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Hinduism

What is Hinduism?
Hinduism is the world's oldest religion, with a billion followers, which makes it the world's third largest religion. Hinduism is a conglomeration of religious, philosophical, and cultural ideas and practices that originated in India.

Hinduism is characterized by:
 the belief in reincarnation
 one absolute being of multiple manifestations
 the law of cause and effect
 following the path of righteousness
 and the desire for liberation from the cycle of births and deaths

Hinduism is a way of life, a Dharma, that is, the law that governs all action. It is the dominant faith of India, practised by over 80% of the population. Since religion is a way of life in India, Hinduism forms an integral part of the entire Indian tradition.

Hinduism can best be defined as a way of life based on the teachings of ancient sages and scriptures like the Vedas and Upanishads.

Hindu Dharma, as one scholar analogizes, can be compared to a fruit tree,
 with its roots representing the Vedas and Vedantas (the source of knowledge),
 the thick trunk symbolizing the spiritual experiences of numerous sages, gurus and saints, its branches representing various theological traditions,
 and the fruit itself, in different shapes and sizes symbolizing various sects and subsects.


10 Pillars of Hinduism
1. Satya (Truth)
2. Ahimsa (Non-violence)
3. Brahmacharya (Celibacy, non-adultery)
4. Asteya (No desire to possess or steal)
5. Aparighara (Non-corrupt)
6. Shaucha (Cleanliness)
7. Santosh (Contentment)
8. Swadhyaya (Reading of scriptures)
9. Tapas (Austerity, perseverance, penance)
10. Ishwarpranidhan (Regular prayers)


Who is a Hindu?
Common Answers Include:
 anyone born in India is automatically a Hindu (the ethnicity fallacy),
 if your parents are Hindu, then you are Hindu (the familial argument),
 if you are born into a certain caste, then you are Hindu (the genetic inheritance model),
 if you believe in reincarnation,...