Hinduism and the Rebirth of the Soul

E. Napp

Objective: To identify and explain significant beliefs of Hinduism

Do Now: Multiple-choice questions from previous lessons

1. Which practice is most closely associated with a person of the Islamic faith?
(1) refraining from eating meat on Fridays
(2) praying five times a day
(3) following the Eightfold Path
(4) worshipping many gods
2. One similarity between the Five Pillars of Islam and the Ten Commandments is that both
(1) support a belief in reincarnation
(2) promote learning as a means to salvation
(3) encourage the use of statues to symbolize God
(4) provide a guide to proper ethical and moral behavior
3. The Koran, jihad, and the hegira are most closely associated with the practice of
(1) Islam
(2) Judaism
(3) Shinto
(4) Buddhism / 4. "Most Gracious, Most Merciful;"
"Master of the Day of Judgment."
"Thee do we worship, And Thine aid we seek.”
Source: ’Abdullah Yusuf-Ali, trans., The Meaning of the Holy Qur’an, Amana Publications
This translated quotation from the Qur’an [Koran] refers to
(1) Buddha
(2) Shiva
(3) Allah
(4) Muhammad
5. What do Muslims call God?
(1) Allah
(2) Brahman
(3) Jehovah
(4) Waheguru

Cornell Notes Outline: Hinduism and the Rebirth of the Soul(Add Key Words and Summaries)

The Key Words: / The Notes:
  1. The Aryans
  2. Nomadic invaders of India around 1500 B.C.E.
  3. Called themselves “the noble ones”
  4. Sanskrit language
  5. Originally migrated to Iran and then continued to India
  6. Importance of cattle
  7. New religious ideas to India
  1. Hinduism
  2. Religion of Aryans
  3. Beliefs
1-Everything is Brahman or the Supreme Being
2-Reincarnation
  1. Soul is reborn again and again until…
  2. Moksha = realization of god self
3-Karma determines reincarnation
  1. Every action returns to the individual
4-Dharma determines reincarnation
  1. Rules of the caste or fixed social class (i.e. Marry in caste)
5-Caste system
  1. Birth determines caste
  2. Castes
  3. Brahmins or Priests
  4. Warriors
  5. Merchants
  6. Farmers
  7. Untouchables or outcastesno caste
6-Sacred objects
  1. Cows
  2. GangesRiver
7-Sacred texts
  1. No single holy book
  2. Sacred writings
  3. Bhagavad-Gita
  4. Vedas
  5. Upanishads

The Summaries:

Please read the passage below and answer the questions:

Hinduism is one of the world's oldest religions, and has over 900 million followers worldwide. Hinduism originated in the Indus River Valley over 3,000 years ago. About 80% of the Indian population regard themselves as Hindu. Hinduism has no single holy book, but Hindu writings like the Vedas, Upanishads, and Bhagavad-Gita provide guidance. Hinduism remains the most popular religion of modern India.

Hindus believe that there are many gods and goddesses. However, they believe that each of these gods is a manifestation of one Supreme Being. This universal and eternal Supreme Being is called Brahman, who created and is present in everything.

Hindus believe that existence is a cycle of birth, death, and rebirth governed by Karma. In other words, Hindus believe in reincarnation or that a person’s soul is reborn as another living thing. Karma determines a person’s reincarnation. Karma refers to a person’s behavior in life which Hindus believe determines a person’s form in the next life. People who live a good life will be reborn to a better situation in the next life. Those who do not lead good lives will be reborn to a worse situation. Hindus believe that the next incarnation is always dependent on how the previous life was lived.

Hindus also believe in a caste system. A caste system is a fixed social class system. There are four main castes. The castes are Brahmins (Priests), Warriors, Merchants, and Farmers. If a person belongs to no caste, he is an untouchable or outcaste. A person remains in his caste throughout his lifetime. Caste members must marry within their caste, perform certain prayers, and eat food prepared by their caste members. These rules of caste are referred to as Dharma. Violating the rules of caste will affect a person’s reincarnation.

Questions:

1-Where and when did Hinduism originate? ______

2-What do Hindus believe? ______

3-Describe the caste system. ______

4-How do karma and dharma affect reincarnation? ______

  1. The members of the Hindu caste with the highest status are priests or
(1)Shudras
(2)Vaishyas
(3)Brahmins
(4)Kshatriyas / 2. The caste system in India was characterized by
(1) toleration for various religious beliefs
(2) equality between men and women
(3) a lack of social mobility
(4) the right of people to choose their occupations
1. Which factor most influenced a person’s social position in early Indian societies?
(1) education
(2) birth
(3) geographic location
(4) individual achievement / 2. The terms Brahma, dharma, and moksha are most closely associated with which religion?
(1) Judaism
(2) Islam
(3) Hinduism
(4) animism