Hinduism refers to a diverse set of religious, philosophical and cultural beliefs and practices. It is predominately native to India. Reincarnation and a supreme being revealed in a variety of forms and natures are fundamental to Hinduism. A basic desire for freedom from the evils and pitfalls of life guide much of their practices.

Hinduism is one of the oldest religious traditions practiced today. It has no founder. The revered sacred texts called the Vedas contain much of their tradition. There are a great number of rituals which venerate a diverse group of deities. It is said that there are over 300 million gods worshipped. Many consider these deities as manifestations of one Supreme Being, Brahman. Others see a singular god with different forms.

Some key concepts in Hinduism are:

• Dharma: individual ethics, obligations and duties
• Samsara: reincarnation or rebirth
• Karma: cause and effect of actions
• Moksha: salvation by more than one path

Essentially it is believed that a person’s soul will continue to be reborn until it attains salvation. The ultimate freedom from reincarnation and material existence by becoming part of or one with the Supreme Being is the goal of all Hindus. Actions are considered to determine a person’s progress toward salvation. Actions of virtue will lead one closer to the goal while evil actions add to the separation and prove a lack of understanding.

Sharing Christ with Hindus:

See our Evangelism resources section.