What Makes Something Hindu?

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1 Hinduism Richard G. Howe, Ph.D. based on Corduan, Winfried. Neighboring Faiths: A Christian Introduction to World Religions. 2 nd ed. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, What Makes Something Hindu? 1

2 In order to qualify as "Hindu," a religion has to: 1) regard the Vedas (the early sacred writings) as divinely inspired and authoritative. 2) accept the caste system. 3) respect the veneration of the various levels of deities and spirits, including the protection of cows. The Three Ways: The Three Major Phases of Hinduism 2

3 The Way of Works The Way of Knowledge The Way of Devotion The Way of Works 3

4 Aryan Origins Hinduism devas - good gods asuras -evil gods Zoroastrianism deavas -evil gods ahuras - good gods 4

5 The Four Vedas The Rig Veda (rig = "verses") The Yajur Veda The Sama Veda The Atharva Veda 5

6 The Vedic Gods Dyaus Pitar the original sky god 6

7 Varuna the god of the sky and the celestial waters Indra the "King of Heaven" 7

8 Mitra a sun god Rita a god of truth and right 8

9 Vishnu a minor god in the Vedas Rudra a capricious, sometimes malicious mountain god 9

10 Agni the god of fire Soma the god of the sacred drink 10

11 Brahmanaspati the word spoken at the sacrifice Variations of the word Brahman 11

and the priestly caste Brahmanas priestly

12 Brahman the impersonal and pantheistic form of God Brahma the personal creator god Brahmin the priests and the priestly caste Brahmanas priestly commentaries on the Vedas Writings Subsequent to the Vedas 12

13 The Sutras The Brahmanas The Code of Manu The Caste Sytstem 13

14 The Brahmins The Kshatriyas The Vaishyas "Twice-Born" The Brahmins The Kshatriyas The Vaishyas The Shudras 14

15 Reincarnation Reincarnation, Karma, and Galatians 6:7 15

16 Reincarnation is called samsara, which literally means "wanderings." It is also called transmigration and metempsychosis What level of being one returns as is determined by the law of karma. Karma is best translated as "cause and effect." 16

17 Samasara and karma became the primary support for the caste system. The goal of Hinduism became finding release from samsara. The word for release is moksha, which can sometimes be translated as "redemption" 17

18 Clarifying Karma Karma is not fate. Karma is not judgment. Karma is not sin. Karma and Gal. 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 18

19 Spiritual "Law" Spiritual "Law" is the notion that the spiritual or non-physical realm operates according to laws or regularities like the physical realm does. 19

20 Much of occult practice is mastering these "laws" in order to manipulate the spiritual realm to get physical results. This is often referred to as "magic." 20

21 Whereas the cause and effect (action and reaction) aspect of the physical world is the philosophical foundation of all modern science applying the same paradigm to the non-physical realm is the essential element of occult philosophy. 21

Natural Science Mastering the laws that describe the behavior of the physical realm to enable us to control physical things and forces for the purpose of manipulating the physical world Occultism

22 Natural Science Mastering the laws that describe the behavior of the physical realm to enable us to control physical things and forces for the purpose of manipulating the physical world Occultism Mastering the "laws" that describe the behavior of the non-physical realm to enable us to control non-physical things and forces for the purpose of manipulating the physical world Natural Science Mastering the laws that describe the behavior of the physical realm to enable us to control physical things and forces for the purpose of manipulating the physical world Occultism Mastering the "laws" that describe the behavior of the non-physical realm to enable us to control non-physical things and forces for the purpose of manipulating the physical world 22

23 Isaac Bonewits Isaac Bonewits

24 Isaac Bonewits "Magic... is... the change in situations or events in accordance with one's will, which would, using normally accepted methods, be unchangeable." [Anton Szandor LaVey, The Satanic Bible (New York: Avan Books, 1969), 110] Anton Szandor LaVey

"Magic is never totally scientifically explainable.

Anton Szandor LaVey 1930-1997 There is "balance in nature, a

He is the representation of the state of flux; he is the

elements interwoven in what we call evolution.

25 "Magic is never totally scientifically explainable." [LaVey, Satanic Bible, 110] Anton Szandor LaVey Anton Szandor LaVey There is "balance in nature, a natural order. That's God. And that's Satan. Satan is God. He is the representation of the state of flux; he is the action-reaction; he is the cause and the effect; he is all the elements interwoven in what we call evolution." [LaVey, in Lawrence Wright, Sympathy for the Devil, Rolling Stone no. 612 (September 5, 1991): 105] 25

26 26

27 Does the Bible Teach Reincarnation? 27

28 The Way of Knowledge 28

29 Upanishads Maya Atman is Brahman The Way of Devotion 29

30 Bhakti The roots of Bhakti Hinduism go back as least as far as the poem, the Bhagavad Gita, which forms a part of the lengthy epic, the Mahabharata, and which was composed roughly around 200 BC. 30

31 The Trimurti 31

32 Brahma the Creator Vishnu the Preserver 32

33 Shiva the Destroyer The roots of Bhakti Hinduism go back as least as far as the poem, the Bhagavad Gita, which forms a part of the lengthy epic, the Mahabharata, and which was composed roughly around 200 BC. 33

34 Three Schools of Bhakti Hinduism Vaishnavite recognizes Vishnu as the highest god Shaivite worships Shiva as highest god Shaktite primary allegiance is to a goddess 34

35 35

36 Some Main Deities and Their Shaktis Brahma and Sarasvati 36

37 Vishnu and Lakshmi The Ten Avatars of Vishnu 37

38 Matsya (fish) Kurma (turtle) 38

39 Varaha (boar) Narasimha (man-lion) 39

40 Vamana (dwarf) Parashu-Rama (Rama with axe) 40

41 Rama (the hero of the Ramayana epic) Krishna (the speaker of the Bhagavad Gita) 41

42 A. C. Bhaktivedanta [Swami] Prabhupada A. C. Bhaktivedanta [Swami] Prabhupada 42

A. C. Bhaktivedanta [Swami] Prabhupada Krishna is the

Salvation can be obtained by constant chanting of the

The Bhagavad Gita is inspired scripture.

43 A. C. Bhaktivedanta [Swami] Prabhupada Krishna is the supreme form of personal god. Salvation can be obtained by constant chanting of the Krishna mantra (Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, etc.). The Bhagavad Gita is inspired scripture. The devotees must observe a life of pure devotion to Krishna. The distribution of literature disseminating the message of Krishna consciousness is an important aspect of the mission of this group. Buddha (the founder of Buddhism) 43

44 Balarama (Krishna's brother) Kalki (horse, yet to come) 44

45 Shiva and His Family Modern Developments in Hinduism 45

46 Ramakrishna ( ) Swami Vivekananda ( ) 46

47 Sai Baba ( ) 47

48 Sathya Sai Baba ( ) Tal Brooke 48

49 Rabi R. Maharaj 49

HINDUISM By Dr. Michael R. Lanier

HINDUISM By Dr. Michael R. Lanier GENERAL Hinduism has a philosophy to explain life, a law to direct life, a high road to truth through contemplation and mystical experience, and a popular road of worship