Hinduism a presentation by Ina & Felix

Main Facts one of the world‘s main religions about 850 million followers spread over India and a few more states like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia and Fidschi

History Hinduism is mixture of traditional natural religions and the religion of the Arians who came from the North earliest proofs of Hinduism from about 5000 before Christ first sacred texts, the Vedas, were composed at about 2000 before Christ Hinduism was influenced by Buddhism and Jainism

History (II) Around Christ’s birth Hinduism had lost many members and was nearly gone Conflict with the Islam from the eights century until about 1700 New ideas and renovation after contact with western culture

What is Hinduism ? many different points of view -> many different gods (about 3 million) no „founder“ (like Jesus for Christianity) no institution with authority main ideas: reincarnation and caste system target: „climb up“ the caste system and finally escape the circle of rebirth

Influence on Society caste system structures society castes are divided into thousands of different „family groups“ or social communities to be born in a certain caste sometimes means having a certain job although the caste system is banned from constitution, people still have different rights and duties

Role of Women very controversial views H.H. Wilson (19th century): in Hinduism women are more respected than in other religions some rites are forbidden for women ideal woman: loving and caring mother and wife rate of „love marriages“ (instead of arranged Marriages) rises -> uncertainty of the role of women in India

references: Thanks for listening! www.wikipedia.de/Hinduismus www.kirchenaustritt.de/hinduismus www.der-hinduismus.de Thanks for listening!