1. Hinduism Harmony and Tolerance
HRT3M – World Religions
Hinduism
Harmony and Tolerance

2. Harmony and Tolerance

3. Harmony and Tolerance

4. Tolerance and Harmony

5. Tolerance and Harmony

6. Hinduism
There is only one God, but endless are his aspects and endless are his names. Call him by any name and worship him in any aspect that pleases you, you are sure to see him Shri Ramakrishna, quoted in Prabhavananda ( )

7. History:
Hinduism is simply the religion of the people of India, which has gradually developed over four thousand years.
The origins and authors of its sacred texts are largely unknown

8. History – The Indus River Valley Civilization
early as 7000 BC peaked 2300 to 2000 BC,
traded with Mesopotamia.
The original settlers were nomadic hunters. They domesticated animals and grew barley

9. History – The Indus River Valley Civilization Cont.
Our understanding of this religion is based on physical evidence alone.
Baths
Terracotta figures
Seal
Meaning???
Prototype for Shiva???
Or Mesopotamian seal

10. History – The Indus River Valley Civilization Cont.
religion focuses on fertility
Sculptures suggested fertility goddess – early version of Hindu goddesses Paravarti and Kali ??
???

11. History – The Indus River Valley Civilization Cont.
Like the Egyptians they also had a male god on a bull , possibly a predecessor of Shiva.
they buried objects with their dead.
had taboos, especially about cleanliness.
???

12. History – The Indus River Valley Civilization and the Aryan Invasion
2 Hypothesis
A) Aryan Invasion or B) Gradual Integration
Aryans brought their Sanskrit language and Vedic religion
The original inhabitants - Dravidian (language and culture) became subordinate to that of the invading peoples.
By the end of the 2nd millennium these 2 cultures gave rise to what would become modern Hinduism – a conscious expressions of Aryan ethnicity found in the Rig Veda (Religious Sanskrit text)

13. Rig Veda

14. History – Aryan Culture – Evolution of Hinduism
Aryan tribal kings evolved into autocratic rulers.
Kings allied themselves with priests – why??
Aryans and Dravidians settled alongside each other resulting in a social hierarchy – caste system
Caste legitimized and enforced by religious conviction

15. Interpret!

16. The Caste System

17. Caste System Established 600 BC
One’s caste is the result of their accumulation of Karma during past lifetimes
The higher your caste, the more you are respected, the greater your religious responsibility
Your route to Brahman (how you pray and how you work) is predetermined by your caste.

18. Sacred Text
Vedas Hinduism earliest sacred texts – doctrines and still today, considered Hinduism authoritative scripture
Sacred literature: early hymns, magical chants spells and sacrificial formulae
The Epic Period BC
Establishment of
the caste system
600BC
Pre-Epic Period—
the Upanishads BC
Popular Religion
Development of
The Vedas BC
Buddhism
Jainism

19. The Epic Period 500 – 200 BC
The Vedas – Religion for the higher castes only
The Epics – Religion for the masses:
Stories telling of the battle between good and evil
Introduces religious concepts
Cosmology
Yoga (Yoke)
Trinity
Avatars

20. Islam in India Islam arrived in North India in the 12th Century
A history of both conflict and integration
India / Pakistan partition 1947

21. British Raj in India
British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947
Coined term “Hindu” adherents of Indian religion (not Muslim)
Gandhi led India to independence and inspired movements for non-violence

22. Hinduism Today
The world's third largest religion, after Christianity and Islam
950 million followers -- about 14% of the world's population.
It is the dominant religion in India, Nepal, and among the Tamils in Sri Lanka.

23. Hinduism in Canada
In Canada there are about 297,200 practicing Hindus and 70 temples (2001 census)
Hindu Temple, Toronto
Hindu Temple – Ottawa Carleton

24. Hinduism Today – Wrap up!
Hinduism differs from Christianity and other monotheistic religions in that it does not have:
a single founder, Explain
a single concept of deity, Explain
a single holy text, Explain
a single system of morality, Explain
a central religious authority, Explain
the concept of a prophet. Explain

25. Summary
Hinduism is the world's oldest organized religion. It consists of "thousands of different religious groups that have evolved in India since 1500 BCE."
Because of the wide variety of Hindu traditions, freedom of belief and practice are notable features of Hinduism.