In Southeast Asia, Hinduism comprises what is the thirst largest religious group today. However, unlike other religions, Hinduism’s beliefs range from monotheism, polytheism, and even atheism. In this essay I will argue that although the religious diversity in India is so vast between religions like Sikhism and Jainism, there are still very many similarities between them. First, the knowledge of early Indian religion come from the Vedas. The Vedas were a collection of thousands of hymns of praise addressed to the gods. The language of the Vedas are called Sanskrits. Vedic religion was first centered around the fire sacrifices; which are also referred to as yajna or homa (Esposito, p. 306). Brahmins, who were very special priests chanted the Vedic hymns and conducted rituals to show gratitude to Aryan deities. Brahmins were viewed a superior beings and believed in a caste system. Within the Vedic religion, there was a heavy emphasis on death and the afterlife. One’s destiny would be determined by …show more content…
Sikhism is a monotheistic religion that teaches devotion to god and to deny egoism. It was founded by one of the principal bhakti saints, Guru Nanak (Esposito, p. 328). Sikhism was the last religion to originate in India. Nanak sought to cut through the difference between Hinduism and Islam among castes and teaching inner intention and purity of devotion. Nanak respected both the traditions of Islam and Hinduism, but he wanted to reveal the full spiritual truth behind them by correcting mistaken practices (Esposito, 329). Nanak believed that the caste system was wrong and that women deserved respected and equality. One of his verses even state, “Of women we are born, of women conceived, To a woman engaged, to woman married, Woman we befriend, by women is civilization continued… it is by woman that order is maintained, Then why call her evil from whom great men are born?” (Esposito, p. 329). His views drew many to the Sikhism
Hinduism and Buddhism are among the oldest traditions in the world. Incidentally, both traditions have their roots in India. Since their beginning, both traditions have co-existed peacefully and even spread beyond India in similar patterns. Most people have scattered information about the traditions and make assumptions that they are similar. However, they also have clear distinguishing features. This paper intends to study the similarities and contrasts between the two traditions in various contexts. First, the traditions will be compared and contrasted based on how they began. The development processes of both religions will then be contrasted. The paper will then discuss the similarities and differences between the two religions based on the social and the political roles they played.
In this essay, I intend to compare and contrast two major religions, Hinduism and Buddhism, that came out of India thousands of years ago. Though these two religions are old, they are still practiced today by millions of followers within the continent of Asia and the West.
The question of origin- In order for us to completely understand Hinduism, we must first understand that this a philosophical system of beliefs. To give a definite origin of Hinduism would be very hard to address because there are no known origins. There are no beginning points or a name of a founder. Hinduism can be traced all the way back to around 1500 B.C in what we now call India and has a lot of different beliefs, philosophies and views that contradict each other. All Hindus believe in one God, a supreme being known as Brahma. Brahma is an entity believed to live in every single facet of reality and existence throughout the whole universe. Brahma is both impersonal and unknowable and is often believed to exist in three separate forms: Brahma, the Creator, Vishnu, the Preserver, and Shiva, the Destroyer.
Hinduism is a very broad term that encompasses a multitude of different backgrounds, traditions, beliefs, and practices. Hinduism, as we know it today, has gone through many changes. To fully understand how Hinduism became as it is currently, knowledge of its development over the course of history is essential. This paper will demonstrate the primary shifts of its central beliefs, practices, and goals between periods of Early Vedic, Late Vedic, and Classical Hinduism.
Sikhism was founded over 500 years ago, and now has over 20 million members around the world; it is the fifth largest world religion. Founded by Guru Nanak he believed in a single creator of the world and that there is only one God (Sikhs.org, 2011). Followers of this religion believe that there are different ways to follow God’s will and that
Those who are raised within one religious tradition may find it difficult to understand the traditions of another religion. It is not until one is educated in the basics of the other major world religions, that it is possible to see the many similarities between them. Just as there are many similarities between the countries culturally, the major religions share more things than they are different. In viewing Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism with an open mind, it is easy to see the differences, similarities and ideals that make these religions as widespread as they are.
To get from South India to South Florida, normally, a person would need to travel roughly 15,117 km or 9,394 miles. Being that it is hardly just a hop, skip, and a jump away, members of the South Florida community, who are also a part of the Hindu community, desperately wanted a place where they could feel close to their motherland and yet remain near their newfound homes. To ensure this dream would become a reality, devotees gathered funds and support from friends and families to build what would later be known as the South Florida Hindu Temple. Interestingly, this temple, dissimilar to many others in the country, was built strictly from love and charity. All of the funds used to create the holy place
The world is full of diversities which are mostly characterised by the geographical disparities. These diversities range from the way people interact with one another socially, economically and politically. Through the lens of social organization, religion stands out to be one of the major aspects of human life. Everybody has some element of religiousness in him. Fortunately or unfortunately, often people adapt to the religious partners they find at the place of their birth. However, globalization and civilization is gradually transforming and integrating religious believes from the different parts of the world and perhaps someday, which is not known to anyone as per now, people will have a common believe in regard to religion. Till then, humanity continues to believe differently on matters of religion. Among these many religions of the world are Jainism and Daoism. Both based in Asia, these religions have a history and a following which is noticeable. Because of their prominence in Asia and a growing global integration of the ideologies upheld by these two forms of religions, this paper critically examines them with intent of exhuming any form of similarity or difference. This paper also checks into exactly what these two religions entail or teach its followers.
Sikhism was founded at the beginning of the 16th century in Punjab by Guru Nanak. His philosophy was similar to that of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. Nanak observed the way in which selfishness and decadence brought about unhappiness, tyranny, and trouble in the soul. Nanak followed on a tradition of Guru teachings but behind
Nachamada Roya Simon 250798336 RS 1023E World Religions Hinduism in India as a polytheistic Religion Is Hinduism a polytheistic or monotheistic religion? This question has lingered in the minds of many individuals and they have given their various thoughts about it. Some people believe that Hinduism is monotheistic because the Hindus believe that ultimately all is one, but looking at it from my point of view I am convinced that Hinduism is a polytheistic religion because they have a pantheon of gods and goddess for different purposes; they also have different sacred texts for various reasons for their different gods. Hinduism is a polytheistic religion because it has various gods for diverse purposes. To illustrate this concept, in the
Followers of the Hindu religion believe in the concept of atman. One’s atman, which is their true spiritual identity does not change under any circumstances and it is also a part of Brahman which is the true reality of how things are. Every living organism has an atman, which is passed on time and time again after death through a cycle known as Samsara. The term atman is Brahman illustrates the point of liberation (moksha) in Hinduism. This term is saying that even while our circumstances, persona, and ego all change, to reach moksha one must realize that what they truly want, and what they have been spending their entire lives searching for is actually them self, and it just took them this long to realize this because the material world we
Hinduism and Buddhism have had an enormous effect on the culture of India and Southeast Asia. They are both major religions in the modern world. The Aryans brought their faith and religious texts called the Vedas to India from Eastern Europe to India. From this religion came Hinduism, which is believed today by many scholars to be the oldest religion in the world. Buddhism evolved later from the teachings of the Buddha.
While today’s definition of Hinduism relates the diverse practices and rituals of Hindu followers back to their Vedic roots, the countless traditions of pre-colonial India varied significantly in their forms and religious methodology with very little sense of unity. Indeed, in the eyes of prominent scholars at the peak of British colonialism, the notion of Hinduism referred less to a collective religion practiced by its followers and more to an umbrella term for the systemized belief systems practiced throughout the Indian subcontinent. Being unable to mold into a Western paradigm of religion was perceived as a weakness to many Indian religious leaders, a matter exemplified by the work of Christian
All human beings are born equal and have the same features: nose, eyes, mouth, legs, etc... However, what make each and every individual different are their beliefs and the standard they go by. This is when religion kicks in. Religion is a European invention used to differentiate systems of belief in ways that are new to many of those systems. This separates everyone, including those that are non-religious. Even though the world has over fifty religions, there are only about five that most people truly believe is true. The following religions are: Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, and Hinduism. These religions cover up more than half of world’s people and the reason why people are conforming every day is because each and every one of them has extraordinary stories that’ll take your breath away.
Sikhism (/ˈsɪkᵻzəm/; Sikkhī, Punjabi pronunciation: [ˈsɪkːʰiː]), or Sikhi[3] (from Sikh, meaning a disciple, or a learner), one of the youngest amongst the major world religions, is a monotheistic religion that originated in the Punjab region of South Asia (subcontinental India) during the 15th century.[4][5] The fundamental beliefs of Sikhism, articulated in the sacred scripture Guru Granth Sahib, include faith and meditation on the name of the one creator, unity and equality of all humankind, engaging in selfless service, striving for social justice for the benefit and prosperity of all, and honest conduct and livelihood while living a householder's life.[6][7][8] With over 25 million adherents worldwide, Sikhism is the fifth-largest religion