Hinduism

Founder: Unknown

Overview:

Hinduism differs from Christianity and other Western religions in that it does not have a single
founder, a specific theological system, a single system of morality, or a central religious
organization. It consists of "thousands of different religious groups that have evolved in India
since 1500 B.C.." Hindus have a saying: "Ekam Sataha Vipraha Bahudha Vadanti," which may be
translated: "The truth is One, but different Sages call it by Different Names". Hinduism is a
henotheistic religion -- a religion which recognizes a single deity, but which doesn't deny the
existence of other gods and goddesses as facets or manifestations or aspects of that supreme
God.

Although the caste system was abolished by law in 1949, it remains a significant force throughout
India. Each follower of Hinduism belonged to one of the thousands of Jats (communities) that
existed in India. The Jats were grouped into four Varna (social castes), plus a fifth group called
the "untouchables." A person's Jat determined the range of jobs or professions from which they
could choose. Marriages normally took place within the same Jat. There were rules that
prohibited persons of different groups from eating, drinking or even smoking with each other.
People were once able to move from one Varna to another. However, at some time in the past
(estimates range from about 500 B.C. to 500 A.D.), the system became rigid, so that a person was
generally born into the Jat and Varna of their parents, and died in the same group. "The caste
system splits up society into a multitude of little communities, for every caste, and almost every
local unit of a caste, has its own peculiar customs and internal regulations." The Rigveda defined
four castes. In decreasing status, they are normally:

 Brahmins (the priests and academics)

 Kshatriyas (rulers, military)
 Vaishyas (farmers, landlords, and merchants)
 Sudras (peasants, servants, and workers in non-polluting jobs).

The Dalit were outcasts who did not belong to one of the castes. Until the late 1980's they were
called Harijan (children of God). They worked in what are considered polluting jobs. They were
untouchable by the four castes; in some areas of the country, even a contact with their shadow
by a member of the Varnas was considered polluting. Practicing untouchability or discriminating
against a person because of their caste is now illegal. The caste system has lost much of its power
in urban areas; however it is essentially unchanged in some rural districts. Many Dalit have left
Hinduism in recent years. This has sometimes been motivated by a desire to escape the caste
system.
The colored dot is variously referred to as a "tilaka," "bottu," "bindiya," "kumkum," or "bindi." It
is a sign of piety, and a reveals to other people that the wearer is a Hindu. It symbolizes the third
eye -- the one focused inwards toward God. Both men and women wear it, although the practice
among men is gradually going out of style. In the past, many unmarried women wore black marks,
whereas many married women wore red. But in recent times, women often wear dots that match
the color of their saris.

Hindus organize their lives around certain activities or "purusharthas." These are called the "four
aims of Hinduism," or "the doctrine of the fourfold end of life." They are:

The three goals of the "pravritti," those who are in the world, are:
Dharma: righteousness in their religious life. This is the most important of the three.
Artha: success in their economic life; material prosperity.
Kama: gratification of the senses; pleasure; sensual, sexual, and mental enjoyment.

The main goal for the "nivritti," those who renounce the world. is:
moksa: Liberation from "samsara," the This is considered the supreme end of mankind.

9 Basic Hindu Beliefs

1. Reverence for Our Revealed Scriptures

Hindus believe in the divinity of the Vedas, the world's most ancient scripture, and venerate the
Agamas as equally revealed. These primordial hymns are God's word and the bedrock of
Sanatana Dharma, the eternal religion which has neither beginning nor end.

2. All-Pervasive Divinity
Hindus believe in a one, all-pervasive Supreme Being who is both immanent and transcendent,
both Creator and Unmanifest Reality.

3. Three Worlds and Cycles of Creation

Hindus believe there are three worlds of existence--physical, astral and causal--and that the
universe undergoes endless cycles of creation, preservation and dissolution.

4. The Laws of Karma and Dharma

Hindus believe in karma--the law of cause and effect by which each individual creates his own
destiny by his thoughts, words and deeds--and in dharma, righteous living.

5. Reincarnation and Liberation

Hindus believe that the soul reincarnates, evolving through many births until all karmas have
been resolved, and moksha--spiritual knowledge and liberation from the cycle of rebirth--is
attained. Not a single soul will be eternally deprived of this destiny.

6. Temples and the Inner Worlds

Hindus believe that divine beings exist in unseen worlds and that temple worship, rituals,
sacraments as well as personal devotionals create a communion with these devas and Gods.

7. Yoga Guided by a Satguru

Hindus believe that a spiritually awakened master, or satguru, is essential to know the
Transcendent Absolute, as are personal discipline, good conduct, purification, pilgrimage, self-
inquiry and meditation.

8. Compassion and Noninjury

Hindus believe that all life is sacred, to be loved and revered, and therefore practice ahimsa,
"noninjury."

9. Genuine Respect for Other Faiths

Hindus believe that no particular religion teaches the only way to salvation above all others, but
that all genuine religious paths are facets of God's Pure Love and Light, deserving tolerance and
understanding.

Core Beliefs:

 Hindus believe in the repetitious Transmigration of the Soul. This is the transfer of one's
soul after death into another body. This produces a continuing cycle of birth, life, death
and rebirth through their many lifetimes. It is called samsara.

 They believe that the universe undergoes endless cycles of creation, preservation and
dissolution.

 They believe in karma, the law of cause and effect by which each individual creates his
own destiny by his thoughts words and deeds. Through pure acts, thoughts and devotion,
one can be reborn at a higher level. Eventually, one can escape samsara and achieve
enlightenment. Bad deeds can cause a person to be reborn as a lower level, or even as an
animal. The unequal distribution of wealth, prestige, suffering are thus seen as natural
consequences for one's previous acts, both in this life and in previous lives.

Refutation/ Christian Responses

  Luke 16: 19 - 31
 Genesis 1
 Romans 8:28

Effective Ways to Win them

 Pray for them
 Build a healthy friendship with them
 Be a good model to them
 Share the word of God
Lucas 16:19-31

Ang Lalaking Mayaman at si Lazaro

19 May isang lalaking mayaman. Nakadamit siya ng kulay ube at pinong
lino. Namumuhay siya sa karangyaan araw-araw. 20 Mayroon doong
isang lalaking dukha na ang pangalan ay Lazaro. Siya ay puno ng galis.
Inilagay siya sa tarangkahan ng mayaman. 21 Mahigpit niyang hinangad
na mabusog mula sa mga mumong nahulog mula sa hapag-kainan ng
mayamang lalaki. Ngunit maging ang mga aso na lumalapit ay
humihimod ng kaniyang mga galis.
22 Nangyari nga na ang lalaking dukha ay namatay. Siya ay dinala ng mga

anghel sa piling ni Abraham. Ang lalaking mayaman ay namatay din at

inilibing. 23 Sa Hades siya ay naghihirap. Sa paghihirap niya ay itinanaw
niya ang kaniyang paningin. Nakita niya sa malayo si Abraham at si
Lazaro na nasa kaniyang piling. 24 Tumawag siya nang malakas: Amang
Abraham, kahabagan mo ako. Suguin mo si Lazaro upang isawsaw niya
ang dulo ng kaniyang daliri sa tubig. Ito ay upang mapalamig ang aking
dila sapagkat ako ay lubhang nagdurusa sa lagablab ng apoy na ito.
25 Ngunit sinabi ni Abraham: Anak, alalahanin mo na sa buong buhay mo

tinanggap mo nang lubos ang mabubuting bagay. Gayundin naman, si

Lazaro ay tumanggap ng mga masasamang bagay. Sa ngayon siya ay
inaaliw at ikaw ay lubhang nagdurusa. 26 Bukod sa lahat ng mga bagay
na ito, sa pagitan namin at sa iyo ay mayroong malaking bangin. Dahil
dito, sila na maghahangad na tumawid mula rito patungo sa iyo ay hindi
makakatawid. Maging sila na maghahangad tumawid mula riyan
patungo sa amin ay hindi makatatawid.
27 Sinabi niya: Kung gayon, hinihiling ko sa iyo ama, na suguin mo si

Lazaro sa bahay ng aking ama. 28 Ito ay sapagkat ako ay may limang

kapatid na lalaki. Suguin mo siya upang magbabala sa kanila nang sa
gayon ay huwag silang mapunta sa dakong ito ng pagdurusa.
29 Sinabi ni Abraham sa kaniya: Ang isinulat ni Moises at ng mga propeta

ay nasa kanila. Hayaan mong sila ay makinig sa kanila.

30 Sinabi niya: Hindi, amang Abraham, sila ay magsisisi kapag pupunta sa
kanila ang isang nagmula sa mga patay.
31 Sinabi ni Abraham sa kaniya: Kung hindi nila pakikinggan si Moises at

ang mga propeta, hindi sila mahihikayat kahit na may isang pang
bumangon mula sa mga patay.

Genesis 1
1Nang pasimula ay nilikha ng Dios ang langit at ang lupa. 2At ang lupa
ay walang anyo at walang laman; at ang kadiliman ay sumasa ibabaw ng
kalaliman; at ang Espiritu ng Dios ay sumasa ibabaw ng tubig. 3At sinabi
ng Dios Magkaroon ng liwanag; at nagkaroon ng liwanag. 4At nakita ng
Dios ang liwanag na mabuti, at inihiwalay ng Dios ang liwanag sa
kadiliman. 5At tinawag ng Dios ang liwanag na Araw, at tinawag niya
ang kadiliman na Gabi. At nagkahapon at nagkaumaga ang unang araw.

Romans 8:28

28At nalalaman natin na ang lahat ng mga bagay ay nagkakalakip na

gumagawa sa ikabubuti ng mga nagsisiibig sa Dios, sa makatuwid baga'y
niyaong mga tinawag alinsunod sa kaniyang nasa.
Growth of Hinduism

Hinduism is a growing religion in countries such as Ghana, and the United States. Over
80% of India' population is Hindu, accounting for about 90% of Hindus worldwide. Their
10-year growth rate is estimated at 20% (based on the period 1991 to 2001),
corresponding to a yearly growth close to 2%.