Hinduism Flashcards
Hinduism
The term ‘Hinduism’ itself was coined by the British to represent a collection of various religions found on the Indian subcontinent.
2 beliefs and teachings
A Hindu views the entire universe as Gods and everything in the universe as God.
Hindus believe that each person is intrinsically divine and the purpose of life is to seek and realise the divinity within all of us.
the continuous cycle of life, death, and reincarnation
samsara
the universal law of cause and effect
karma
Most forms of Hinduism are henotheistic, which means they worship a single deity, known as “_______” but still recognize other gods and goddesses. Followers believe there are multiple paths to reaching their god.
Brahman
Hinduism embraces many religious ideas. For this reason, it’s sometimes referred to as a “__________” or a “_____________” as opposed to a single, organized religion.
way of life
family of religions,
One of the key thoughts of Hinduism is “________” or the belief in soul.
atman,
The goal is to achieve “________” or salvation, which ends the cycle of rebirths to become part of the absolute soul
moksha
Hindus strive to achieve ________, which is a code of living that emphasizes good conduct and morality.
dharma
four roads to moksha:
Four main avenues to moksha in Hindu religions:
The way of knowledge (jnana, known of which is Advaita Vedanta)
The way of devotion (bhakti)
The way of works (karma)
The way of meditation (yoga)
The primary sacred texts, known as the _______, were composed around 1500 B.C.
Vedas
The four main castes (in order of prominence) include:
Brahmin: the intellectual and spiritual leaders
Kshatriyas: the protectors and public servants of society
Vaisyas: the skillful producers
Shudras: the unskilled laborers
the god responsible for the creation of the world and all living things
Brahma
the god that preserves and protects the universe
Vishnu
the god that destroys the universe in order to recreate it
Shiva
