Summary Of Jeffrey Brodd's Invitation To World Religions

Despite this, India had a very rigid structure. The caste system was everything in India. It was above even the state or the ruler, with the Brahmins or priestly class above all, even the warrior caste.

Hindus were divided by their social status, called the caste system. This made Hindus fall under one of the varnas such as Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra and the Untouchables (Strayer, 150-168). Priests and teachers were classified as Brahmins, warriors and kings were Kshatriya, merchants and landowners were known as Vaishya, peasants and serfs were classified as Shudras, and those that didn’t have a place on the caste system were defined as the untouchables because they had no social status. Hindus were unable to change their position in the caste system, until after reincarnation (Strayer, 150-168). There are scriptures such as the sacred text, The Vedas, and it leads to the fact that Brahmins empowered and dominated the top of the caste system and played specific roles in the religious lives of the people even from the start of India’s influence. Hindus became adjusted with these scared texts and grew used to it. They learned to follow religious values and traditions to have a better after life.

The caste system has been extremely stable in India for over two thousand years. It is only since the more modern, independent state of India was formed that the system has come under any scrutiny at all. It is presently outlawed, but many of the practices, attitudes and traditions remain ingrained in Hindu society (University of Wyoming, 1997).

When we talk about caste system, one must talk about the southern and border states of the United States during the 1877 to mid-1960. These states primarily operated and upheld what is called Jim Crow laws. Under Jim Crow laws it legalized anti-black racism; it was a way of life for black citizens to live under a series of rigid anti-black laws. It was a system which was supported by beliefs that white citizens were superior to black citizens to include intelligence, morality and civilized behavior. Jim Crows laws suggested by mixing of the races would produce mongrel race that would destroy America, treating blacks equal would encourage interracial sexual relations and violence was the means to keep blacks at the bottom of the race hierarchy

Allison, I don’t agree with your statement that “I think it is interesting because, in America, we too have different classes of people, as well as in the world.”. As you are comparing Hinduisms caste system to American capitalism. In America, we have a lower, middle, and upper class. However, a person is not confined to any specific class in the United States. It is possible for someone from the lower class to be a part of the upper class through education or entrepreneurship. Whereas in the Hinduism caste system, the people are restricted to their class. A person that is born a Shudra could be a genius, but cannot become a doctor because of their class. The only exception of an individual leaving their caste system would be a woman.

The intense hierarchical system in India has been immensely fascinating for thousands of years. A probable theory to the beginning of the caste system is the movement of Aryan population into India from the north. The Aryan peoples conquered much of India and its ' natives causing a separation between the two populations, possibly explaining the separation between the higher castes and the “untouchables.” Additionally, the Aryan 's imposed their preexisting hierarchy on the natives thus creating the caste system. However, “According to Hindu tradition the caste system owes its origins to the four Varna.”(149. Hutton) The Varna are based on different parts of Brahma, or God, each part representing a seperate caste. Much of Hindu belief, practices, and text further the structure of the caste system, such as the idea of Dharma, and text in the Bhagavad Gita, a Hindu scripture. Though the creation of the caste system, similar to Hinduism itself, is not traceable, the caste system and its continuation can largely be contributed to the Hindu faith. From creation the Hindu faith helped perpetuate, enforce, and build the caste system through stories, texts, laws, and practices.

This is where people were segregated into five categories: Brahmins, which are priests and teachers, Kshatriyas, warriors and rulers, Vaishyas, farmers, traders and merchants, Shudras, labourers, and Dalits, which were outcasts from society. People who would otherwise be able to shape a future for themselves were instead robbed of opportunity and put at a disadvantage compared to people who are of a higher caste. Discrimination and exploitation of those in a lower caste was also very normal. Not only is this prevalent in India with its caste system, but all over the world people are discriminated against because of their profession, social status, or wealth, instead of being judged by who they are as a

What are the four major castes? What implications does the caste system have for everyday life? How does the caste system relate to Hindu ideas of spiritual life? “The four major castes of Hindu society are; seers ( brahmins ), administrators ( kshatriyas ), artisans or farmers ( vaishyas ), and followers or servants ( shudras)”( Smith 56). Smith writes, religious leaders, teachers, artists, and philosophers are members of the first caste, brahmins, khatriyas, the second caste, first known as warriors are now managers. The tillers of the land, the makers of bricks, and the builders are part of the third caste, vaishyas. The fourth caste is made up of servants, those who will take care of the other castes’ needs (56)”. While I was working in India, summer of 2001 and there at the invitation of the richest family in India and staying at one of their compounds, some of my co-workers and I were playing snooker. A young boy walked into the room where we were playing. He stopped and talked to us for a few minutes before continuing to bed. Accompanied by a man of about twenty years old, the boy’s shudra, who had been the boy’s personal servant for ten or more years. The shudra’s purpose was to protect and serve his charge’s every need. Although there is inequality between castes, Smith denotes.“ within each caste, there is equality, opportunity, and social insurance ( 57)”. Although the text

In India, the Hindu belief created the caste system and was, but still is illegally practiced today, the moral understanding of life and for their culture. The driving force behind the caste system is to reach Koksha (liberation). Individuals and India as nation actions’ and social mobility were quantified by the caste system. For example, there is a large population of Hindus who are vegetarians. This principle is rooted in the Hindu teaching of Karma, and Karma is directly linked with the caste system.

Nelson Mandela was once quoted stating “We pledge ourselves to liberate all our people from the continuing bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and other discrimination” (Brainy Quote, n.d., retrieved November 30, 2016). When Mandella made this statement, it is unclear if he was referring to any one society, or country; although it was clear he was referring to the discrimination of all people. In the 21st century where there is a continuing emphasis on equality, the Caste System of India remains as a prominent form of discrimination through social structure of class, politics, and gender, today.

India is well known for its unjust social system, also known as the caste (jati) system. It is a social hierarchy that designates the people into different ranks based on a variety of aspects including social rank. Essentially, there are thousands of jatis, each with its own rules and customs. This system is said to have come about based on the Hindu god Brahma 's divine manifestation. Priests and teachers (Brahmans) were cast from his mouth, rulers and warriors (Kshatriyas) from his arms, merchants and traders (Vaishyas) from his thighs, and workers and peasants (Shudras) from his feet. The Untouchables were those who were considered impure based on the jobs they perform and are excluded and isolated from the rest of society. The book

According to Indianchild.com the India caste system is a hierarchical society. In the Indian caste system, no matter where you live or what religion you are

Hinduism and the Hindu social order (caste system) are two sides of a coin. One cannot be understood without the other. One cannot exist without the other. The caste

Caste- Caste is a social phenomenon in Indian society. There are around 5000 castes in India. These all castes are divided in two groups- the higher and lower caste. Every caste is different from one another. One caste is different from other by their culture and religion. Everyone have their own culture. The higher class discriminate the lower caste. They do not mix them in their group. Untouchability is a main factor of caste which is found in India. If lower people touch the higher people then they feel impure to themselves and take bath again.

The dehumanizing meaning of this tradition undoubtedly designated that Dalits are worse off than animals. That is the rejection of human identity. It really breaks the logic of human rights, human values, and dignity. The major consequences of the humiliation over Dalit are an accepting of fatalism. They think that situation is rotating and all actions are predetermined and therefore fate is inevitable. Upper caste people force a psychological segregation and resetting fated group identity in the society. That is the dehumanization of Dalit and development of fatalism.