I. History of Hinduism

A. Hinduism is referred to as a WAY of Life

B. Hinduism was developed in INDIA about 1500 B.C.

C. About 600 B.C. there was a REVOLT against priestly power

II. Deities

A. POLYTHEISTIC- having many gods

B. PANTHEISTIC- God is in everything

Brahman

i. Brahman is a FORCE and not a person

ii. Hinduism teaches that the goal of each person is to SEPARATE from our personal desires and realize that our individual self is only an illusion

d. Hinduism teaches that there are over 330 million GODS.

e. Hindus believe in three main gods i. The Brahman

ii. VISHNU- the creator and sustainer of life

ii. SHIVA- whose job is to destroy the universe so it can be recreated.

1. There is a CYCLE

a. Create

b. Sustain

c. Destroy

III. Beliefs

A. REINCARNATIONi. A Hindu’s goal is to try and ESCAPE this cycle of life, death, and rebirth.

B. The three PATHS (yogas) i. DHARMA: Guidelines and personal duties that Hindus

live by.

ii. Attain KNOWLEDGE through enlightenment

iii. Show DEVOTION to Divinity by worshipping the gods they choose.

C. KARMA

i. Karma is what determines how GOOD or BAD a person’s future life will be.

IV. Practicesa. WORSHIP is usually done individually and not

corporately.i. During worship they will chant the god’s name or speak

MANTRAS

b. Some Hindus will visit temples where specific gods are WORSHIPPED.

c. YOGA is a popular practice today where followers meditate to seek to completely empty the mind through spiritual and physical exercise.

V. Man’s Greatest Need

A. Hinduism teaches that man’s greatest need is that man needs to realize that we are of a DIVINE nature

B. It is our ignorance of our DIVINITY that makes us have these material desires and material needs such as food, water, and shelter

Genesis 3:5

“ For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”

2 Corinthians 5:8

“We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”

Hebrews 9:27

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”

Galatians 6:7

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”