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Hinduism

Hinduism

Desiree Williams

Axia College

Hinduism is generally regarded as the world’s oldest organized religion. It differs from Christianity and other Western religions because it does not have a single founder, or a central religious organization. Hinduism has grown to become the world’s third largest religion. There are approximately 837 million followers. Hinduism is a diverse religion found primarily in India, but also has large practicing populations in other countries, which include Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mauritius, Fiji, Suriname, Guyana, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Hindus are very conscious of the paradoxes that make up the universe. For the millions of people who practice this religion, it is a way of life that encompasses family, society, politics, business, art, and health behaviors. The sacred scriptures contain instructions on all these aspects of life and have a strong influence on art and drama. While the practices of yoga are a well-known aspect of Hinduism, family life is also considered a sacred duty. Most households have a shrine to a particular deity. Women conduct a household puja, the offering of fruit, raw rice, flowers, incense, and other items to the deity, on a regular basis. Visitors may be invited to join the puja on occasion, making it a communal event. After the food has been offered it is considered to have been spiritually consumed and blessed by the deity's power. It is then redistributed and consumed by the participants as a way of receiving the deity's blessings. Most forms of Hinduism are henotheistic, meaning, they recognize a single deity, and recognizes other gods and goddesses as facets, forms, manifestations, or aspects of that supreme God. Many rural Hindus worship their own village goddess or an earth goddess. She is believed to rule over fertility and disease -- and thus over life and death. India has always had a problem supplying food for its people. Today a...