Bellringer

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Bellringer

• Fill at least 3 lines.
• What did you do yesterday to deserve your new
  caste?

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Questions

• What do you already know about Hinduism?
• List the kinds of powers / abilities that person
  can possess.
• For example Strength, etc.

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Hinduism

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Hinduism

• Origins
• No single founder
• But defined as religion of those who believe in
  the Vedas, follow the dharma of the four varnas,
  and the stages of life

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Hinduism

• Origins
• Slowly evolved from ancient Aryan culture in
  India around 1500 BC
• Incredibly complex variations as a result
• Because of variations, Hinduism is very tolerant

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Hinduism

• Beliefs
• Estimated 330 million different gods worshipped
  among all of Indias Hindus
• Followers may most often describe Hinduism as
  monotheistic

How is this possible?
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Hinduism

• Beliefs
• Brahman
• Nameless, formless, unlimited supreme force of
  such complexity it is unimaginable to humans

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Hinduism

• Beliefs

Vishnu -preserver of life Shiva -destroyer
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Hinduism

• Beliefs
• Each family may worship hundreds of additional
  minor deities specific to a particular village or
  family
• Some include

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Hinduism

• Beliefs
• Ganesha
• God of wisdom

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Hinduism

• Beliefs
• Saraswati
• Goddess of knowledge the arts

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Hinduism

• Beliefs
• Durga
• Goddess of war female creative energy (shakti)

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Hinduism

• Beliefs
• Krishna

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Hinduism

• Beliefs
• Ahimsa Absence of desire to injure others
• Reincarnation (samsara)
• After death the soul leaves the body is reborn
  in the body of new person or animal
• Life is cyclical - seen as endless entanglement

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Hinduism

• Beliefs
• Reincarnation cont.
• Quality of new birth determined by accumulated
  merit and demerit that result from actions
  (karma)

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Hinduism

• Beliefs
• Thus reincarnation karma are the result of
  lifes stages and goals

Stages Goals
Pure Student Chaste study Householder Gradual Detachment Renunciation Withdraw from world Dharma Righteous behavior Material success Pleasure Moksha Release
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Hinduism

• Practices
• Unity of Hinduism comes from what followers do
  rather than what they believe
• In this way, Hinduism has a profound impact on
  all aspects of life

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Hinduism

• Practices
• Every Aspect of Life
• In times without television or radio, entertained
  by stories of epic poems mythology
• Daily bathing removing shoes before entering a
  house reflects beliefs of purity pollution

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Hinduism

• Practices
• Every Aspect of Life
• Reverence for Brahmins cows
• Abstention from meat (esp. beef)
• Marriage within caste
• Hope of producing male heirs
• Make offerings to gods
• Daily ritual in home
• Ceremonially in temple
• Socially celebrate rites of passage

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Hinduism

• Practices
• Caste System
• Most important characteristic of Hindu practice
• Society is divided into four strict hierarchical
  ranks caste or varna
• Brahmans teachers, priests
• Kshatriyas warriors, princes
• Vaishyas merchants
• Sudras commoners

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Hinduism

• Practices
• Caste System
• Even each varna is broken is sub-castes or jati
• Determines occupation, marriage, status, ability
  to end cycle of rebirths (only Brahmins)
• Below caste structure is a group so polluted they
  are untouchable dalits or scheduled castes

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Hinduism

• Practices
• Seemingly contradictory life paths
• Those seeking rewards of world
• Follow first 3 life stages goals in an attempt
  to fulfill ones dharma
• Those seeking release from world
• Follow final life stage to gain unity with
  Brahman (universal) be released from rebirths

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Hinduism

• Reflection
• In what ways is Hinduism polytheistic?
  Monotheistic?