Transcript 11 Hinduism 2015 brief basics

Aim: why has the
organized religion of
Hinduism had an
impact on the world?
What part of the world is associated
with the origins of Hinduism?
Origins
• What are the early origins of Hinduism?
Dominant theory of
Indo-European
migration
Who did the Indo-Europeans / Indo-Aryans /
Aryans run into in South Asia?
Founder
• Who is the founder of Hinduism?
• There is none.
• The origin of Hinduism lies in the
original Vedas (epic poems, Hindu
scriptures, spiritual laws and
truths) brought to South Asia by
the Aryans.
• When?
Basics
• Is Hinduism Monotheistic or
Polytheistic?
• That depends on your perspective.
Use the following slide to make
your own mind up.
Is Hinduism Monotheistic or
Polytheistic?
How many Hindu Gods exist?
• How many Hindus are there on planet
Earth? About one billion.
• So what’s the connection to the main
question above?
• Take Note: The Regents Board of NYS
generally considers Hinduism to be
polytheistic.
British TV Interview
Point to Ponder
• How is it possible for someone to be a
Hindu Christian but not a Christian Hindu?
?!
• Okay, so on to Basic Beliefs / Tenets.
Basic Beliefs
• Dharma: duties and obligations in life
determined by one’s birth.
• Reincarnation: rebirth
• Karma: actions leading to future
consequences
• Samsara: cycle of birth, death and rebirth
• Moksha: escape from Samsara
• Nirvana: “heaven” ???
How might this diagram illustrate and explain Hinduism?
_________
________
Think of life and time as a circle.
Moksha
Birth / Death
Reincarnation
Samsara
Karma
Dharma
Nirvana
As opposed to a linear concept of time
Begin /
Birth
End /
Death
Afterlife…
or not or
…?
Want to reach Nirvana sooner?
•
•
•
•
Meditation and education
Being a responsible adult
Meditation
Release from material possessions
Impact on Society
Impact on Society
At least twice
born
(reincarnated)
castes.
Caste System
Why could such a
system be used for
political purposes in any
Hindu society?
Is Hindu society unique
in its implementation of
classism?
During the Mauryan Empire, Indo – Greeks
were incorporated into what caste? Why?
Satyagraha
Fin
Hindu – Muslim Relations
Fin