HINDUISM
Page numbers in italics refer to
Fisher, Living Religions, 7th ed.
The page numbers in regular print refer to the 6th edition. The page
numbers in parentheses refer to the 5th edition of Fisher.
The letter a following a page number indicates the quote is from the upper
third of the page, the letter b means
it is from the middle portion of the page, and the letter c from the bottom third of the page. I will sometimes cite lines:
49.11-15, for example, means lines 11 through 15 on page 49. (I assume 30 lines
per page, and my references to line numbers are generally estimates.)
ETHICAL
1. What are the basic myths or
origin stories (cosmogony) associated with the religion?
The Hymn of Man Rig Vedas
10.90.13: His [Purusha’s] mouth formed the
Brahmin (teacher or Priest), his two arms were made the Rajaanya
(Kshathriya or warrior), his two thighs the Vaisyaa (traders or Agriculturist) and from his feet the Soodhra (worker or servant) was born.
2. What virtues does the religion
advocate?
81a 77c (97): In raja
yoga, the path to union with the Sublime (samadhi) is the practice of physical and psychic disciplines,
including regulated breathing exercises and postures to release invisible life
energy (prana). The major pathway of the life energy is the energy
centers (chakras) along the spine.
83b 79b (99): In jnana yoga, the path of rational inquiry; stresses spiritual
virtues of calmness, restraint, renunciation, resignation, concentration, and
faith. The seeker must also have an intense longing for liberation. (Fisher, 100b).
83c 80a (99): In karma
yoga, the way to samadhi
(union with the Absolute) is through helpful action in the world.
84a 80b (99): In bhakti yoga, the spiritual path is one of devotion. An intense,
loving relationship is shared with the Supreme.
3. Does the religion prescribe a way
to enlightenment or salvation? If so, what does it call this state?
79a 75.26: Moksha (liberation from the cycle of rebirth). The process of moksha is lengthy and involves many reincarnations before
liberation is achieved.
83a 78.29 samadhi
(union with the Absolute, the ultimate goal of yogi meditation).
4. Does the religion hold that everyone
or only some people can attain enlightenment or salvation?
Only those who have attained a state of perfection.
79.5-6 75.20-21:
“A man becomes pure through pure deeds, impure through impure deeds.”
5. Does the religion hold that
clerics belong to a higher moral or spiritual order than lay people?
Yes, the Brahmin class is privileged
and its members are popularly regarded as eligible for liberation (moksha) from the cycle of rebirth (samsara).
6. What impact has the religion had on
the way of life of its followers? On the surrounding culture?
POLITICAL:
7. What are the major political
divisions of the religion? (In Christianity, for example, major divisions would
be Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglicanism and Protestantism.)
86a 83a (103)
90a 86c: Vaishnavites,
88c 85b: Saivites,
86a 83a: Saktas
8. Does the religion have a central
authority that determines orthodox beliefs?
No.
9. Has the religion at any point in
its history accepted the status of an official state religion?
10. Does the religion accept a just
war or does it advocate non-violence.
Non-violence is a central theme in
Hinduism.
11. Does the religion accept
spiritual leaders--such as ordained clergy, shamans, and the like?
Brahmins and yogis are widely regarded
as spiritual leaders in the Hindu tradition.
12. Does the religion take a
position on class division in society?
Traditional mainstream Hinduism
accepts the class or caste system.
Brahmin—priest; Kshatriya—warrior; Vaishya—farmers
and merchants; Shudra—manual
laborers and artisans;
Untouchables outcasts
13. What is the role of women in the
religion? Has the role changed over the years?
89.10 86.17: In Saivism’s Lingayat sect, men and
women are regarded as equals.
14. Does the religion permit a married
clergy?
Yes.
15. Has the religion increased or
decreased in numbers during the past century?
Increased,
particularly outside of
16. Is social justice or personal
salvation a goal of the religion? If so, which receives the greater emphasis?
Personal salvation in the form of moksha is a major motivator.
Social justice: for social
stability, accept one’s fate in the present life
Karma yoga: social engagement
METAPHYSICAL
17. Does the religion accept a belief
in a soul, spirit, or the like?
78.25 75.10: Yes, the
soul moves from body to body in the process of reincarnation.
18. Does the religion hold there is
one God (monotheism), many gods (polytheism), or no god (nontheism)?
72.20 69.20: The
impersonal Brahman has 330 million manifestations.
86.4 83.6: The major theistic groups are Sakhtites, Vaishnavites, and Saivites.
19. What evidence or proof is
offered in support of the existence of God?
20. Does the religion hold that God
is something to strive for?
Hinduism accepts a tension between
what we want and what we really want (Huston Smith). We want the path of
desire, but the mature self seeks service to the community in the path of
renunciation. Even the community and its history end and, in this sense, are
finite and tragic. The infinite is attainable in Hinduism when we "clean
our chimney" and let the eternal light within shine forth.
21. Is faith or reason given greater
emphasis in the religion?
22. What position does the religion
take on the question of belief in an afterlife or immortality--such as heaven,
hell, and reincarnation?
78.22 75.10: Hinduism
accepts reincarnation.
23. Does the religion accept that
the ultimate reality is (or could be) female?
86.12 83.10: The power
of the female in Hinduism is known as sakti, and worshippers of the female goddess are Sakhtas.
(Carmody, Ways
to the Center,
86.22 83.26: Kali, the
divine in its fierce form, is one of Maha-Devi's forms.
86.12 83.22: Durga (the ultimate light and power in benevolent female form ) is another form of the female goddess.
INSTITUTIONAL
24. Does the religion regard a
particular locale (land, city, and so forth) as holy or sacred?
103.22 100.20 (114.1-2)
forests, hilltops, mountains and river sources
River
104.5 100.23 (114.3-15)
25. Does the religion have special places
or locations for worship?
Both temples and private homes
26. What are the religion's major
holy days or festivals?
105-108 103-106 (114-119) sixteen festivals in the course of the year
27. What are the basic doctrines of
the religion?
110.115-120 107.17-23
(123.12-16) (Ramakrishna movement or Vedanta Society);
116.22-117.2 113.10-20
(125.25-126.10) Indian Supreme Court statement
28. What are some major symbols
associated with the religion?
29. What are the major texts or
sacred documents?
74.15-79.12 71-75
(82-84) Vedas “ancient scriptures revered by Hindus” (also see key terms)
95.20-96.30 93-94
(88) Puranas
90.28-95.15 88-93
Epics
30. What attitude does the religion
advocate toward other religions? Is it exclusivist or universalist?
116.22 113.13-14:
“The Indian Supreme Court has formally defined Hindu beliefs in a way that
affirms universality rather than exclusiveness.”
31. What is the nature of the
service, ceremonies, or worship (format, participation of congregation)?
101.8-13
98.15-20 (111.15-20) Home Puja
32. Who is regarded as the founder
of the religion?
No founder
33. Does the religion actively seek
converts through missionary activity?
No.
EXPERIENTIAL:
34. What is the religion’s position
on prayer, meditation, chants and dance?
Prayer to the personal deities
(Vishnu, Siva,
35. What are some individual practices—such
as confession?
101.8 95.15-20: Puja is a devotional practice in both the temples and individual
homes.
36. What are the religion’s
attitudes toward healing and health—such as laying on
of hands, “faith healing,” and the like?
81a 77c: See Raja Yoga
(Under Ethical Perspective above)
112.17 108.15 (121.15)
Transcendental Meditation (see key terms) claims 65% success rate against drug
addiction.
37. What is the place of prophecy or
oracles in the religion?
38. Is the religion critical of lack
of religion--of secularism, for example?
What is the role of sacrifice in the
religion?
How does the religion incorporate
the “cards down” point of view—from the Rawls Game? Who can turn the cards
down? Who or what is represented when the cards are face down? What does it
mean in this religion to turn the cards down? When should the cards be turned
down? Why should the cards be turned down? How does the religion respond to
failure to abide by the rules created with the cards down.
What are the concepts of forgiveness
in the religion and what roles do the concepts play?