How Major Religions were formed…

Parent Religions• Founded by a group• To do with nature• Reaction to Polytheism (many Gods)

Derivative Religions• Single Founder• Keeps some of the Parts of the parent

religion

Parent Hinduism Judaism

Derivative Buddhism Christianity Islam

Catholic Protestant

HINDUISM

Welcome to Hinduism…

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vR6ekW0XF_s

Hinduism and Vedanta Society of Toronto

Hinduism Fast Facts:• Hinduism is the major religion of India, practiced by more than

80% of the population. In contrast to other religions, it has no founder. It is considered the oldest religion in the world.

• No single creed or doctrine binds Hindus together. Intellectually there is complete freedom of belief, and one can be a monotheist (one who believes in only one god) or a polytheist (one who believes in more than one god)

• The most ancient sacred texts of the Hindu religion are written in Sanskrit and called the Vedas (vedah means “knowledge”). The Upanishads (dated 1000–300 B.C.) speculate on the origin of the universe and the nature of deity, and atman (the individual soul) and its relationship to Brahman (the universal soul). They introduce the teaching of karma and recommend meditation and the practice of yoga.

• Hinduism is based on the concept of reincarnation, in which all living beings, from plants below to gods above, are caught in a cosmic cycle of becoming and perishing.

• Life is determined by the laws of karma, according to which rebirth is dependent on moral behavior in a previous phase of existence. In this view, life on earth is regarded as transient and a burden.

• The goal of existence is liberation from the cycle of rebirth and death and entrance into the indescribable state of what in Hindu texts is called moksha (liberation)

• The Ganges River is the most sacred among the rivers in India.