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Introduction
Hinduism is one of the Indian religions, often described as a set of religious traditions and schools of thought that emerged in the Indian subcontinent and have common features.
Hinduism is rooted in Vedic, Harappa and Dravidian civilization, because of what it called the world's oldest religion. Unlike the Abrahamic religions, from Hinduism was not its founder, it lacks a unified system of beliefs and common doctrine. Hinduism is a family of diverse religious traditions, philosophies and beliefs based on monotheism, polytheism, panentheism, pantheism, monism and even atheism. Typical of Hinduism can be considered such religious position as dharma, karma, samsara, moksha and yoga.
In Hinduism there are many scriptures, which are divided into two main categories: Sruti and smrti. Important Hindu texts are the Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, "Ramayana", "Mahabharata", "Bhagavad-Gita" and Agama.
Hinduism is the third number of the followers of the religion in the world after Christianity and Islam. Hindus are more than 1 billion people, of whom about 950 million live in India and Nepal.
In the second half of XX century Hinduism spread beyond India, crossed national boundaries and gained a lot of followers worldwide. Widespread and have become commonplace ideas such as karma, yoga and vegetarianism.
Some aspects of the practice of Hinduism and criticized. The greatest condemnation cause ritual self-immolation of widows and discrimination based on caste.
Hinduism and Christianity. Similarities
Relationship of Hinduism to Christianity historically based on an unequal balance of political and cultural influence.
Among modern Western scholars assumed that the first Christian communities in the Indian subcontinent have appeared in V-VI centuries in South India. However, descendants of the ancient Christians in India call themselves Christians of St. Thomas the Apostle and said that the founder of their church, the preaching of which reported in India and ancient ecclesiastical writers.
Yet the massive spread of Christianity in India started only during the British colonial government, and protected which enjoyed British Christian missionaries, deeply condemns such practices Hinduism, as worship the Deity (regarded as idolatry), the ritual of sati and child marriage. Since the beginning of the XIX century, these new Hindu movement extolled the monism of the Upanishads and some were initiated social reforms and dialogue with other religious traditions.
Many Hindus are willing to accept the ethical teachings of the gospel, especially the Sermon (which had a great impact on Gandhi), but reject the theological structure of Christianity. They regard the Christian concept of love and its influence in society as a concept akin bhakti and usually revere Jesus Christ as a saint, not accepting, however, the organizational structure and the exclusivity of Christianity, considering it an obstacle to cooperation and interchange. Most Hindus are of the opinion Gandhi on this issue: the missionaries should limit their activities social service, do not try to convert Hindus to Christianity and instead try to find common ground between Hinduism and Christianity. Such feelings of Hindus at the end of XX - beginning of XXI century overran and found expression in the attacks on Dalit Christians and their churches in different parts of India, especially in Orissa and Gujarat.
The attitude of many Hindus to this question shows often practiced in modern India definition of children from Hindu families to study in high school and often English-speaking, owned and maintained by different Christian organizations. In this case, the parents of almost non-existent fears that the presence of Christian religious element in the school curriculum will encourage their children to abandon the faith of their parents.
Hinduism and Christianity. Differences.
Hinduism and Christianity have many similarities. But there are also many differences.
Unlike dogmatic religions "scriptures" (Christianity and Islam), Hinduism - the religion mainly mythological. That mythology is its unshakable foundation, permeates the entire history of its existence and keeps alive the tradition of myth-making until the present day.
Multiplicity of forms that manifest Hinduism, seen primarily in religious differentiations: every Hindu can be freed from the bonds of earthly existence - samsara and attain final liberation - moksha by that road, which is closer to his philosopher can choose Jnana- marga, i.e. is "path of knowledge" and a man of action chooses karma marga, "the path of conduct." There is a third way - bhakti -marga, the path of all-consuming love of God. Versatility Hinduism manifested in social institutions, especially in the caste system. It affects and in a variety of local traditions and religious life priurochivanii to all ages of man. Impossible to speak of Hindus in general: he was born in a particular caste belong to any sect and does rituals that fit his hereditary status, age and position.
Works Cited
Sarma, Dittakavi S. (1944), Studies in the Renaissance of Hinduism in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Benares Hindu University
Halbfass, Wilhelm (1988), India and Europe: An Essay in Understanding, State University of New York Press, ISBN 0887067948
Tripurari, Swami, Christ, Krishna, Caitanya, The Harmonist, May 31, 2009.
Klostermaier, Klaus K. (2007). A Survey of Hinduism. (3. ed. ed.). Albany, N.Y.: State University of New York Press. pp. 46–49. ISBN 0-7914-7082-2.
"Ayyavazhi Religion" (Web page). religious-information.com. SBI. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
