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Hinduism a presentation by Ina & Felix. Main Facts. one of the world‘s main religions about 850 million followers spread over India and a few more states like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia and Fidschi. History.
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Main Facts • one of the world‘s main religions • about 850 million followers • spread over India and a few more states like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia and Fidschi
History • Hinduism is mixture of traditional natural religions and the religion of the Arians who came from the North • earliest proofs of Hinduism from about 5000 before Christ • first sacred texts, the Vedas, were composed at about 2000 before Christ • Hinduism was influenced by Buddhism and Jainism
History (II) • Around Christ’s birth Hinduism had lost many members and was nearly gone • Conflict with the Islam from the eights century until about 1700 • New ideas and renovation after contact with western culture
What is Hinduism ? • many different points of view -> many different gods (about 3 million) • no „founder“ (like Jesus for Christianity) • no institution with authority • main ideas: reincarnation and caste system • target: „climb up“ the caste system and finally escape the circle of rebirth
Influence on Society • caste system structures society • castes are divided into thousands of different „family groups“ or social communities • to be born in a certain caste sometimes means having a certain job • although the caste system is banned from constitution, people still have different rights and duties
Role of Women • very controversial views • H.H. Wilson (19th century): in Hinduism women are more respected than in other religions • some rites are forbidden for women • ideal woman: loving and caring mother and wife • rate of „love marriages“ (instead of arranged Marriages) rises • -> uncertainty of the role of women in India
references: www.wikipedia.de/Hinduismus www.kirchenaustritt.de/hinduismus www.der-hinduismus.de Thanks for listening!