...Hinduism Death, Dying and Destiny Ideas about what happens after death, and its connection with how life is lived on earth, is a fundamental part of all religions. Many people accept death as the end of any form of existence. However others argue that death is not the end of life. The Australian Catholic University has held this conference about Death and Dying to address some of the ultimate questions that humans have always asked themselves. This particular seminar will deal with the aspects of death, dying and destiny. The religion that will be investigated around the issue of death, dying and destiny will be Hinduism. Based on the essence of Hinduisms framework and various interpretations of scriptures the basic fundamentals of what is expected of followers in life and death are dictated what expectations are up held and performed. What happens after death, and its connection with how life is lived on earth, is fundamental to every religion. These beliefs and ideas; help people make sense of life, give support and comfort at times of loss and bereavement, and provides purpose to life (BBC; 2014). In Hinduism it is believed that any attempt to permanent happiness in this world is an illusion (maya). Hindus believe that a person’s atman (spirit) is permanent and cannot change while the physical body is permanent (About Religion; 2014). This quote from Bhagavad Gita 2:22 (As a man casts off his worn-out clothes and takes on other new ones, so does the embodied soul cast off...
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...WORLD RELIGIONS – REL 212 World Religions | | | HINDUISM & JAINISMWEEK 2 | | Cosmogony - Origin of the Universe | Hinduism-No founder and no starting point. Jainism- Founder Mahavira 500 B.C | Nature of God/Creator | Hinduism-Vishnu, Brahma, Shiva, Many Gods Jainism-No Gods worship Siddha, Mukta | View of Human Nature | Hinduism-Birth, death, re-births Jainism-All things have souls but to achieve liberation you have to have human form. | View of Good & Evil | Hinduism-Balancing act between order & chaos. Jainism-Remove all Karma to end the cycle and to become Mukti. | View of Salvation | Hinduism-Dharma the way of life but the goal is liberation. Jainism-Removing Karma from the soul | View of After Life | Hinduism-Not permanent. It’s a cycle of birth, death and rebirth that allows the soul to recuperate. Jainism-Believes in cycling through birth and rebirth. | Practices and Rituals | Hinduism-Ritual to engage the senses of both devotee & the Gods. Jainism-Through their rituals their beliefs and values are expressed. | Celebrations & Festivals | Hinduism-Maha, Shivararti, Holi, Ram Navami Jainism-Do not allow pageantry in their festivals, due to emphasis on self discipline. | Week 2 - Sources | | | | | | | | | | BUDDHISMWEEK 3 | | Cosmogony - Origin of the Universe | Was taught as an alternative to the ritual oriented Brahamanism of India. | Nature of God/Creator | Teaches us that there is no personal God. Liberation...
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...org/pdf/affiliations-all-traditions.pdf) Christianity Evangelical Protestant Mainline Protestant Historically Black Churches Roman Catholic Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) Jehovah’s Witnesses Orthodox (Greek, Eastern) Judaism (Orthodox, Conservative, or Reform) Buddhism (Theravada or Mahayana) Islam (Sunni, Shia, Sufism) Hinduism Racial/ethnic groups (based on divisions in U.S. Census Bureau documents) Asian (Asian descent) Black (African descent) Hispanic and Latino (South or Central American descent) Pacific Islander (Polynesian descent) White (European descent) Part II Write a 750- to 1,400-word paper in which you consider the following regarding the religious group and racial/ethnic group you selected: Religious group: How does your selected religious group differ from other religious groups (such as in their beliefs, worship practices, or values)? What has been the experience of your selected religious group with others that do not share its beliefs or practices? In what ways has the religious group you selected contributed to American culture? Provide specific examples of prejudice or discrimination your selected religious group has experienced. What were the sources of this prejudice or discrimination? Does what you’ve learned about this religious group help you understand it? In what ways? Racial/ethnic group: How does Pacific Islander (Polynesian descent) differ from other racial/ethnic groups (such as differences in ancestry, language, or culture)? What has been Pacific...
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... Hinduism is one of the oldest organized religions in the world. The religion has thousands of diverse religious groupings that evolved in the Indian subcontinent from as far as 1500 BC. The Hindu religion has a variety of traditions, and, therefore, freedom of practices and beliefs are some of the notable feature of this religion. Hinduism includes the following traditionsVaishnavism, Srauta, and Shaivism, among others (Georgis 62). The religion has groupings such as Kapalikas. Hinduism has a variety of philosophies which include a spectrum of prescriptions as well as laws based on dharma and karma among other societal norms. By 21st century, it is reported that the Hindu religion had about a billion followers around the globe, and about eighty percent of Indians practices Hinduism. Hinduism differentiates itself from Christianity and other religions in that; the religion does not have a single founder, a single concept of deity, a central religious authority, a single system of morality, a concept of prophet, or a specific theoretical system. These are some of things that are found in other religions. Early history of Hinduism is a subject to numerous debates, and this is because of various reasons. First, the term Hinduism is a modern term but the sources of Hindu traditions are exceedingly ancient. Secondly, the religion embraces many traditions. Thirdly, there is no definite start point for Hinduism, and the traditions associated with Hinduism go back...
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...Hinduism Paper Jessica M. Thomas HUM/130 July 20, 2014 Daniel Davis Hinduism is considered the World’s oldest organized religion, it is also the third largest in the World. “It consist of thousands of different religious groups that have evolved in India since 1500 BCE. Because of the wide variety of Hindu traditions, freedom of belief and practice are notable features of Hinduism”. (Hinduism: The World’s third largest religion, 2014) The way Hinduism expresses its spiritual traditions is not by one unified religion but by supreme variations of religious paths, this allows for no central tradition but a diverse worship of deities. There has been various definitions of what Hinduism actually is and what it involves so it is important to understand what connects these various beliefs and practices in order to form the religion Hinduism. What makes up the Hindu Religion is that it is not a standard type of religion, but it is a set of religious traditions and beliefs that has evolved over time. Although the Hinduism religion is various in many ways, all of the religious groups and traditions follow certain types of beliefs and practices but also acknowledge and follow the ancient scriptures called Vedas. These sacred writings contain hymns, incantations and rituals from ancient India. “According to orthodox Hindus, the Vedas are not the work of any humans. They are considered shruti texts—those which have been revealed, rather than written by mortals. They are the breath...
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...Hinduism Paper Greg L. Fowler Hum/130 Religions of the World March 6, 2011 Michael Harris Hinduism Paper In this paper the subject is the religion of Hinduism. In this paper the subjects to explain are the makeup of the Hindu religion, what the cultural and societal influences that have made Hinduism vital to the region in which it originated are and finally will explain the desire for liberation from earthly existence. The Hindu Religion “Hinduism is the oldest religion on the planet. Hinduism is actually known as the Sanatana Dharma or Eternal Truth. The uniting belief systems of Hinduism, and there are many, include the conviction that Truth is knowable and can be directly experienced” (Rood, 1995-2011). The Hindu religion has two core values. The first core value is the “doctrine of karma. Karma states that every thought and action results in certain consequences born by the actor or thinker. If a person lies or steals, he will be wronged in some way in the future. Most Hindus believe that though his/her present is determined by his/her past, nonetheless we can influence our future by conducting ourselves in a proper manner in the present” (Rood, 1995-2011, p.1). The modern day member of the Christianity faith may see some similarity between the karma and the verse in Galatians 6:7 which whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. Hinduism has a strong sense of morality. The Hindu religion teaches non-violence. Another belief of...
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...Hinduism Paper HUM/130 Due Hinduism is a set of traditions and beliefs that have evolved over a 5,000 year period. There are many forms of Hinduism that cannot be traced to one source. Hinduism is also known as Sanatana Dharma. “Sanatana means “eternal” or “ageless” reflects the belief that these ways have always existed.” (Fisher, 2005, 69) ”Dharma, translates as “religion,” encompasses duty, natural law, social welfare, ethics, health, and transcendental realization.” (Fisher, 2005, 69) The earliest forms of the ancient scriptures, Vedas, contain four parts. The earliest is the Samhitas, hymns of praise and worship to the deities. Then is the Brahmanas, directions about performances of the ritual sacrifices to the deities. Next is the Aranyakas, when people would go to the forests to meditate and recluse. Lastly is the Upanishads, consisting of teaching from highly realized spiritual master’s. (Fisher, 2005) Hinduism followers believe in the Supreme Being and many other Supreme Deities. Rig Veda is the oldest of the known Vedic scriptures which praises and implores the blessing of the devas. The major devas include Indra (the god of thunder and bringer of the welcome rains), Agni (god of fire), Soma (the sacred drink), and Ushas (the god of dawn). (Fisher, 2005) The devas represent and unseen reality as which include opaque earth gods and transparent deities. Hindus believe that once one discovers the...
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...* Skip to Navigation * Skip to Content TermPaperWarehouse.com - Free Term Papers, Essays and Research Documents The Research Paper Factory * Join * Search * Browse * Saved Papers ------------------------------------------------- Top of Form Search Bottom of Form * Home Page » * Religion Topics Hinduism Worldview In: Religion Topics Hinduism Worldview Hinduism Worldview 1. The Question of Origin. The beliefs of a Hindu can be very confusing with the question of origin because they believe in so many different God’s and there are so many different sects. What unifies the sects though is the worship of Braham. It would be my guess that they believe that Brahma, the creator God, Is what brought them into existence. 2. The Question of Identity. To a Hindu all forms of living beings are a manifestation of God. They do not see themselves above animals or even plants. They belief that because animals and plants give them sources of food that they should be worshipped. 3. The Question of Meaning/Purpose. There are 4 goals in life for a Hindu. To have pleasure, wealth, harmony, and liberation. The first two consume each person because it causes suffering. The other two fulfill them. The concept of Salvation is to overcome the evil desires (pleasure and wealth) and achieve the last two to become moksha (the release of the evil). 4. The Question of Morality. Like the previous question they strive to be moksha. They have to release all the evil doings...
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...The Origins of Hinduism 1 What features of geography might have contributed to Hindu religious sensibilities? The river Ganges 2 Explain one of the analogies the author uses to understand Hinduism (a great river or a palace added to over centuries). Both convey the idea that nothing is ever lost in Hinduism. The religious life of India is something like the river Ganges. It has flowed along for thousands of years, swirling from its own power but also from the power of new streams that have added to its force. (Molloy 78) But the limitations of Hinduism may also be its strengths. It is like a palace that began as a two-room cottage. Over the centuries, wings have been built on to it, and now it has countless rooms, stairs, corridors, statues, fountains, and gardens. (Molloy 78) 3 What features have enabled Hinduism to develop freely in many directions? Many influences—early indigenous religion and influences from later immigrants—have added to its inherent momentum. It has no one identifiable founder, no strong organizational structure to defend it and spread its influence, nor any creed to define and stabilize its beliefs; and in a way that seems to defy reason, Hinduism unites the worship of many gods with a belief in a single divine reality. (Molloy 78) Molloy, Michael. Experiencing the World's Religions, 5th Edition. McGraw-Hill Learning Solutions, 2010. VitalBook file. The Earliest Stage of Indian Religion ...
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...who had migrated there. They also called the land Hindustan and its inhabitants, Hindus. After that, the religion that followed was called Hinduism. Today, almost 800 million people practice the Hindu religion. The main deities of the Hindu religion are Brahma and his two deputies named Shiva and Vishnu. The god Vishnu is the creator, and Shiva is the destroyer. One is not looked upon as better than the other. These are not the only gods in Hindu culture. There are many others and all have special skills and talents. The gods themselves also give birth to the idea of avatars, or the form of god when he or she comes to earth. The idealism of the Hindu religion comes from the Vedas, which are the Hindu religion's oldest scriptures and are considered to be a direct revelation from God. The Upanishads are writings that take their themes from the Vedas. Lastly, the Bhagavad-Gita is a collection of teachings that are based on the conversation between Arjuna, a soldier, and Lord Krishna who is the mortal reincarnation of Lord Vishnu. He appears as Arjuna's charioteer. In these conversations the two discuss everything from the purpose of life to the basis of reality. Much like Christian proverbs, the teachings of Lord Krishna give advice, general good sense and insight on many subjects. Perhaps the most important part of the philosophy of Hinduism lay in its path to enlightenment. The main ideas of enlightenment come through the four goals of Life. The first of these ends is Moksa. Moksa...
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...Week 3 Assignment: Hinduism Paper Week 3 Assignment: Hinduism Paper Hinduism is a religion that lacks a uniting belief system like many other religions possess. Cultural and societal influences have made Hinduism vital to India, the region in which it originated. India is one of the last places holding onto its ancient cultures. Hinduism is able to bring together different beliefs, customs, and traditions, which helps each maintain their historical traditions. The dharmic traditions that are found in India are all a mixture to some degree of each other. Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism have all shared characteristics between one another. Hinduism is at its core monotheistic, although the Supreme God or Brahman may be worshipped in many different forms. Hindus believe in one Supreme Being who created the earth. India has a long history and many varieties of religion have developed over time. There are some unified religions like Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. The various other religions have been grouped together and labeled as “Hinduism” like they are a single religious practice. This grouping and categorization of Indian religions was began by the Colonial British during their rule in the nineteenth century (Fisher, 2014). There is much debate surrounding the classification and labeling of Indian religions by non-Indian people. The argument is made that these outside people use their own religious concepts and ideas as means to judge, understand...
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...March 04, 2010 Hinduism Religions are bound to experience challenges and changes to current traditions and practices with the constant changes within the world that happen. For religions to survive changes, they must be open to adapting to the modern world while holding strong to ancient teachings and traditions. Hinduism is the major religion in India (Molloy, 2010) and focuses on the belief of the worship of many Gods. Hinduism has had a significant influence and has begun to spread into other areas of the world. Hinduism is an ancient religion that has survived the changes of the modern world and has influenced the traditions of other religions in the process. Hinduism has begun to influence the Western and modern world the religion does face some issues with ensuring their ancient traditions can sustain in this modern era. Common Characteristics Hinduism recognized as the oldest religion in the world has characteristics related to other religion. Some of these characteristics are similar to other religions such as Buddhism and Shinto. Some common characteristics of religion include belief system, rituals, and central myths. Hinduism does not have a uniformed belief system. Worshippers are allowed to worship any God of their choice. They can worship one God or many Gods. Hinduism is known for its diverse openness, and a system of thoughts that include monotheism, polytheism, panentheism, pantheism, and monism. With the diverseness of Hinduism, one characteristic...
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...you see integrated into Hinduism? What were the external conditions (environmental/societal/political/economic etc.) which gave rise to the origination of Hinduism? What was it about this time period? Location? Population? In some ways Hinduism is the oldest living religion since some elements of it date back thousands of years; Hinduism has no single founder, no single scripture, and no commonly agreed set of teachings despite many key figures and numerous holy books that might indicate otherwise. Hence why Hinduism is often referred to as a “way of life” and why it makes sense that the religion was informed by so many external conditions around its “birth” (BBC Religion Profile, Hinduism) For instance even though the birth of the term “Hindu” could be traced back to the Sankrit word, Sindhu, the river complex of the northwest, used by the Aryans in the second millennium B.C. It likely dates back to the 15th and 16th centuries when it was used by people to differentiate themselves from followers of other traditions, especially Muslims in Kashmir and Bengal at the time (BBC Religion Profile, Hinduism) (Hinduism, www.web.csulb.edu). Hinduism evolved or rose as a religion by the way it was used to group people by certain cultural practices, belief systems and rituals that enshrined certain sacred things or defined rites of passage. But it was also used to group people by geography and politics. Most scholars can say that: 1) Hinduism is rooted in India; 2) most...
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...| Hinduism | HUM/130 – Week 3 Assignment | | Zak Werner | 9/21/2014 | | Hinduism is arguably the world’s oldest religion, and can be traced back to 5,000-10,000 B.C. With a billion followers it is also the world’s third largest religion. Hinduism is different from other religions, because it is not really a religion in the traditional sense with a uniting belief system. Hinduism is more of a way of life than it is a traditional religion when compared to the other major religions such as Christianity, Judaism and Islam. It is a set of traditions and beliefs that have evolved over a long period of time, and existing for such a long time that it’s distant past makes it difficult to find the source or single founder. Hinduism is the belief in the universal soul and the individual soul and the perpetual cycle of birth and re-birth. The status of being in each birth is determined by the principle of karma. The ultimate god of the Hindu religion is the universal soul, Brahman, and is formless and infinite. Since it is incredibly difficult to worship something formless and infinite, different gods have been personified with individual attributes and characteristics. The gods and goddesses of Hinduism amount to thousands or even millions, all representing the many aspects of Brahman. Therefore, this faith is characterized by the multiplicity of deities. The most fundamental of the Hindu deities is the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva - creator, preserver and destroyer...
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...Hinduism - A Way of Life Humanities 130 Hinduism is a not just a religion; Hinduism is a complex way of life. Hinduism is a religion which is followed and lived on a daily basis. This religion is non-violent and does not trail after power and pride. Human worth is deemed of great value and importance. They believe that each person is of value. This religion is based on personal enlightenment. There are not a set of strict rule which are followed. Although, all Hindu's do share a common belief in the Supreme Being. This religion is based upon traditions and beliefs. Hinduism evolved over an immense era of time. There are a number of scriptures which have been written over many years. These scriptures are equivalent in philosophy, theology. They also play a vital role in myth giving spiritual guidance and insight which go hand-in-hand with practicing dharma. The religion is derived from the ancient Vedic traditions and other indigenous beliefs. No central church controls the movements or progress of Hinduism as a religion. The religion continues to grow despite attacks from other religions who seek to destroy it. One reason Hinduism continues to grow and thrive is because Hinduism is a way of life. Hinduism is a commitment to better oneself through enlightenment. Karma is an element in Hinduism. The belief is held that there is cause and effect for all things. Everything...
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