1. The aim of this lesson:
To find out some basic information about Hinduism
2. Take two minutes to write down
all the things you know about Hinduism.
If you don’t know anything,
what would you like to know?
3. THINK:
Can you think of a time when you have had to change
your personality and act differently. Many people do this
more than once a day. Write down a few examples.
4. HINDUISM
The term ‘Hinduism’ was introduced by British writers in the 1800s.
The name comes from the ‘Indus’ River and tells us nothing of the
religion (there was no holy person called ‘Hindu’) In fact, calling
Hinduism ‘Hinduism’ is about as useful as calling Indigenous
Australian beliefs ‘Murrumbidgeeism’
It’s bizarre to think that the average ‘Hindu living in rural India has
probably never heard of the term ‘Hinduism’.
Hinduism is not one neat, easily understood religious system.
It finds its roots as far back as 1500BC
J ohn Dickson. A Spect at or ’s Guide t o W or ld
5. HINDUISM
Hindus believe in one God and they call God Brahman. They
believe that God has different personalities.
But it’s still not as simple as that… Brahman is a hard concept to
grasp…
6. HINDU CONCEPT OF GOD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CpgCtU6woI&feature=related
7. A f ire produces B rahman is the
sparks f lame f rom which
They f lit awhile all originates.
and vanish Creation, humans,
Of ten back into gods and so on
the f lame All f licker f or a
The spark and while and then
f lame are both return to the
separate and not source
separate. The Ultimate
The spark is R eality.
visible
independently f or Pantheism
a moment Ev er yt hi ng i s
B ut, the spark God
came f rom the
f lame, is made of
the same stuf f
and ultimately
returns and is
absorbed.
Some contemporary Hindu’s believe in a single God and regard emanations of
8. BRAHMAN
BRAHMA VISHNU
SHIVA
PRESERVER DESTROYER
CREATOR
ONE GOD – MANY FORMS
Known as the Trimurti Tri = three Murti = image
10. ONE OF THE WORLDS
OLDEST RELIGIONS
It is over 3000 years old
11. There is not one founder or
starter of the religion like
Christianity or Islam.
There are around 900 million
Hindus in the world today... How
many in Australia?
12. Key points in Hinduism
The central belief is that of Reincarnation and Karma
Moksha is the liberation (or release)
of the human’s soul from suffering back to Brahman.
Dukkha – is the process of rebirth and suffering that all
Humans experience.
14. Karma
Karma is cause and effect
This means that every action leads to a consequence
FOR EXAMPLE: if you misbehave you get a detention
OR if you smile at someone, they might smile back
and you will both feel happier
GOOD KARMA = good actions
BAD KARMA = bad actions
16. Reincarnation
Hindus believe that when the body dies,
the soul is born again in a new body.
The soul is called the ATMAN.
If you have lived a good life you will be
reincarnated as something better, like
a soldier or a priest.
If you have lived a bad life you will be
reincarnated as something worse, like
a servant or even an animal.
17. HINDUISM
Hinduism is the oldest religion in the world today. Hindus
believe it has always existed and always will.
The word ‘Hindu’ comes from the river Indus (as does
the word ‘India’)
(Note: Most Hindu’s probably wouldn’t call themselves a ‘Hindu’… it is a
Western word invented in the 1800s)
18. HINDUISM
Fire and water are very important to Hindus.
Water reminds Hindu’s of God’s power.
Why do you think Water is so important to Hindus
(and other religious people). Why do you think fire is so
important?
