3. I. History of Hinduism Hinduism is referred to as a WAY of Life
Hinduism was developed in INDIA about B.C.
About 600 B.C. there was a REVOLT against priestly power

4. II. Deities POLYTHEISTIC- having many gods
PANTHEISTIC- God is in everything

5. Brahman Brahman is a FORCE and not a person
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

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

7. III. Beliefs REINCARNATION The three PATHS (yogas)
i. A Hindu’s goal is to try and ESCAPE this cycle of life, death, and rebirth.
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.

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

9. IV. Practices
WORSHIP is usually done individually and not corporately.
i. During worship they will chant the god’s name or speak MANTRAS
Some Hindus will visit temples where specific gods are WORSHIPPED.
YOGA is a popular practice today where followers meditate to seek to completely empty the mind through spiritual and physical exercise.

10. V. Man’s Greatest Need
Hinduism teaches that man’s greatest need is that man needs to realize that we are of a DIVINE nature
It is our ignorance of our DIVINITY that makes us have these material desires and material needs such as food, water, and shelter

11. 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.”

12. 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.”

13. Hebrews 9:27 “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”

14. Galatians 6:7 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”