Hinduism 2
The American Heritage Dictionary defines religion as the "belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe, or a set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader. It also defines philosophy as the love and pursuit of wisdom by intellectual means and moral self-discipline, and the inquiry into the nature of things based on logical reasoning rather than empirical methods. This paper will show how Hinduism fits well in to both categories, meaning that it is a philosophy and a religion for the people who practice it.Hinduism is the name given to one of the most ancient religion practices in India. Vedanta is the true name of this religion. When British began to populate India, this ancient religion evolved into what is known today as Hinduism. Hinduism constitutes an extremely intricate religion upon which a single definition cannot be composed. The premier feature of this religion is the huge difference of beliefs and rituals among its practitioners. Most Hindus are Indians or of Indian decent. However, as Hinduism spread throughout southeast Asia and Indonesia, other ethnic groups adopted Hinduism and added their own ethnic ch
The major teachings of Hinduism state that salvation is achieved through a spiritual oneness of the soul, atman, with the ultimate reality of the universe, Brahma. To achieve this goal, the soul must obtain moksha, or liberation from the samsara, the endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. Different sects of Hinduism teach different paths to moksha. As a result of these basic teachings, come Hindu beliefs in reincarnation, karma (material actions resulting from the consequences of previous actions), and the religious justification of the caste system. Faquhar, J.N., The Crown of Hinduism. New Delhi: Oriental Books Reprint Corporation, 1971. Hinduism, despite the fact that it has never been united on any creed or rite, has rarely if ever led to bloodshed. Unlike the Christians, who again and again have resorted even to wholesome slaughter in order to extirpate all heresy, the Hindu's have rarely persecuted divergence of faith. They have been wise enough to see that each man has a right to worship as he sees himself fit, and that no man is justified in seeking to force his doctrine on his neighbor. No matter how many evils that have been debited against Hinduism, it is very tolerant. There are two major sections in Hinduism and at least fifty-seven sub sections, each are seeking to attain salvation with the aid of its own gods and ceremonies. Christianity, which is even more intensively divided, is at least united by its recognition of Jesus. Hinduism has no such common doctrine. Christians and Hindu's are also alike because of temples and churches. Both of these places are used to worship their gods and are also very sacred.
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 2504
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page double spaced)
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