hinduism vs christianity
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STUDIES STUDIES ININ
HINDUISMHINDUISM
HINDU SymbolsHINDU Symbols
Aum-sacred symbolSwastika-symbol of Brahma, creator GodLotus-symbol of releaseBindi-forehead of Hindu female, energy, shows marriage
Aum BindiLotusSwastika
Hare Krishnas
Basics of HinduismBasics of Hinduism
♦ Also known as The Sanatana Dharm ♦ Supposedly, Hinduism is a way of life,
not a religion. ♦ Third most popular religion ♦ Believe in one God reincarnated into different forms ♦ Follow The Vedas
What is a religion?What is a religion?
Webster's DictionaryWebster's Dictionary“the service and worship of God or the “the service and worship of God or the
supernatural, commitment or devotion to supernatural, commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance, a personal set or religious faith or observance, a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, institutionalized system of religious attitudes,
beliefs and practices, a cause, principle, or beliefs and practices, a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith.”system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith.”
What is a religion?What is a religion?The basics to be a religion is: The basics to be a religion is:
They have their own scriptures They have their own scriptures They have a worldview They have a worldview (the purpose of the world) (the purpose of the world)
They seek enlightenment or They seek enlightenment or spiritual advancement.spiritual advancement.
A Hindu’s goal is to become free from continuous reincarnations.
Three ways to end the cycle of reincarnation
1. Be devoted to any of the Hindu God or Goddesses 2. Mediation. Acknowledge life as an illusion and realize that Brahman is the only real thing 3. Dedicate oneself to various religious ceremonies
Religions in the World
1. Christianity: 2.1 billion2. Islam: 1.3 billion3. Secular/Nonreligious/Agnostic/Atheist: 1.1 billion4. Hinduism: 900 million5. Chinese traditional religion: 394 million6. Buddhism: 376 million7. primal-indigenous: 300 million8. African Traditional & Diasporic: 100 million9. Sikhism: 23 million10. Juche: 19 million11. Spiritism: 15 million
12. Judaism: 14 million13. Baha'i: 7 million14. Jainism: 4.2 million15. Shinto: 4 million16. Cao Dai: 4 million17. Zoroastrianism: 2.6 million18. Tenrikyo: 2 million19. Neo-Paganism: 1 million20. Unitarian-Universalism: 800 thousand21. Rastafarianism: 600 thousand22. Scientology: 500 thousand
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Top 10 ORGANIZED Religions in the US 2001
Christianity 159,030,000 76.5%Judaism 2,831,000 1.3%Islam 1,104,000 0.5%Buddhism 1,082,000 0.5%Hinduism 766,000 0.4%Unitarian Universalist 629,000 0.3%Wiccan/Pagan/Druid 307,000 0.1%Spiritualist 116,000 0.05%Native American 103,000 0.05%Baha'I 84,000 0.04%
Rank Religious Body Year Membership
1 Catholic Church 2002 66,407,105
2 Southern Baptist Convention 2003 16,400,000
3 United Methodist Church 2002 8,251,042
4 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 2004 5,599,177
5 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America 2003 4,984,925
6 Church of God in Christ 1991 * 4,500,000
7 Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) 2001 3,595,259
8 National Baptist Convention of America 1987 3,500,000
9 Assemblies of God 2002 2,687,366
10 Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod 2003 2,512,714
Breakdown of Christianity in America
Hinduism and AmericaHinduism and America
The philosophy of the New Age The philosophy of the New Age Movement is directly tied to the philosophy Movement is directly tied to the philosophy of Hinduism along with scores of modern of Hinduism along with scores of modern religious cults and sects, which Hinduism religious cults and sects, which Hinduism has influenced in varying degrees. has influenced in varying degrees. Someone has said that Hinduism is the Someone has said that Hinduism is the wellspring of a good deal of New Age wellspring of a good deal of New Age thinking.thinking. Millions of Americans have taken up Millions of Americans have taken up Hindu practices, such as yoga, meditation, Hindu practices, such as yoga, meditation, developing altered states of developing altered states of consciousness, asceticism, and seeking consciousness, asceticism, and seeking "enlightenment.""enlightenment."
Hinduism and AmericaHinduism and America
The appeal of Hinduism to modern Western The appeal of Hinduism to modern Western culture is not difficult to comprehend. culture is not difficult to comprehend.
1. Hinduism is comfortable with 1. Hinduism is comfortable with evolutionary thinking. As modern science evolutionary thinking. As modern science emphasizes our physical evolution, Hinduism emphasizes our physical evolution, Hinduism emphasizes our spiritual evolution.emphasizes our spiritual evolution.
2. Modern psychology and sociology 2. Modern psychology and sociology emphasizes the basic goodness and unlimited emphasizes the basic goodness and unlimited potential of human nature, Hinduism emphasizes potential of human nature, Hinduism emphasizes man’s essential divinity. man’s essential divinity.
Hinduism and AmericaHinduism and America
3. Modern philosophy emphasizes the 3. Modern philosophy emphasizes the relativity of all truth claims, Hinduism relativity of all truth claims, Hinduism tolerates many seemingly contradictory tolerates many seemingly contradictory religious beliefs. religious beliefs.
4. Hinduism emphasizes the primacy 4. Hinduism emphasizes the primacy of the spiritual over material reality, of the spiritual over material reality, Hinduism appeals to many that have Hinduism appeals to many that have become disillusioned with strictly material become disillusioned with strictly material pursuits.pursuits.
The VedasThe Vedas
•Religious text also called ShrutiReligious text also called Shruti
•Arranged into four partsArranged into four parts
1.1. The Samhitas The Samhitas
2.2. The Brahmanas The Brahmanas
3.3. The Aranyakas The Aranyakas
4.4. The UpanishadsThe Upanishads
GodsGods
• Three Majors GodsThree Majors Gods• Brahma (Creator)Brahma (Creator)• Vishnu (Preserver)Vishnu (Preserver)• Shiva (Destroyer)Shiva (Destroyer)
Three Major GoddessThree Major Goddess• Saraswati (Knowledge)Saraswati (Knowledge)• Lakshmi (Wealth)Lakshmi (Wealth)• Parvati or Shakti (Power)Parvati or Shakti (Power)
Hindus believe in only one God, Brahman, but Hindus believe in only one God, Brahman, but they worship other reincarnations of Brahman. they worship other reincarnations of Brahman. There are 300,000 different reincarnations of There are 300,000 different reincarnations of
Brahman.Brahman.
BenaresBenares
• The holiest city in IndiaThe holiest city in India
• Shiva’s cityShiva’s city
• Heaven touches the EarthHeaven touches the Earth
• Any Hindu who dies here goes straight Any Hindu who dies here goes straight to Heavento Heaven
BenaresBenares
Now calledNow called
VaranasiVaranasi
IndiaIndia
Important Terms to Remember
• Karma - action, The culminating value of all of one’s life actions, good and bad, which together determine on’e next rebirth after death.
• Samsara - The cyclical transmigration or rebirth of souls passing on from one existence to another until release can be achieved
• Brahma - The creator god, the first member of the Hindo triad, consisting of Brahma, Shiva, and Vishna
The Caste System A special system of class order. Supposedly invented by Brahama. Brahama created Manu, the first man. From Manu came the four different types of people, as the creator Brahama determined. From Manu’s head came the Brahmins, the best and most holy people. Out of Manus hands came the Kshatriyas, the rulers and warriors. The craftsmen came from his thighs and are called Vaisyas. The remainder of the people came from Manu’s feet and are known as Sudras. There fore, the structure of the caste system is divinely inspired.
• The Brahmins are honored by all the people, including the royal family. Their jobs as priests and philosophers are subsidized by the state involve the study of the their sacred books.
• Transcendental Meditation - spiritual pratice, such as yoga used to get into a deeper conscience.
• Hare Krishnas-a sect of Hinduism
Hinduism Compared to ChristianityHinduism Compared to Christianity
Sacred WritingsSacred Writings
Hindus - VerdaHindus - VerdaChristianity – Holy ScripturesChristianity – Holy Scriptures
2Ti 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness, (17) that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly
equipped for every good work.
Hinduism Compared to ChristianityHinduism Compared to Christianity
Hindus – Many GodsHindus – Many GodsChristianity – One GodChristianity – One God
Deut 6:4 "Hear, O Israel: Deut 6:4 "Hear, O Israel:
The LORD our God is one LORD:"The LORD our God is one LORD:"
Isa 45:5-6 I am the LORD, and there is no Isa 45:5-6 I am the LORD, and there is no other; There is no God besides Me. I will gird other; There is no God besides Me. I will gird
you, though you have not known Me, (6) That you, though you have not known Me, (6) That they may know from the rising of the sun to its they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting That there is none besides Me. I am the setting That there is none besides Me. I am the
LORD, and there is no other;LORD, and there is no other;
Hinduism Compared to ChristianityHinduism Compared to Christianity
Hindus – Salvation by works and Hindus – Salvation by works and many incarnations many incarnations
Christianity – Salvation through ChristChristianity – Salvation through Christ
John 14:6 Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, John 14:6 Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except and the life. No one comes to the Father except
through Me.through Me.
1 Tim 2:5 1 Tim 2:5 “For there is one mediator between God and Man, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself
as a ransom for all…”
Hinduism Compared to ChristianityHinduism Compared to Christianity
Hindus – God became divineHindus – God became divineChristianity – God has always been GodChristianity – God has always been God
Gen 1:1 In the beginning GodGen 1:1 In the beginning God
John 1:1,14 John 1:1,14 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and
the Word was God…And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”
Hinduism Compared to ChristianityHinduism Compared to Christianity
Hindus – Man is divineHindus – Man is divineChristianity – Only God is divineChristianity – Only God is divine
Genesis 1:27 "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him;
male and female created he them."