal of human existence. They believe in dharma and in ahimsa, non-injury, and in the need for a satguru to lead the soul toward Self Realization. Finally, they prefer cremation of the body upon death, believing that the soul will inhabit another body in the next life. While Hinduism has many sacred scriptures, all sects ascribe the highest authority to the Vedas and Agamas, though their Agamas differ somewhat. The denominations differ primarily in the god worshipped as the Supreme One and in the traditions that accompany worship of that god. Shaivism. Śaivites are those who primarily worship Siva (neither male nor female) as the supreme god, both immanent and transcendent. It focuses on yoga, meditation, and love for all beings. Vaishnavism Vaishnavism Personal God and temple Deity is Vishnu, who is male. His incarnations as Rama and Krishna are also worshiped, as well as His divine consort, Radharani. Shaktism. Shaktas Personal Goddess and temple Deity is Shri Devi or Shakti, female, worshiped as Rajarajeshvari, Parvati, Lakshmi, Sarasvati, Kali, Amman, etc. She is the Divine Mother. Shakta form was one of the oldest forms of Hindu religion. Smartism Smarthas have free rein to choose whichever deity they wish to worship. They usually worship five deities as personal formful manifestations of the impersonal Absolute, Brahman. Smarthas accept and worship the six manifestations of God, (Ganesha, Shiva, Shakti, Vishnu, Surya, and Skanda) and the choice of the nature of God is up to the individual worshiper since different manifestations of God are held to be equivalent. It is a liberal sect. The guru plays a central role in Hinduism, often acting as the intermediary between the soul and the Supreme. Many schools claim that God-realization without spiritual mentorship is impossible, for one will inevitably be waylaid by maya (illusion). The guru is required in order to properly understand scripture. Many schools also claim that the blessings of God come through the genuine spiritual teacher, and that the teacher speaks and acts on behalf of God. The guru may also accept veneration on behalf of the Lord. Many Hindus accept diksha, initiation from a spiritual teacher, thus becoming a formal disciple. The principle of disciple succession (sampradaya) is central to the transmission of spiritual knowledge. Some traditions, such as the advaita schools equate guru with God. Others, such as most bhakti schools, insist that the spiritual teacher is God's representative and can never become God himself. Hindu Concept of God It has been said that Hinduism is a religion of 33 million Hinduism gods. Sri Ramakrishna, a prominent Hindu saint once wrote, "There can be as many Hindu Gods as there are devotees to suit the moods, feelings, emotions and social backgrounds of the devotees." So in some ways Hinduism is a polytheistic religion. There is an exceedingly wide variety of gods to choose from to worship with statues and symbols to pay homage. If one wants 4 Conversational Religion: Learning How to Talk With Those of Other Beliefs Hinduism to pray for acquiring knowledge and understanding, he would pray to the god, Sarasati, for example. One might pray to the god, Moksha, to obtain God's grace. Many Hindus worship their own village god or goddess. However, many Hindus view Hinduism as a monotheistic religion with only one supreme being who is formless and impersonal. All other gods and goddesses are simply facets of this one God. This supreme being is viewed as the god of all other religions and equal to all existence or the ultimate reality. The Upanishads (also called the Vedanta, which means the “end or conclusion of the Vedas) teach the idea that behind the many Hindu gods lies the “One Reality”, which is called Brahman. Brahman is an impersonal “all is one” force which is the essence of all things, or all things are in the same essence with Brahman. The Upanishads describe Brahman as "the eternal, conscious, irreducible, infinite, omnipresent, spiritual source of the universe of finiteness and change."The highest form of Brahman is “Nirguna Brahman” who is without attributes or qualities. The continued development of the concept of Brahman led to the conception of “Saguna Brahman”, which is Brahman who is personal with attributes and qualities. This personified form of Brahman is also called Ishvara. According to Hindu tradition, Ishvara became known to humanity through the “Trimurti”, literally “three manifestations” of Brahman. These manifestations include Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the preserver) and Shiva (the destroyer). Each of these deities have at least one spouse. There are some major divisions in the Hindu faith, in that while many see Brahman as the ultimate deity, others see Vishnu or Krishna as the supreme being or Shiva as their ultimate reality. Ishvara became personified even further through ten mythical incarnations of Vishnu, called Avatars. Hindu epics relate several episodes of the descent of God to Earth in corporeal form to restore dharma to society and to guide humans to moksha. Such an incarnation is called an avatar. The most prominent avatars are of Vishnu and include Rama and Krishna. The Hindu scriptures refer to celestial entities called Devas (or devī in feminine form), "the shining ones", which may be translated into English as "gods" or "heavenly beings". The devas are an integral part of Hindu culture and are depicted in art, architecture and through icons, and mythological stories about them are related in the scriptures, particularly in Indian epic poetry. They are, however, often distinguished from Ishvara, a supreme personal god, with many Hindus worshiping Ishvara in one of its particular manifestations. The choice is a matter of individual preference, and of regional and family traditions. 5 Conversational Religion: Learning How to Talk With Those of Other Beliefs Hinduism Core Doctrinal Beliefs 1. Simplified Core Beliefs Compared to Christianity Subject Christianity God Monotheistic; there is only one God who is eternal and unchanging. (Dt 6:4; Is 40:13-14,40:25,44:6,8, 43:10; Jn 1:3,18,4:24; Ps 90:2,139:7; Mal 3:6) Jesus Salvation Eternal Life Authoritative Scripture Hinduism Appears polytheistic as >33 million exist. However, basic Hindu belief is that Brahma is the “Supreme One” and is a force to in which all things exist, and the other primary gods are manifestations of Brahma. Also, God to Hindus varies from an impersonal force to manifestations which are very personal. Jesus does not exist in Hindu belief. The only begotten Son of God, the One God, eternally God, the only Savior of mankind. (Jn 1:1, 10:33, 17:20-22, 5:18; Phil 2:6;Col 2:9;1Jn 5:20) Attained by the blood sacrifice of Christ given through God’s Grace alone, received by faith. (Eph 2:8-9; Rom 4:3-5; 2Tim 1:9; Titus 3:4-5;1Jn 5:10-13) All Believers are resident with God and Christ in Heaven. Unbelievers experience eternal death in the lake of fire.(Rev 21:1-8, 20:14-15) The Bible is the inerrant Word of God (2Tim 3:16; 2Pet 1:20-21; Is 40:8; Is 55:11; Mt 24:35) Release from the cycle of death and rebirth through personal efforts in resolving karma, praying to the gods for relief from karma and understanding the illusion of all things. This generally is the achievement of “oneness” with Brahma (god), although individual existence is lost. Some believe that eternal life involves a continuing presence with one of the manifestations of Brahma. There is no single authoritative text, although the Vedas are considered the foremost in authority, importance and antiquity. A large body of texts is classified as Hindu, divided into Śruti ("revealed") and Smriti ("remembered") texts. These texts discuss theology, philosophy and mythology, and provide information on the practice of dharma (religious living). 2. Hinduism Belief Concerning God a. The Upanishads (also called the Vedanta, which means the “end or conclusion of the Vedas) teach the idea that behind the many Hindu gods lies the “One Reality”, which is called Brahman. Brahman is an impersonal “all is one” force which is the essence of all things, or all things are in the same essence with Brahman. The Upanishads describe Brahman as "the eternal, conscious, irreducible, infinite, omnipresent, spiritual source of the universe of finiteness and change."The highest form of Brahman is “Nirguna Brahman” who is without attributes or qualities. i. The continued development of the concept of Brahman led to the conception of “Saguna Brahman”, which is Brahman who is personal with attributes and qualities. This personified form of Brahman is also called Ishvara. ii. According to Hindu tradition, Ishvara became known to humanity through the “Trimurti”, literally “three manifestations” of Brahman. These manifestations include Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the preserver) and Shiva (the destroyer). Each of these deities have at least one spouse. There are some major divisions in the Hindu faith, in that while many see Brahman as the ultimate deity, others see Vishnu or Krishna as the supreme being or Shiva as their ultimate reality. iii. Ishvara became personified even further through ten mythical incarnations of Vishnu, called Avatars. Hindu epics relate several episodes of the descent of God to Earth in corporeal form to restore dharma to society 6 Conversational Religion: Learning How to Talk With Those of Other Beliefs Hinduism and to guide humans to moksha. Such an incarnation is called an avatar. The most prominent avatars are of Vishnu and include Rama and Krishna. iv. The Hindu scriptures refer to celestial entities called Devas (or devī in feminine form), "the shining ones", which may be translated into English as "gods" or "heavenly beings". The devas are an integral part of Hindu culture and are depicted in art, architecture and through icons, and mythological stories about them are related in the scriptures, particularly in Indian epic poetry. They are, however, often distinguished from Ishvara, a supreme personal god, with many Hindus worshiping Ishvara in one of its particular manifestations. The choice is a matter of individual preference, and of regional and family traditions. b. Christian belief about God in contrast to Buddhist beliefs i. There is only one eternal God 1. Dt 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.” 2. Is 40:13-14, “Who has understood the mind of the LORD, or instructed him as his counselor? Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge or showed him the path of understanding?” 3. Is 40:25, "To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One.” 4. Is 44:6, “"This is what the LORD says— Israel's King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God.” 5. Is 44:8, “Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one." 6. Is 43:10, “You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.” ii. God has always been. He is eternal. Only He has no “First Cause”. He is unchanging. 1. Ps 90:2 “Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.” 2. Unchanging, Mal 3:6 “I the LORD do not change.” iii. God created everything, including man 1. Gen 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” 2. Gen 1:27 “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” 3. Gen 1:31 “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” 4. Jn 1:3 “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” 5. Nehemiah 9:6 “You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.” 6. Col 1:16 “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.” 7. Ps 8:4-6 “what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet” iv. God is present everywhere, Ps 139:7-10 “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” v. God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are One God. 1. Jesus and God are One 7 Conversational Religion: Learning How to Talk With Those of Other Beliefs Hinduism a. Jn 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” b. For other Scripture quotes, see section 3b. “Christian belief about Jesus” 2. The Holy Spirit and God are One a. Acts 5:3-4 “Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God." b. Luke 1:35 “The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.” 3. Hinduism Belief Concerning Jesus a. Jesus does not exist in Hindu religion. b. Christian belief about Jesus i. Jesus is one and equal with God 1. Jn 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” 2. Jn 10:33, “"We are not stoning you for any of these," replied the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.” 3. Jn 17:20-22, “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one.” 4. Jn 5:18, “For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.” 5. Phil 2:6, “Who, being in very nature God….” 6. 1Jn 5:20 “We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true—even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.” 7. Col 2:9 “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form…” ii. Jesus is unchanging. He has always been the same, not someone different (Michael) before human birth 1. Heb 13:8, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” 2. Rev 1:7-8 “Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen. "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”” iii. Conceived by the Holy Spirit 1. Mt 1:18, “This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.” 2. Lk 1:35, “The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.” 4. Hinduism Belief Concerning Salvation i. Salvation to a Hindu is the cessation of the cycle of death and rebirth (reincarnation). The cycle of death and rebirth is characterized by suffering during life, and driven by lack of understanding (of the reality that everything is an illusion). The end of the cycle of death and rebirth achieves “oneness” with Brahma, the “Supreme One”. This is all achieved through self-discipline, praying to the gods for negation of karma and personal efforts. Achievement of Oneness with Brahma means the cessation of the individual b. Christian belief about Salvation i. There is no cycle of death and rebirth. Man lives one life on earth and then is judged. 1. Hebrews 9:27 “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment…” 8 Conversational Religion: Learning How to Talk With Those of Other Beliefs Hinduism ii. Salvation is a result of Justification (acquitted of any guilt from sin) in God’s sight. The word for “justified” in the following passages means “to render just or innocent” or “being acquitted; pronounced and treated as righteous”. 1. Rom 3:24-28 “and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.” 2. Rom 5:1 “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…” 3. Gal 2:16 “know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.” 4. Gal 3:8 “Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith…” 5. Gal 3:11 “Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.” 6. Gal 3:24 “So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith.” a. Titus 3:7 “so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” iii. Justification Salvation are obtained only by the Grace of God, as a free gift, 1. Received through Faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation cannot be achieved through personal works. a. Eph 2:8-9, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” b. Rom 4:3-5, “What does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.” 2. Cannot be achieved through personal works a. Eph 2:8-9, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” b. 2Ti 1:9, “who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.” c. Tit 3:4-5, “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.” d. Gal 2:16 “know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in[d] Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified. iv. Justification begins our lives in Christ as “new creatures” and begins the process of Sanctification. Sanctification is the process of becoming Christ-like and is worked in us by the Spirit of God. Sanctification results in good works and the elimination of cravings of the flesh. 1. 2Cor 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2. Gal 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” 3. Gal 5:24 “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” 4. 1 Jn 2:5 “But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them.” 9 Conversational Religion: Learning How to Talk With Those of Other Beliefs Hinduism 5. Gal 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” 6. Titus 2:11-12 “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age…” 7. Rom 6:11-14 “In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.” v. Suffering is real but will be relieved by God 1. The Bible recognizes suffering as inherent in life a. Job 14:1-2 ““Mortals, born of woman, are of few days and full of trouble. They spring up like flowers and wither away; like fleeting shadows, they do not endure.” b. Rom 7:24 “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?” c. Ps 90:10 “Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.” 2. Pain, suffering and lack of understanding (enlightenment) are consequences of sin and the resulting alienation from God a. Gen 3:17 “To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life.”” b. Rom 1:21-23 “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.” 3. Pain and suffering end when we are re-united with Christ a. Rev 21:3-4 “I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”” 5. Hinduism Belief Concerning Eternal Life a. Achievement of “Oneness with Brahma”, which is the goal of Hindus, generally results in the cessation of the individual. However, some believe this can result in living spiritually with a manifestation of Brahma for ever. b. Christian belief about Eternal Life i. All Believers will be with God and Christ in the “New Heaven”. There is no distinction of classes nor is there evidence of a purgatorial state prior to admittance to heaven. 1. Believers have an eternal house in Heaven, 2Cor 5:1 “Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.” 2. Believers are called into God’s eternal glory, 1Pet 5:10 “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ…” 3. Believers enter an eternal Kingdom, 2Pet 1:11 “and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 4. Believers receive an eternal inheritance, Heb 9:15 “For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.” 10 Conversational Religion: Learning How to Talk With Those of Other Beliefs Hinduism ii. Unbelievers will be cast into Hell 1. Rev 19:20 “But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.” 2. Rev 21:8 “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." 3. Rev 14:9-11 “A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: "If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he, too, will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name."” 4. Mt 25:46 “"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." 5. Is 66:24 “"And they will go out and look upon the dead bodies of those who rebelled against me; their worm will not die, nor will their fire be quenched, and they will be loathsome to all mankind." 6. Dan 12:2 “Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.” 6. Hinduism Belief Concerning Authoritative Scripture a. A large body of texts is classified as Hindu, divided into Śruti ("revealed") and Smriti ("remembered") texts. These texts discuss theology, philosophy and mythology, and provide information on the practice of dharma (religious living). Major scriptures include: Vedas. Consisting of four “volumes”, these are the foremost in authority, importance and antiquity. Veda means “wisdom” or “knowledge.” The Vedas contain hymns, prayers, and ritual texts composed from about 1400 to about 400 B.C. Hindus believe that the texts were received by scholars direct from God and passed on to the next generations by word of mouth. Vedic texts are sometimes called shruti, which means hearing. For hundreds, maybe even thousands of years, the texts were passed on orally. The four volumes of the Veda are: •The Samhitas are the most ancient part of the Vedas, consisting of hymns of praise to God. •The Brahmanas are rituals and prayers to guide the priests in their duties. •The Aranyakas concern worship and meditation. •The Upanishads consist of the mystical and philosophical teachings of Hinduism. They elaborate on how the soul (Atman) can be united with the ultimate truth (Brahman) through contemplation and mediation, as well as the doctrine of Karma-- the cumulative effects of a person’s actions. Puranas. The Puranas are post-Vedic texts which typically contain a complete narrative of the history of the Universe from creation to destruction, genealogies of the kings, heroes and demigods, and descriptions of Hindu cosmology and geography. There are 17 or 18 canonical Puranas, divided into three categories, each named after a deity: Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. a. Christian belief about the Bible i. Scripture is from God 1. 2Tim 3:16, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2. 2Pet 1:20-21 “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 7. Witnessing to Hindus a. Do not insult a Hindu’s idols. While the worship of idols is “all kinds of wrong” to a Christian, idols are very personal to a Hindu. Atacking a Hindu’s personal gods or idols could end your conversation rapidly. 11 Conversational Religion: Learning How to Talk With Those of Other Beliefs Hinduism b. Do discuss God’s Grace and forgiveness of sins. Hindu belief does not have a well established concept of God’s Grace. The attainment of “Oneness with Brahma” is primarily achieved through personal works and enlightenment. They also do not have a notion of God providing forgiveness, Karma is the closest analogue in Hinduism to sin. Essentially, karma cannot be forgiven. It just “is” and will continue to cause the Hindu to experience reincarnation until all past karma is resolved. God’s freely given Grace can be a liberating concept for the Hindu. 2Tim 3:16-17 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2Tim 2:15 “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” 12