World Religions

Introduction to World Religions Study Guide

©2018 Achieve Page 20 of 96 is eternal. The wise pursue knowledge and understanding of the truth and the only reality. Hindus believe in the truth of the Vedas, the sacred scripture. The one true God of Hindus is Brahman . Brahman is formless, limitless, all-inclusive, and eternal. However, Brahman is a God that is real rather than an abstract concept. The Vedas are the ultimate authority for Hindus. They are the Hindu scriptures that contain the revelations that were received by ancient saints and sages. Hindus believe the Vedas are timeless; if everything in the world were to be destroyed, the Vedas would still remain. Dharma is the concept of righteousness, moral law, and duty. Hindus believe that everyone must make the dharma central to their life. Do one’s duty, and behave in a moral and right way are the mandates. There is not a comparable English word that adequately describes the concept, except to say it is the “right conduct”. Atman, or the soul, is eternal. It is not created and cannot be destroyed. The soul has existed forever, but during reincarnation, the soul will reap what was sown in one life as it is placed in a different body for the next life. While the soul is immortal, the goal of the individual soul is moksha . Moksha is the liberation of the soul from endless death and rebirth. The soul then unites with Brahman when it realizes its true purpose. That purpose can be one of the three paths: knowledge, devotion and the unconditional surrender to God (Brahman), or the path of duty. Chapter 3: Hinduism The Hindu religion is the major indigenous following of the Indian subcontinent. There are about 1 billion followers, and therefore, it is the largest religion (after Christianity and Islam). The beginnings of Hinduism are based on the historical Vedic religion of the Iron Age India. There is no single founder; rather, it is based on diverse traditions. It is the oldest living religion in the world. Hinduism is not one religion with a systematic set of beliefs and is not driven by a set of rules, such as the Ten Commandments. The belief system and the practices are flavored by the location, community, and caste system, and includes a collection of intellectual and philosophical points of view. Hinduism includes a spectrum of laws that instruct on daily morality. Hindus believe in one Supreme Being. Hindus believe in the truth of the Vedas, (sacred scripture), but even those can be interpreted widely. Hindu texts are divided into the Sruti (revealed) and the Smriti (remembered). The texts discuss not only theology, but also philosophy, rituals, and temple building. The major scriptures include the Mahabharata , Ramayana , Vedas , and the Bhagavad Gita. Hinduism teaches the belief in reincarnation. The end goal for Hindus is to end their own reincarnation and liberate their spirit. The Ganges River is a sacred river to the Hindus and provides a lifeline to their people. The most sacred animal to the Hindus is the cow. There are three belief concepts in: truth, dharma, and karma. Even with the common beliefs, the practice and adherence to those beliefs are different depending on location. T uth