Hinduism A Brief History and Description What are

Transcript:Hinduism A Brief History and Description What are:
Hinduism A Brief History and Description What are some things that set Hinduism apart for the religions we have studied so far? No identifiable founder(s) No strong organizational structure or centralized authority. No set creed or unified system of belief. No single way to achieve liberation or salvation. Unites worship of many Gods with the belief of a single, divine reality (some disagreement here). One Truth but many ways to get there. It might have the world’s oldest and largest religious literature. Over 1 billion Hindus (~1 of 6 people) Diverse – most diverse religious tradition. More religions inside than outside? Syncretism (“mixing”) – Is there a Hinduism? A common essence in Hinduism? Hinduism grows, adopts, changes, incorporates (e.g., Buddha). “Nothing is lost.” Reincarnation (samsara) is determined by a law that all actions have effects (karma), that one should live according to a particular social and religious duty (dharma), and that salvation (moksha) is freedom from this cycle of birth/death/rebirth “Hinduism” is a modern, western term from the 19th century. Indigenous term is Sanatana Dharma, “eternal religion.” A lifetime of study – tip of the iceberg. The Indus Valley Civilization (c. 2500 – 1500 BCE) or Pre-Vedic India Harappa (NW, now Pakistan). The Indus Valley Civilization (c. 2500 – 1500 BCE) or Pre-Vedic India Harappa (NW, now Pakistan). Advanced civilization City plan: well-designed streets, brick houses with bathrooms, showers, etc. writing 30,000 – 40,000 people; about 1 sq mile. The Indus Valley Civilization (c. 2500 – 1500 BCE) or Pre-Vedic India Harappa (NW, now Pakistan). Advanced civilization City plan: well-designed streets, brick houses with bathrooms, showers, etc. writing (some undeciphered, like the gold bars below on the left) 30,000 – 40,000 people; about 1 sq mile. The Indus Valley Civilization (c. 2500 – 1500 BCE) or Pre-Vedic India Connections to later Hinduism? Temple rituals: baths Images/statues of deities – Goddesses “Fire altars”? Animal sacrifice? One image similar to Shiva? The Vedic Period (c. 1500 – 500 BCE) Three main theories (Molloy initially included only the first theory and does not really cover the third): Aryan Invasion Theory – Invasion from southern Russia ~2000 BCE. Ayran = “nobles”: warriors; had cattle, horses, hunted animals, iron weapons. Three classes: priests, warriors, and commoners. Aryan Migration Theory – similar to the first theory, but instead there were repeated waves of migrations over the years. Indigenous Developments (no foreign invasion) – This one is