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Hinduism

Hinduism
Tonya Gower
Axia College

In this paper I hope to share with my readers what the basic religion of the Hindu is and what makes that up. I want to show what cultural and societal influences have made Hinduism vital to the region in which it originated. I also want to explain why they desire liberation from earthly existence. My hopes are that my reader will walk away from this paper with a better understanding of Hinduism and the Hindu way of life.
To begin with Hinduism is the predominant religion of the Indian subcontinent. It is often referred to as Sanatana Dharma, which means "The eternal law." (Wikipedia) Sanatana Dharma is one of the oldest religions known to mankind and is still in practice today. Hinduism is much more than a religion; it is a way of life. Hinduism is cultural, not creedal. (The Basics of Hinduism, 2009) They believe in the concept of the absolute Brahman, which they do equate with God. Hindu's believe in reincarnation, which is the movement of the soul from one body to another. They believe a person's soul lives on and on through a continuous cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. (Hinduism, 2001) For many Hindus there are four goals in human life, Moksha, which means the release of the soul from the cycle of rebirth. Dharma, which means the code for leading one's life after birth. Artha, which means the pursuit of material gain by lawful means. And finally is Karma, which means the belief that through pure acts, knowledge, and devotion you can reincarnate to a higher level.
Cultural and societal influences made Hinduism vital to the region in which it originated by numerous traditions and social systems that adhered by the people of India or others that practiced Hinduism culturally. Hinduism contains various myths that implied the countless faces of the divine to interact in various forms with people. (Cimpean.A, 2005) Their cultural traditions believed that the divine or...