U8 L5 Hinduism Flashcards
What is believed to be the oldest religion in the world?
Hinduism
Hindu is a word from what language and means what?
Persian, Indian
In which country is Hinduism the national religion of? How many followers are there?
India, 700 million
Is Hinduism a religious culture than a fixed system of doctrines?
yes
What is Hinduism founded upon?
revelatoin
What do Vedas and Sruti mean?
knowledge, thing heard from the god, Brahman
Does Hinduism have a specific founder?
no
When do historians generally date the writing of the Vedas?
6th century before Christ
The Hindu claims that the sacred book of their faith were written by who? Who were they appointed by?
(holy men) rishis, ‘the one God who is many’
What is the most ancient and sacred Hindu scriptures?
Vedas
How many collections is Vedas composed in?
4
What does Rig-Veda contain?
1000 hymns
What does Yajur-Veda contain?
scores of hymns and prayers
What does Sama-Veda contain?
revelations, chants, services
What does Atharva-Veda contain?
collection of incantations
What does Upanishads mean?
sitting near a teacher
What is the Upanishads?
- ‘new testament of Hinduism
- forms latter of Vedic literature
- commentary on life’s purpose
What does Bhagavad-Gita mean?
Song of the Blessed One
What is the Bhagavad-Gita?
most influential and best known Indian religious literature
The Gita is a fragment of which larger epic?
Mahabharata
What are the two lines of thought in the Gita?
theism and pantheism
Gita is a dialogue between who?
Arjuna and Krishna (reincarnation of Vishnu)
What are the 4 collections in the Vedas?
- Rig
- Atharva
- Yajur
- Sama
Who are the 3 ‘personas’ that are worshipped the most by present-day Hindus?
Brahma- creator
Vishnu- savior
Shiva- destroyer, restorer
Hindus believe that Brahma is realized through what actions?
- meditations
- repress activity
- restrain breath
- withdraw senses from objective
- concentration
- reflection
Hinduism teaches that the chief error of man lies in what?
his thinking
According to Hinduism, what are the root causes of human evil?
Ignorance and mental error
What do Hindus refer to the ethical consequences of a person’s acts?
karma
What does the Law of Karma mean?
deeds, works
What does the Law of Karma determine?
future existence of person
What was the system that Hinduism was influenced by? When did it emerge?
- caste system
- 7th century before Christ
What are the 4 classes of the caste system, including the extra one?
- priests, Brahmins
- nobles, Kshatriyas
- vassals, Vaisyas
- servants, Sudras
- untouchables
What physical quality of a person determined the position of a person in the caste system?
skin color
The Hindu claims that God is () that mankind is ()
one in the same way, one though many
The Hindu belief about deity is a combination of what?
monotheism, polytheism, pantheism
What is Dewali?
- Feast of Lights
- ends Hindu year
What is Durga Puja?
honors mother goddess Shakti
Who was Shakti the wife of?
Shiva
What is yoga?
practice to yoke ones mind to God
What word is repeated during meditation?
om
At what age do boys get put into their caste?
7-12
Who is the religious teacher that participates in the caste ceremony? What does the ceremony result in the boy being called?
- guru
- twice born
How many subsects exist in folk religions of Hinduism?
60
What are the qualities that are common to all Hinduism subsects?
- dietary laws
- washing rituals
- worship at sacred shrines and festivals
- offerings for the dead
- animate objects have spiritual nature
In Hinduism, reincarnation has a soul pass through what types of lives?
human, animal
What is the difference between Hinduism and Christianity in terms of the purpose of Creaton?
B-no answer
C- God create in own image for fellowship
Does Hinduism teach that man can reach God by following many paths with ‘Whole hearted devotion’?
yes
What are the 2 stages the Bible characterizes eternal life?
- temporal physical existence
- eternity with God or apart
The emphasis in Christianity of being ‘born again’ can be contrasted with the Hindu practice of being what?
twice born
