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Essay on Hinduism
If you go into a library or bookshop with the intention of finding out about Hinduism, to which section do you go? To 'Sociology' for books on the social system of the Hindus? To 'Art and Architecture' to learn about the fabulous temples, carvings, and paintings in which Hindu mythology is depicted? To 'Languages' for books on Sanskrit and other Indian languages? To 'Anthropology' for information about village India, its society and culture? Although you might well find useful sources in all these locations, you would probably go first to the 'Religion' section, because in Western countries Hinduism is considered to be a religious system much like Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism.
Hinduism is western term for the religious beliefs and practices of the vast majority of the people of India. One of the oldest living religions in the world, Hinduism is unique among the world religions in that it had no single founder but grew over a period of 4,000 years in syncretism with the religious and cultural movements of the Indian subcontinent. Hinduism is composed of innumerable sects and has no well-defined ecclesiastical organization.
One of the key issues to be considered in this is the extent to which this is true. Is Hinduism a religion like others, and what are the principal characteristics which define it? What that theme may tell us about the nature of Hinduism, the religious system of the Hindus. For example, the centrality for Hinduism of a collection of religious texts known as Veda and the culture of the brahmins, the caste of ritual specialists, will be discussed. Then, to what extent Hinduism can flourish outside India and whether or not someone can choose to be a Hindu. Is Hinduism a religion for all or only for those born into Hindu families......
