Hinduism

Hinduism

 Introduction,  There are three major world views

  1. All physical, no spiritual
  2. All spiritual, no physical
  3. Both spiritual and physical realms exist.

   Hinduism has three main gods (Brahman is a triad)

  1. Brama is the creator god
  2. Vishnu is the preserver god
  3. Vishnu has had several incarnations called avatars, Krishna is one.
  4. Rama would be another Vishnu avatar.
  5. And, Shiva (or Siva) is the destroyer-creator god, the god of fertility and death.

 

  1. But truly Hinduism is  idolatrous, pantheistic and polytheistic.
  2. The Hindu believes that Brahman is all and all is Brahman
  3. Yet, the Hindu also believes Brahman is three individuals
  4. The Hindu also believes in many other gods
  5. To what ends does the idolatry reach?
  6. “As directed in the Bhakti Sutras, the images in the temples are bathed and dressed, fed and entertained.  Recently in one of the major temples in Mathura an important Vaishnava visitor was denied even a glimpse of the images of Krishna and his consort because the gods were having their afternoon rest and could not be disturbed.  Later, in the same evening, curtains were again lowered, the temple doors closed, and when the priests had undressed and bathed the images and put them in bed for the night, accomplished musicians played on sitars for an hour or two outside the curtain doors of the inner temple chamber, for the enjoyment of the gods.  The whole sequence is repeated daily.”  (The Religious World, edited by Richard C. Bush,  MacMillian , New York, 1993, pg.  98)
  7. The Hindu believes the entire universe is an illusion, “Maya.”

 

  1. The Law of Karma is the major principle in Hinduism.

 

  1. The Law of Karma states that good produces good and evil produces evil

 

  1. The Hindu is to submit to fate.

 

  1. Whatever comes into the Hindu’s life is the result of good karma or bad karma and should be accepted as reward or punishment for past deeds.

 

III.  Reincarnation, “Samsara,”  is understood by a Hindu differently than by a New Ager

 

  1. It is a chain of rebirths in which each soul, through virtuous living can rise to a higher state or through evil living, can drop to a lower state.

 

  1. Hinduism operates on a caste system.

 

  1. Brama created Manu, the first man.  From Manu came the four different types of people, as the creator Brahma determined.

 

  1. From Manu’s head came the Brahmins, these are the holy men/women.
  2. From Manu’s hands came the Kshatriyas, these are the rulers and warriors
  3. From Manu’s thighs came the Vaisyas, these are the craftsmen.
  4. From Manu’s feet came the Sudras the lowest caste.
  5. The Book of Manu, sections 87-91
  6. 87. But in order to protect this universe He, the most resplendent

one, assigned separate (duties and) occupations to those who sprang from his mouth, arms, thighs, and feet.

  1. To Brahmanas he assigned teaching and studying (the Veda), sacrificing for their own benefit and for others, giving and accepting (of alms).
  2. The Kshatriya he commanded to protect the people, to bestow gifts, to offer sacrifices, to study (the Veda), and to abstain from attaching himself to sensual pleasures;
  3. The Vaisya to tend cattle, to bestow gifts, to offer sacrifices, to study (the Veda), to trade, to lend money, and to cultivate land.
  4. One occupation only the lord prescribed to the Sudra, to serve meekly even these (other) three castes.

 

  1. Salvation for the Hindu comes from becoming one with the universe, Braman

 

  1. Nirvana is the stage reached when the chain of rebirths is ended.

 

  1. Nirvana can be reached through any one of three distinct paths

 

  1. Knowledge => through study as holy men
  2. Devotion => the ascetics for instance or devotion to a particular god
  3. Ritual works or Karma => through doing righteous acts.

 

 

  1. The Hindus have a number texts they consider sacred.

 

  1. The Vedas

 

  1. The earliest of Hindu scripture, written between 1400 and 400 B.C. Very pantheistic and polytheistic in their theology
  2. Rig-veda, a collection of hymns and praises to various deities
  3. Yajur-veda, mantras and rituals taken from the rig-veda and used as directions for the priests and assistants.
  4. Sama-veda, mantras from the rig-veda which are chanted.
  5. Athara-veda, magical spells and incantations used by priests.

 

  1. The Upanishads — Monotheist/pantheistic of a sort teaching that all gods are really expressions of Brahman
  2. Written around 800 – 600 B.C.
  3. First to teach the mystical relationship between man and the universe.

 

  1. The Bhagavad Gita
  2. Written around the time of Christ.
  3. This is the best known and most read of all the Hindu scriptures.
  4. It is a dialog between Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu, and a warrior named Arjuna.
  5. It is significant in Hinduism in that it tells of salvation through devotion to a particular god, any god.

 

VII.  Hinduism is pantheistic idolatry, plain and simple.  How it reflects on our culture, however, is a little more complicated.

 

  1. Many New Age beliefs are taken directly from Hinduism

 

  1. The “mind sciences” of Christian Science and Unity come from Hinduism.

 

  1. We are surrounded by a large number of people who believe much of what Hindus believe.

 

VIII.  Conclusion

 

  1. Hinduism denies the oneness and personal being of God
  2. The Bible says there is one personal God
  3. Isaiah 43:10  “You are My witnesses,” says the LORD,

“And My servant whom I have chosen,

That you may know and believe Me,

And understand that I am He.

Before Me there was no God formed,

Nor shall there be after Me.

 

  1. Hinduism denies the equality of man
  2. The Bible teaches we are equal
  3. Galatians 3:26-28 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

 

  1. Hinduism teaches salvation through works.
  2. The Bible says we can’t earn our salvation
  3. Ephes. 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

 

  1. Hinduism teaches we can be reincarnated into perfection
  2. The Bible says we die once
  3. Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,

 

  1. Hinduism teaches idolatry.
  2. The Bible says idolatry is irrational and foolish.
  3. Isaiah 44:15-17  Then it shall be for a man to burn,

For he will take some of it and warm himself;

Yes, he kindles it and bakes bread;

Indeed he makes a god and worships it;

He makes it a carved image, and falls down to it.

He burns half of it in the fire;

With this half he eats meat;

He roasts a roast, and is satisfied.

He even warms himself and says,

“Ah! I am warm,

I have seen the fire.”

And the rest of it he makes into a god,

His carved image.

He falls down before it and worships it,

Prays to it and says,

“Deliver me, for you are my god!”