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A. Simple Definition: Hinduism is the oldest religion which is dated at more than 3,000 years old. Hindus seem to worship many gods, yet these many representations and images of gods actually only refer to one supreme and unknowable God, who they call Brahman. Hindus believes in the transmigration of souls, also called reincarnation, in which all livings things are part of the same essence. An integral part of the religion is the existence of karma, defined in the saying, "What goes around comes around." Karma is the law of cause and effect. The goal of the individual is to escape this cycle of birth and rebirth so that the individual soul (atman) can become one with Brahman. Therefore, Hinduism is much like Buddhism in that Hindus strive for an honorable life, much in the way that Buddhists follow the Noble Eightfold Path (1).
From about 2300 to 1500 B.C., it is known for certain that there was a highly developed civilization in the Indus Valley; at this time Hindus believe that their Bhagavad-gîtâ, or Bible, was divinely written as a direct message from God to humankind. Around 1500 BC the Indus Valley was invaded by the Aryans, an Indo-European people, who then imposed a new form of religion upon the Hindus, one of many Gods, polytheism, and vastly different cultural trends.
Looking at the Bhagavad-gîtâ, a deity, whose name is Krishna, says this: "Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion—at that time I descend Myself. In order to deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of religion, I advent Myself millennium after millennium. One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna," (BG 4:7-10). Therefore, it seems that this deity, or representation of God, may descend into the world when the world goes astray. This means that God is very interactive in the world and places humanity above all other creations.
Hindu Temples and Paintings
D. Purpose: The purpose of Hinduism is very much the same as the purpose Buddhism. Both believe in the cycle of reincarnation and karma. Therefore, if a human behaves badly on Earth, perhaps that person will come back as a jellyfish or some other lower life form. As the life forms progress, so the does the level of consciousness until you reach the status of a human. Once you become a human, you then have a chance to erase your karma live throughout eternity with God, or Brahman. While heaven is being with God, hell is being Earth with the existence of karma. Hindus enjoy teaching others and helping others to erase their karma by performing good deeds. Like Buddhists, they may spend much of their time in temples, and place significance in daily prayer. Because Hindus do not generally involve themselves in theological debate, I will not present a defense for Hinduism, as Hindus do not rely on empirical evidence for their religion, but advise that each person takes the time to consider their points of view and experience the Bhagavad-gîtâ to decide whether Hinduism's teachings are valid.
Hinduism is commonly misunderstood by many other religions, as it is not practiced as much as it once was. While there still remains a large Hindu population, few people, especially in the west, are aware that it is practiced by many; however, Hinduism has contributed more to the world that just another way of doing theology. Hindus developed the concept of yoga and were among the first to practice vegetarianism. Their Scripture is very similar to Christian Scripture as well because both place a high emphasis on love for God and neighbor. Though many denounce Hinduism for its polytheistic qualities, society should not forget that Hinduism, along with Buddhism, has developed many methods to find spiritual and emotional enlightenment.
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