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OBJECTIVES
Identify basic Hindu beliefs. Explain relationship between Hinduism
and the caste system in India. Describe religions that arose in protest
of Hindu practices.
RELIGIONS OF REGION
Hinduism (701 m) Islam (93m) Christianity (25m) Sikhism (17m) Buddhism (8m)
Why are conflicts over religion more heated than those over mere differences of opinion?
ORIGINS
No founder, formal church.
Sacred Texts Vedas – eternal truths Upanishads – explains
Epic Poems Ramayana,
Mahabharata, Bhagavad Gita
Brahman - supreme universal soul
Assumes 3 forms Brahma – creator Vishnu – preserver Shiva – destroyer
Goal = Moksha. Union with spirit through pure soul.
BELIEFS Reincarnation - Rebirth of
soul.
Karma – Every action rewarded/punished
Dharma – duties & obligations
Moksha
Nirvana
FESTIVALS
Diwali – Festival of Lights…arrival of winter, New Year
Holi – purify fields for good crop yield
ORIGINS CASTE SYSTEM
3,000 + yrs old
Aryans (invaded India) took desirable work, left less desirable to original peoples.
Divided population into varnas –social groups Born into, stay Segregation of castes Restricted
Brahmins – scholars & priests
Kashatriya – rulers & soldiers
Vaishya – merchants & landowners
Sudras – laborers & artisans
Untouchables – menial jobs, outcasts (Gandhi called “harijan”)
CASTE SYSTEM TODAY
Indian Constitution outlawed concept of “untouchability”
Problem for modernization
Rural – Very much alive
Urban – Mix castes, may even reject system. Vestiges seen in slums.
STAGES OF LIFE
Student- celibacy & preparation for life “student” does not necessarily mean literally in school
Householder- (marriage. Family) can buy things
Hermit (retirement & meditation) Gives up worldly posessions
Wanderer (Complete renunciation of material world. Including all possessions Elderly
OTHER RELIGIONS
BUDDHISM JAINISM & SIKHISM
Siddhartha Gautama Left privileged life to find
cause human misery Achieved enlightenment
became Buddha
4 Noble Truths Noble Eightfold Path 3 Baskets of Wisdom
Jainism – emphasize ahimsa (nonviolence).
Sikhism – blend Hinduism & Islam