Transcript The Christian & Other World Religions

The Christian
&
Other World Religions
Hinduism
Maranatha Bible Church
Adult Sunday School
Mantra
DHARMA
YOGA
MEDITATION
KARMA
THESE ORIGINATED WITH OR ARE ASSOCIATED WITH HINDUISM
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Demographics of Hinduism
~950M to 1.4B Hindu’s
Approximately
1M Hindu’s in
North America
Hindu’s Primarily
In These Areas
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Hinduism - Origins
• The name Hindu comes from the original name of the country
– “hind” which was an ancient Persian term for India
– Others say it is derived from the Indus River and Indus Valley which is
modern day Pakistan
• The overall beliefs and practices that make up what is now
called Hinduism originated around 4,000 years ago in
northwest India
• There is no single founder of Hinduism
• During 600 - 500 BC, the Brahmins were at the height of their
power and controlled all Hindu religious rituals when the
lower caste revolted
– This led to the breakaway faiths of Buddhism and Jainism
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Hinduism - Origins
• Hinduism evolved out of a complex gathering of Indian ideas and ancient
cultural beliefs
• Many scholars believe that Dravidians of the Hohenjo-Daro civilization
were overrun by the more aggressive Aryan people from ancient Persia
and the amalgamation of these cultures led to the polytheism and
animism that is the basis of what developed into Hinduism
• Over time, this Indo-Aryan culture developed a stratification that led to
the present day caste system of India (dying out today to some degree)
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Brahamins – Teachers/Priests
Kshatriyas: Warriors, nobles, and Kings (Military and rulers)
Vaishyas: Farmers, merchants, and businessmen
Shudras: Servants and labourers (peasants)
• Hindus and scholars debate whether the so-called caste system is
an integral part of Hinduism sanctioned by the scriptures or an
outdated social system
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Hinduism – Definitions
• Brahmin
– the Hindu word for Ultimate Reality – the source of all things that permeates all things
• Samsara
– The Hindu belief that one’s immortal soul is continuously reborn (reincarnation)
• Karma
– A Sanskrit word that means, “actions” and conveys the notion that one’s moral choices
have a direct impact on one’s quality of life in this life and future incarnations
• Moksha
– The goal of Hinduism. This refers to the liberation or release from the endless cycle of
reincarnation (samsara). Some liken this to being in the presence of God, others see it as
a kind of merging with the Ultimate, as a drop of water is absorbed into the ocean
• Action – performing one’s religious duties and thus obtaining blessing
• Knowledge – seeking for the meaning of life through meditation and realization of fundamental
unity between the external Brahman and the internal atman, or divine self
• Devotion – worshipping certain deities and becoming one with them
• Dharma – The ethical, dutiful “way of living” by following dietary laws,
observing the expectations of the caste system, and participating in
sacrifices and rituals
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Hinduism – Deities
• Hinduism has both one God and at the same time – many
gods
– The one God – Brahman – is a trimurti (show below)
• Brahma – the creator
• Vishnu – the preserver
• Shiva – the destroyer
Temple carving at Hoysaleswara temple representing the
Trimurti: Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu.
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Hindu Deities
There are 33 main deities according to
the Veda – these are considered 33 facets
of the one god - Brahman
Hindu’s are encouraged to
pray to an image as a way
of finding help in worship.
Hindu gods are meant to
bring peace and ward off
evil spirits
Worship of these deities
is carried out in Temples
or in the home – nearly
every Hindu home has
a shrine that takes up a
whole room or corner of
a room
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Hindu Scriptures
Upanishads – supplement
The Vedas. They consist of
Over 100 books containing
Stories, conversations, and
Wise sayings
ATHARVA
YAJUS
SAMA
RG
Veda means Wisdom – there
are four (4) Vedas consisting
Of Hymns and Prayers
The accumulated treasury
Of spiritual laws were transmitted
Orally for many centuries before
They were written down in two great works
Called Vedas and the Great Epics
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There are Two (2) Great Epics which
Consist of (1) Ramayana – mythical
Stories about rulers and wars of ancient
India and (2) Mahabharta – Scriptures
And Hymns, including the most popular
Hindu Scripture – the Bhagavad Gita
Bhagavad - the Song of the Blessed Lord
– endorses the Hindu belief of “bhakti” –
devotion to a particular god as a way of
achieving salvation
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Hinduism – Basic Beliefs and Practices
• The quest for internal knowledge (finding God within through
meditation) is extremely important
• Hindu worship consists of worshipping one or more deities,
often represented by stone and wood idols
– Worship consist of prayer, meditation, breathing exercises (yoga), and
chanting the “om” syllable before and after all prayers, and reading of
the scriptures (Veda, and the Great Epics)
• Yatra, pilgrimages, are sometimes undertaken to the religious
cites and holy sites culminating in ritualistic bathing in holy
rivers such as Ganges, Jumna, and others.
– This practice of bathing is believed to effectively wash away one’s sins
and garner the blessing of the deities.
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Key Hindu Concepts and Christianity’s Response
PANTHEISM / PANENTHEISM / MANY GODS
There is both one God (Brahman) and yet many gods
EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANITIES RESPONSE
Only one God – triune in character and person
Exo. 20:3; Deut. 5:7; Psalm 96:5)
Idol worship is prohibited by God – We worship only Him and Jesus Christ
Leviticus 26:1, Acts 17:16
God created all things for his glory – but is not IN all things
I Cor. 8:1
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Key Hindu Concepts and Christianity’s Response
THE ULTIMATE REALITY
The ultimate reality is when one’s self is merged with the divine –
This takes place by finding this knowledge within one’s self
EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANITIES RESPONSE
God is our reality along with His Son Jesus Christ – Heaven, Hell, Earth are
Real, along with knowing what God wants us to do on earth and in eternity
(Col. 1:15-18)
We do not find reality by looking within – this is what Satan deceived Eve with
In the garden of Eden and men have been deceived with ever since (Gen 3:1-5)
We can find reality only by clinging to Him – the vine and source of all knowledge
And relying on His reveal Word (John 1:1)
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Key Hindu Concepts and Christianity’s Response
REINCARNATION - SAMSARA
Life is a cycle of birth-life experiences – death – rebirth
until the self is emptied of desire and at one with the divine
EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANITIES RESPONSE
God created mankind to live only once and die only once – Hebrews 9:27
Jesus Christ was not reincarnated time and again – only came to earth once
As a baby – and died once – as our Savior (Hebrews 9:28)
We will be raised from the dead but with new bodies – to eternal life / death
As the case may be based on our relationship with Jesus Christ as our Savior
We are to fill our selves with the Holy Spirit – not with ‘emptiness’ (Gal. 5:16-25)
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Key Hindu Concepts and Christianity’s Response
KARMA – The total of an individual’s acts in this
Life which determine his destiny in the next life
Until Nirvana / the Ultimate Reality is reached
EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANITIES RESPONSE
Our works are not worth anything in God’s site – due to being sinners (Romans 3:9-20)
It is only on the basis of God’s mercy and grace we can be saved (Eph 2:8-9)
God would not have had to send His Son to be crucified if we could work our way
Into Heaven
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Key Hindu Concepts and Christianity’s Response
DHARMA – The law of Moral Order which must
be found and followed by each person who wishes
to attain Nirvana
EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANITIES RESPONSE
The Mosaic Law was given to show us the utter hopelessness of meriting God’s
favor or Heaven by our works or self and shutting us up solely to God’s grace
(Romans 3:27-28)
Only when we received Jesus Christ as Savior and are indwelt with His Spirit
can we perform the good works he prepared before hand and be morally
acceptable in his sight. (Ephesians 2:10; Galatians 5:16-25)
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Key Hindu Concepts and Christianity’s Response
PATHS TO MOKSHA – The liberation from Samsara
and reunion with Brahman
Three paths: Dharma – Works
Inana – Knowledge
Bhakti – Passionate devotion
EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANITIES RESPONSE
Works, knowledge, or devotion will not get a person to heaven
Only faith / trust in Jesus Christ and his finished work on the Cross will save
(John 1:12-13, 3:16)
Gentiles seek knowledge and the preaching of the cross is foolishness (I Cor.1:20-25)
Passionate devotion is not the same as putting your trust / faith in the finished
Work of Jesus Christ on the Cross and accepting it for your personal self
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Cedar Rapids Gazette Article
Hinduism on Faith vs. Reason
The question is asked about
The final word – faith or reason?
Hinduism, based on the philosophy
of Vedanta, maintains that it is neither
faith nor reason, but the experience
that is the sure source of knowledge
and the ultimate validity of religious
truth
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The Unexpected Journey – Hinduism
Chapter 3 (p47)
In the story, what were the major points in his background
• Dr. Ravi was born into a wealthy family – 2nd highest in the caste system
• Ravi contracted Polio – and his family built temples and prayed to gods
to cure him – but nothing happened
• The lack of an answer from their gods eventually led to his family
considering him a burden – having bad karma in a previous life
– No forgiveness in Karma and no innocent suffering
• Ravi ran away from home – because he could not stand the guilt of
thinking his sins caused him to be born with polio
• An Christian crossed paths with Ravi one day and shared the Gospel
with Ravi
– Through Adam sin came upon the human race
– God loves us and we have obtained forgiveness through Jesus Christ and the cross
– God has a special purpose for our life and uses even our disabilities for His Glory
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The Unexpected Journey – Hinduism
Chapter 3 (p47)
What caused this Ravi to turn to Jesus Christ? What happened after being saved?
• The Hindu gods not answering their prayers to heal him
• Coming across a Christian who shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ with
him
• The reading of God’s Word – Psalm 27:10 – had a major impact on his
life
• He went to Christian boarding school – where his physical needs and
emotional needs for love and acceptance were provided for – and he
heard God’s Word – Romans 3:23, Isaiah 45:22, John 3:15, Romans
10:13
• After trusting Jesus Christ, his family totally disowned him – Ravi had
to find forgiveness in his heart just as God has forgiven us
• Forgiveness and prayer for them resulted in them being saved as well
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The Unexpected Journey – Hinduism
Chapter 3 (p47)
What can we learn from this person’s testimony about witnessing to
Hindu’s?
• Establish a relationship with them
• Don’t be afraid to have fellowship with them in a social manner
• Be open and honest with them – if you mess up, admit it
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions about their beliefs and how they
worship
• Ask about how they feel regarding the results of their prayers or
rituals regarding their life and hope for achieving the ultimate state
• Share with them your testimony and the scriptures regarding God’s
love, forgiveness, straightforwardness of salvation
• Make sure they have truly put their trust in the One True Living
God and abandon their other gods – Christianity is not polytheistic
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Homework
• Homework for next time - Unitarianism:
– Read Chapter 9 (p141) – “A Humble Approach to
God”
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What was your overall reaction to this account?
What were some of the experiences this man faced?
Did they help or hinder his acceptance of Jesus Christ?
How has God used this man after his conversion to
further the Kingdom of God?
• How can we apply these lessons / experience in our
witnessing for Christ to those of the Hindu faith?
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References
• Eckel, Malcolm David. Great World Religions: Buddhism, The Great
Courses, Religion, Chantilly, VA.: The Teaching Company, 2003.
• New American Standard Bible Edition : Fourth Copyright : Copyright
© 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by
The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved. Electronic Edition
STEP Files Copyright © 2003, QuickVerse, a division of Findex.com,
Inc.
• Pollack, Robert. The Everything World’s Religions Book, Avon, MA.:
Adams Media, An F+W Publications Company, 2002.
• Ridenour, Fritz. So What’s The Difference? – A look at 20
Worldviews, Faiths, and Religions and how they compare to
Christianity, Ventura, CA.: Regal Books, 2001.
• Wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism: Accessed December 30, 2009.
• World Religions Made Easy, John Hunt Publishing, Peabody, MA.:
Hendrickson Publishers, 1999.
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