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Hinduism
Points of View
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
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.
• The World
–
–
–
–
–
The world is.
It is good and bad.
Creation involves destruction.
Life leads to death.
The gods represent a balance of forces.
• 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.
• 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 one’s previous
actions.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.