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RELG201 Exam 1 -- Religion and Hinduism

Terms in this set (83)

"perennial philosophy" (and Prothero's critique of)
The idea that all religions are just different paths up the same mountain
They all share a single truth
All religions are one
Prothero says:
Dangerous, disrespectful, and untrue
Neither accurate nor ethically responsible
The world's religious rivals converge when it comes to ethics, but they diverge sharply on doctrine, ritual, mythology, experience, and law
Different problems, different goals
What the world's religions share is not so much a finish line as a starting point
Mountain range, not just one mountain
phenomenology/phenomenological approach
Understand religious thought and behavior from the point of view of religious persons
Leave behind our beliefs and step into their mindset
Bracket our convictions so we can understand
The point of the phenomenological approach is not so much evaluation of understanding
religion (etymology/root meaning of word)
Latin
religere/religare: "to bind together, to tie back"
relegere: "to recollect"
religion (def. of, Van Voorst)
A pattern of beliefs and practices that expresses and enacts what a community regards as sacred and/or ultimate about life
ethnic vs. universal religions
Ethnic: the religion of a particular people or culture
Judaism, Shinto, Hinduism
tend to be localized and do not actively seek converts

Universal: a religion which sees its message as true for all people
e.g., Christianity, Islam, Buddhism
have spread throughout the world
tend to be very large in population
have actively sought converts from many cultures
major vs. minor religions
Major religions: Religions that are high in population, widespread throughout the world, the basis upon which other religions were built and/or otherwise highly influential
Minor Religions: Religions that are limited in population, geographic locale and/or influence
western vs. eastern religions
Western: Religions that developed west of the Urals
in the Near East and Europe
Judaism
Christianity
Islam
Baha'i Faith
Zoroastrianism

Eastern: Religions that developed east of the Urals
in India, China and Japan
India: Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism
Far East: Taoism, Confucianism, Shinto

SEE HAND OUT FOR CHART
four-part approach to religion (Prothero)
Different Problems, Different Goals
A problem
A solution (or the religious goal)
A technique ( or techniques/ a path- for moving from this problem to this solution)
An exemplar (or exemplars) who chart this path from problem to solution
Prothero admits that this four step approach is admittedly simplistic, so this model is simply a starting point that must be nuanced along the way
This model helps to make plain the differences across and inside religious traditions ( compare differences across religions- "he who knows one, knows none")
orthodoxy
Ortho (to right something) + doxy (doctrine) = right doctrine
orthopraxy
Ortho (to right something) + praxy (practice) = right practice/ritual
theism
Belief in the existence of god
Focus on a personal God (mono-) or gods (poly-)
god = supernatural "person" or spirit being
most common in western religions
non-theism
Belief in a spiritual reality without a personal deity or deities
Ultimate Reality or ultimate goal of the religion does not involve a personal god
impersonal Ultimate Reality
force or energy
found mostly in the eastern religions
atheism
the belief that there is no God or other supreme being
agnosticism
Not knowing" if a god or gods exist
monotheism
Belief in one God
polytheism
a belief in many gods or goddesses
transcendent
God is above/beyond material universe
Not limited by physical existence
Independent of physical world
immanent
God is fully present in the physical world
Accessible
Among us
personification (of God/s)
in our minds we personify higher power, making it out to be a "person" much as we are
Anthropomorphism:in our language we attribute human characteristics to our gods; we envision God as having a body much like our own
God "hears"
God "speaks"
God "sees"
God "walks in the garden
We attribute gender to this god (usually he)
theology
the study of a religion, based on a religious commitment to that religion, in order to promote it
religious studies
field of academic study of religion that aims to understand all religious traditions objectively and in a religiously neutral way.
Does not ask students to make religious commitments
ritual
Physical
Religion is a way of acting
Spiritual practices (meditation, chanting, prayer, ritual, pilgrimage)
Communal celebrations (rites of passage, holidays)
myth
Story that relates basic truths of a religion. We often use the word myth today to mean something an untrue story, but religions use it in an opposite way.
sacred (vs. profane/secular)
Sacred: that which is set apart
Secular not religious
What is considered most holy and important
scripture
Means "that which is written" (and how must founders of religions did not write down their words, their disciples/followers did)
canon
The authoritative list of scriptures for a particular religion (The bible is a closed canon, you can take away of add books)
exclusivism
The idea that the Christian tradition is in sole possession of effective religious truth and offers the only path to salvation.
"Exclusivists believe the Christian tradition is in sole possession of effective religious truth and offers the only path to salvation" (Heim, 4).
inclusivism
Affirms that salvation is available through other traditions because the God most decisively acting and most fully revealed in Christ is also redemptively available within or through those traditions.
pluralism
Maintains that various religious traditions are independently valid paths to salvation."

"Recognition of religious differences and the effort to deal with them constructively." (VanVoorst, 25)

Pluralism is not diversity alone, but the energetic engagement with diversity. . . . Today, religious diversity is a given, but pluralism is not a given; it is an achievement.
Pluralism is not just tolerance, but the active seeking of understanding across lines of difference.

Pluralism is not relativism, but the encounter of commitments. . . . It means holding our deepest differences, even our religious differences, not in isolation, but in relationship to one another.

Pluralism is based on dialogue. The language of pluralism is that of dialogue and encounter, give and take, criticism and self-criticism. . . .Dialogue does not mean everyone at the "table" will agree with one another.Pluralism involves the commitment to being at the table -- with one's commitments. —Diana L. Eck
tolerance
"Putting up with the views and actions of others that are opposed to your own, usually for the common good." (Van Voorst, 22)
"Hinduism" (root of, and problems with, the term)
"Hindu" derives from Persian "Sindhu" = "those who live near the Indus River"
Geographic term
Term used by outsiders
"Hindu-ism" coined in early 19thcent.
India was then a British colony
Term arose in a colonial context
The term 'Hinduism', which of course derives from the frequency with which 'Hindu' came to be used, is a Western explanatory construct. As such it reflects the colonial and Judaeo-Christian presuppositions of the Western Orientalists who first coined the term."(King, 100)
It is a Western-inspired abstraction, which until the 19th century bore little or no resemblance to the diversity of Indian religious belief and practice.
Sanatana Dharma
What Hindus often refer to their religion as
"eternal teaching" or "eternal way of life"
Assumptions about "religion" (and how Hinduism challenges these)
Assumptions:
1. All societies have a "religion" like ours
2. Religion is based on sacred texts and a set of common beliefs (a creed)
3. All religions have a unifying theology, a founder, and a central institution
Hinduism has no:
no single founder
no personal founder
specific theological system
No defined core beliefs
single concept of deity
single holy text
central institution
central religious authority
standardized worship practice
concept of a prophet
linear view of time / cyclical view of time
The Western view of time is LINEAR- from point A to Z
THe Classic Indian View is CYCLICAL- an endless cycle of creation and destruction
Lifespan of the universe is a "day of Brahma"
Nataraja (The Lord, or King, of Dance), is a depiction of the Hindu God Shiva as the cosmic dancer who performs his divine dance to destroy a weary universe and make preparations for the god Brahma to start the process of creation.
kalpa
Sanskrit meaning an aeon, or a long period of time
How long is Kalpa? In Hinduism, it is equal to 4.3 Billion years
Hinduism: Geological metaphor
Hinduism can be looked at as layers of rock that build on each other
Modern Movements

Devotional Hinduism: Bhakti
~600 CE→ present day

Philosophical Hinduism: Upanishads
1000-500 BCE→Onward

Ancient Vedic Religion
1500 - 500 BCE

Indus Valley Civilization
2500 - 1500 BCE
Vedas
The oldest sacred teachings ( Veda= knowledge)
Composed in Sanskrit
The breath of the eternal, as "heard" by rishis (ancient sages)
Preserved orally for thousands of years
Composed c. 1500 BCE
Later compiled by Vyasa ("Collector")
Thought to transcend human time
Two categories of scriptures:
Sruti ("that which has been heard")
Smrti ("that which is remembered")
Hymns to the gods
Instruction for ritual sacrifice
Songs to accompany sacrifice
Spell and incantations (to bring blessings and ward off evil)
Vedic deities: Agni, Indra, Soma
Agni has 200 hymns
English cognate: ignite
God of fire
Also associated with sacrifice, sun, sacred cow, inner fire in the belly (tapas)
Agni= the messenger god

Indra has 250 hymns
God of war and weather
Influence diminishes as Hinduism evolves
Bhagavad Gita: father of the warrior Arjuna

Soma has over 100 hymns
Soma: Vedic ritual drink (hallucinogenic, Altered State of Consciousness)
Priest: commune with God
Rig Veda: Soma becomes god
Sanskrit
The ancient language the Vedas are composed in
rishi / rishis
The ancient sages that hear "the breath of the eternal "/ The Vedas
sruti / shruti
One category of the scriptures
"that which is heard"
smrti
The other category of the scriptures
"That which is remembered"
fire sacrifice
Vedic fire sacrifices have been made for over 3000 years
Why fire? Heat, warmth, life, death, purification, transformation, cremation
Agni ("fire")= mediator between the worshipper and the other gods
Fire rituals is a transmission between heaven and earth, it is transactional

What does this imply about the Vedic gods? That the Vedic gods living in the skies or heaven play a role in human life and are forces that can be influenced by sacrifice. They need the help from the gods to overcome chaos and disorder
Soma
Vedic deity
Soma: Vedic ritual drink (hallucinogenic, Altered State of Consciousness)
Priest: commune with God
Rig Veda: Soma becomes god
Upanishads
Also known as Vedanta ("end of the Vedas")
Esoteric/mystical texts (early philosophical speculation)
DIscuss the nature of reality
The first exploration of rebirth and reincarnation
Self-realization, yoga, meditation- search for the eternal: sanatana dharma
In the Upanishads we find the fundamental teachings that are central to hinduism
Upanishad= "sitting at the feet of"
Getting wisdom and guidance from spiritual guru who has recognized the spiritual truths of the universe. It points to a period in time when groups of pupils sat near the teacher and learned from the secret teachings in the quietude of forest 'ashrams' or hermitages.
guru
They are the spiritual teachers of the Upanishads who teach their pupils the fundamental truths of the universe.
atman
The individual self
Immoral perfect Spirit of any living creature or being; it is one's true self (hence generally translated into English as 'Self' or 'Soul')
Brahman
The universal spirit, the Absolute reality or universal substrate in HInduism
It is said to be eternal, omnipotent, omnipresent ad ultimately indescribable in human language
Upanishads proclaim Brahman to be the reality behind everything in this universe. Brahman is regarded as the source and essence of the material universe
Described as infinite Being, infinite Consciousness, and infinite Bliss. Brahman is the the absolute infinite existence, the sum total of all there ever is, was, or shall be.
moksha
Liberation from rebirth
Permanent Bliss
State of Full-awareness
joining/yoking your soul (artman) with Brahman
reincarnation
"In the flesh again"
Emerges in the early Upanishads (c. 800 B.C.E)
samsara
Stuck in a cycle of rebirths and existence characterized by suffering
Cycle of rebirths
Suffering and change
State of ignorance
karma
Action leads to reaction (dictates the form and circumstances of your rebirth)
What about unintentional actions? Karma= actions motivated by desire
dharma
Governs all stages of life
Social morality, obligations, and duties to family, caste, society, and religion
Path of righteousness
Trimurti: The Hindu "Trinity"
Hindu Trinity (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva)
Tridevi
Triple Goddess - Lakshmi, Parvati, Saraswati
bhakti
"Devotion"

Devotional Hinduism

Shift from "self-help" (Upanishads) to "other help"

Moksha becomes a product not of self-effort but of "other power"

You can get moksha through the mercy and grace of your chosen god (ishta-devata)

Most popular Hindu path to the divine

"Today there are a few million renouncers in India, but there are close to a billion practitioners of bhakti yoga."

Hinduism today is a way of devotion." (Prothero, p. 153)

Puja is the central ritual practice
puja
Puja means worship. It generally involves flowers and fruits, and frequently flame, as in an oil lamp. It may also involve bathing and dressing an image (murti).Bathing may use milk, honey, ghee, and other sacred substances.
"The power or essence of the deity is believed to be in the murti, either temporarily, as for some festivals, or permanently, as in the case of some temple images that are treated as the deities themselves, with the god thought to reside inside the statue."
Puja can take place at home, or publically in a temple.
After bathing and dressing, the image (murti) is ready for darshan
arati / arathi
Flame ritual during Puja
darshan
Darshan (seeing or viewing) then occurs in which the worshipper sees the deity and is seen by the deity.
Darshan could be translated "to see with reverence and devotion," but it also means to be seen.
Darshan also applies to seeing and being blessed by a holy person (guru).
The desire to get prashad and have darshan are the two major motivations of pilgrimage and temple visits.
murti / murthi
The image of a deity, whether three-dimensional (as in a statue) or two-dimensional (as in a picture or poster).
Draws the mind of the devotees to the gods themselves
prashad / prasad
Prashad (gift or grace) is the portion of the consecrated offering returned to the worshipper (usually food).
It is believed to contain the deity's blessing within it and it is eaten, taking the blessing (food) of the god into one's own body.
The desire to get prashad and have darshan are the two major motivations of pilgrimage and temple visits.
Caste system
Social order
Order and regularity of the world → manifestation of God's will and intent
Dictated almost every aspect of Hindu religious and social life, with each group occupying a specific place in hierarchy
Determines your status, vocation, duty - or Dharma -
Had religious backing in the vedas
Brahmins
"Priests"
Only ones who know the vedas
Part of twice borns
Teaches vedas to others
Kshatriyas
"Warriors"
Protect and keep civil order
has constant practice in arms
Protects the world
Part of the twice born
Vaishyas
"Merchants"
Tends cattle
Engages in farming, keeps cows, trades, lends money at interest, & grows seeds.
Part of twice borns
Shudras
"Laborers"
Servants
Serves the twice borns.
Dalits ("Untouchables")
Absolute bottom of the caste system
Oppressed
Outside of caste system
Considered so low, you shouldn't touch them
"twice-born"
So high up they've had two births
1. Physical birth
2. Spiritual birth
Four Stages of Life
student, householder, forest dweller, renouncer (sannyasin)

The life of a Hindu male is traditionally divided into four stages of time.
Shudras, Dalits, and women of all four classes rarely follow these stages...
Most Hindu males do not go through the four stages; many never advance beyond the second
Student stage
Male taught by family elders or a guru
Highly disciplined; respect for teacher
Celibate
Traditionally this stage would last for 20 years or more; today: 12 -15 years (except for those who pursue higher education in a university)
Householder stage
Hindu male must marry and raise a family
Often an arranged marriage (by parents)
Can marry 1 caste lower
On average, man: 23 yrs. old, woman: 18 yrs. old
During this stage, a man works at a profession or trade appropriate to his caste.
Forest-dweller/Retirement stage
When a man's children have grown up, when he sees signs of aging such as gray hair and wrinkles, his duty as a householder can end." (Van Voorst, 81)
The man is expected to retire from his job, his social and familial responsibilities, and much of his wealth and possessions.
Renouncer stage (Sannyasa) (Sannyasin = a renouncer)
"... when a Hindu renounces the world and his previous life completely" (Van Voorst, 82).
Does not necessarily follow the 3rd/Retirement stage; a man can pursue this stage straight from the Householder stage.
"All cares and pleasures of life are abandoned, and his concentration is devoted to achieving moksha before he dies" (Van Voorst, 82).
Goal: pursuit of ultimate liberation (Moksha).
Four Goals of Life
Dharma
Governs all stages of life
Social morality, obligations and duties (to family, to caste, to society, to religion)
Path of righteousness

Artha
Material success and prosperity
Goal: Become as prosperous as possible while observing the bounds of proper Dharma.
"Arthaties into the world-affirming side of Hindu tradition, and it makes Hinduism one of the few religions in the world to make financial prosperity an important religious goal." (Van Voorst, 82)

Kama (Pleasure)
Aesthetic pleasure of both mind and body
World-affirming; restricted to the householder stage
Kama is a comprehensive term for all types of pleasures: spiritual, intellectual, artistic and physical
Kama Sutra: Scripture on Pleasure (often seen as a sex manual, but more than that...)
"Hinduism is unique in teaching that the pursuit of pleasure is a valid and important religious goal." (Van Voorst, 84)

Moksha
"Release" from the cycle of samsara
Ultimate liberation
Dharma is more important than Artha and Kama; Every goal is rooted in Dharma
yoga
Definition: to yolk or ignite

four paths: jnana, raja, karma, bhakti

Which path would you follow and why???
Raja Yoga
The "Royal" Discipline
The path of meditation
The science of controlling body and mind
Asanas(body postures) and pranayamas(breathing exercises) are an integral part of this yoga path
The main practice of Raja Yoga is silent meditation
The ultimate goal of yogic meditation is samadhi: a super-conscious state of union with the Absolute
Pantajali (8 Limbs of Yoga)
1.Ethical Discipline (self-control in relation to the outer world)
2.Self-Discipline (inner control)
3.Posture
4.Practice of Breath-Control
5.Withdrawal of the Senses (the internalization of consciousness)
6.Practice of Concentration
7.Attainment of Meditative Absorption
8.Unitive Awareness (Samadhi)
Jnana Yoga
The path of knowledge, wisdom, introspection and contemplation
It involves deep exploration of the nature of one's being by systematically exploring and setting aside false identities.
Jnana yoga is the wisdom associated with discerning the Real from the unreal or illusory.
Is the yoga of wisdom or knowledge and is most suitable for intellectual people.
Ignorance = root of all problems
Karma Yoga
Selfless
Path of action & service to others
Karma yoga is service rendered without any interest in its fruits or results and without any personal sense of giving.
The yogi knows that the Absolute performs all actions, and all actions are gifts to the Absolute.
This consciousness leads to liberation from the self in the very midst of work.
Bhakti Yoga
Path of love and devotion
Relies only on devotion to a chosen deity
Bhakti Yoga is the yoga of devotion and is most suitable for people who are emotional by nature.
Through prayer, worship and ritual, one comes to see the Divine as the embodiment of love.
Kirtans & puja; poetry & hymns
Hindu critique of Western yoga
Is it cultural appropriation????
"Yoga, a spiritual practice with Hindu roots, has since been distorted into something more palatable for white audiences - a way to exercise and connect with one's spirituality. Whether marketed as an exercise class or a way to connect with your spiritual self, the commodification of yoga in a way that is entirely dismissive or ignorant of its roots or connections to an existing religion is appropriation as its worst."
"Generally speaking, popular yoga practice in the West has emphasized physical postures and perhaps breath-control techniques, but tends to ignore the ethical and ascetic dimensions of yoga practice."
"The widespread popularity of yoga in the West is largely linked to its secularization (that is the separation of the practice of yoga from its religio-philosophical rationale)."
In an article entitled, "Yoga and the Roots of Cultural Appropriation," a Michigan State University professor of Religious Studies recently claimed that "Yoga in the West is a continuation of white supremacy and colonialism".
Film: "Hinduism: 330 Million Gods"
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Film: "Who Owns Yoga?"
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