Gen. 1:27

HINDUISM

HINDUISM:World Populations

“Christianity” 2.1 Billion

Islam 1.5 Billion

Nonreligious/ Agnostic / Atheist 1.1 Billion

Hinduism ~1 Billion

USA Hindu Population

1900 1,700 people

1980 ~387,000

1997 ~1.1 million

2008 ~2.29 million

2010 Over 2.5 Million

http://www.hafsite.org/resources/hinduism_101/hinduism_demographicshttp://www.religioustolerance.org/hinduism.htmhttp://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html

I. Background

A. Ancient Eastern Religion1. Buddhism & Countless Pagan Variations2. Extremely varied beliefs & practices… no real “orthodox” Hinduism.3. Polytheistic and Pantheism, “look within” mindset.

B. Affects Western Civilization1. New Age Movement2. Transcendental Meditation3. Wicca4. Holiness Movement 1800s

HINDUISM: I. Background

C. Hindu writings are massive (1400 B.C. to 500 A.D.). 1. Veda (means “wisdom”) contains hymns, prayers, and ritual texts. Oldest.2. Upanishads 800-600 B.C. Collection of writings, over one hundred still exist.

a. A variety of writings… including immoral stories to philosophy.b. Mark a change from sacrificial humans and magic formulas in the Vedas, to the mystical ideas about man and the universe – specifically the Brahman, and the atman (the self or soul).c. Large influence on Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism.

HINDUISM: I. Background

C. Hindu writings are massive (1400 B.C. to 500 A.D.). 3. Ramayana – An epic tale of India with 24,000 couplets based upon the life of Rama, a righteous king. Supposedly an incarnation of the God Vishnu.  Mahabharata is a 2nd epic tale of India.  Story of the deeds of European (Aryan) clans & consists of some 100,000 verses, from 400 BC to 400 AD. Contains the Bhagavad Gita ("Song of the Blessed Lord”). Most sacred to Hindus. About man's duty, which brings nothing but sorrow. Endorses “bhakti” (devotion to a particular god) as a means of salvation. Arjuna, main character, puts his devotion to Vishnu above his own personal desires. Ends with Arjuna devoted to Vishnu and ready to kill his relatives in battle.

HINDUISM: I. Background

A. Brahman - The three-in-one god, composed of Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the Preserver), and Shiva (the Destroyer). 1. Hinduism is polytheistic - worshiping the “wives” of Shiva (Kali), or one of Vishnu’s ten incarnations (avatars).  This is only the beginning.  There are literally millions of Hindu gods and goddesses – by some counts, as many as 330 million!2. Hinduism is also pantheistic, asserting that all living things are Brahman (god).

HINDUISM: II. Common Beliefs

Isaiah 43:10 “…before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.”

Matt. 28:19 “…Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”

Gen. 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”

Jer. 10:23 O Jehovah, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.

HINDUISM: II. Common BeliefsB. Caste System

1. Very ancient aspect of Hinduism. By birth.2. Four basic castes (social classes), each with its own rules & obligation for living.

a. Brahman (priest) caste.b. Kshatriyas (warriors & rulers).c. Vaisyas (merchants & farmers).d. Shudras (laborers).e. Untouchables - Outside the caste system, outcasts of Hindu society.  Outlawed in India in the 1940s, still a very real part of Indian society.

1 Cor. 4:7 For who maketh thee to differ? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? but if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it? (James 2:1-9; etc.)

C. Karma - Every action, thought, or decision one makes has consequences that will return to each person in the present life, or in one yet to come.

D. Reincarnation - Aka “transmigration of souls,” or “samsara.”  This is a journey on the “circle of life,” where each person experiences as series of physical births, deaths, and rebirths.  With good karma, a person can be reborn into a higher caste, or even to godhood.  Bad karma can relegate one to a lower caste, or even to life as an animal in their next life.

E. Nirvana - The Hindu goal, release of the soul from the seemingly endless cycle of rebirths. “Enlightenment” attained by becoming tuned in to the Brahman within.

HINDUISM: II. Common Beliefs

Heb. 9:7 “And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this cometh judgment”

C. Karma… D. Reincarnation… E. Nirvana…

HINDUISM: II. Common Beliefs

2 Cor. 5:10-11 “For we must all be made manifest before the judgment-seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men…”

John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

John 8:24 “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for except ye believe that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”

F. Three Possible Paths To Nirvana1. Karma yoga - Work your way. Very popular. Liberation obtained by fulfilling one’s familial and social duties thereby overcoming the weight of bad karma one has accrued. 2. Jnana yoga - Knowledge. Ignorance causes rebirths. Dominant view, must realize we are not individuals in order to become one with the ultimate divine reality – Brahman.  Deep meditation, often as a part of the discipline of yoga. 3. Bhakti yoga - Devotion to one of the many personal gods and goddesses of Hinduism.  Such devotion is expressed through acts of worship, temple rituals, and pilgrimages.  Favored by the common people of India.

HINDUISM: II. Common Beliefs

F. Three Possible Paths To Nirvana1. Karma yoga - Work your way. 2. Jnana yoga – Knowledge, “Enlightenment”.3. Bhakti yoga - Devotion to one Hindu deity.

HINDUISM: II. Common Beliefs

Eph. 2:8-9 “for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, that no man should glory.”

1 Tim. 2:3-5 “…God our Saviour; who would have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, one mediator also between God and men, himself man, Christ Jesus,”

1 Jn 5:21 “My little children, guard yourselves from idols.”

A. Logical Results: Devalues Man - Man is not a special creation and is equal to animals, since all living things are equally manifestations of Brahman. Man seeks to lose his individual existence and consciousness.

HINDUISM: III. Consequences

Gen. 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

B. Logical Results: Sin Minimized – You have countless chances. Mess this life up? Don’t worry, you’ll work it off in the next life... Sin is not against God, but only against oneself (Karma) .

HINDUISM: III. Consequences

Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  Romans 3:23

Romans 6:23a “For the wages of sin is death…”

HINDUISM: III. ConsequencesC. Logical Results: Souls Lost – Hindus believe that no religion

teaches the only way to salvation above all others, but that all genuine paths are facets of God's Light, deserving tolerance and understanding.

Rom. 14:11-12 “For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, to me every knee shall bow, And every tongue shall confess to God. So then each one of us shall give account of himself to God.”

Acts 4:12 “And in none other is there salvation: for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, wherein we must be saved.”

Let Us Look To Christ!