Download Conversational Religion: The Latter Day Saints (Mormons)

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