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What is the importance of religion
Reflection about hinduism
How important religion is
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Hinduism, what comes to mind when seeing or hearing this word? I know I just lost about half the audience by starting with religion! Who really wants to talk or in this case read about any religion? People are going to decide for themselves who or what they want to worship or not worship, how is it any of my business to tell them anything different. Okay I may have just lost the remaining percentage of people who do wish to read about religion, but nonetheless hopefully I will be able to please both audiences. For the things that are known for certain in this world are relatively limited and I am not an expert on any religion or really on any topic for that matter. So when asking for a feeling or emotion that may come to mind when one observes the letters strung in a order as follows, HINDU. I am in no way trying to convert someone to Hinduism or in the reverse trying to encourage people to leave or abandon their Hindu beliefs.
Personally a singular word that came to my mind less than a year ago when seeing this H word that I keep referring to was, outcast. I grew up in an area that is dominantly populated with white middle to lower class God fearing Christians. Therefore, was exposed to a limited amount of cultural diversity, but I did not see my self as one who looked down upon anyone due to their skin color or beliefs. I may have biases but did not feel that I was in any way racist. As I mentioned above this was about a year ago, before having the wonderful opportunity to be pushed out of the, plane white, nest into this colorful place that can be described with many adjectives but known as college.
Wow talk about culture shock, I had no idea what to think. For those who came from similar backgrounds you may understand w...
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...e Hindu culture.
Works Cited
Bhardwaj, Surinder M., and Madhusudana N. Rao. "The Temple as a Symbol of Hindu Identity in America?." Journal of Cultural Geography 17.2 (1998): 125. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 28 Mar. 2011.
Chekki, Dan A. "Family Values and Family Change." Journal of Comparative Family Studies 27.2 (1996): 409-413. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 1 Apr. 2011.
Das, Subhmoy. "Hinduism." How Do You Define Hinduism: The Basics of Hinduism. About.com, 9 May 2007. Web. 1 Apr. 2011. .
Guthrie, Stan. "Hinduism gains a foothold in America." Christianity Today 37.2 (1993): 48. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 28 Mar. 2011.
Sharma, Arvind. "What is Hinduism? A Sociological Approach." Social Compass 33.2/3 (1986): 177-183. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 1 Apr. 2011.
There appears to be widespread agreement that family and home life have been changing dramatically over the last 40 years or so. According to Talcott Parsons, the change in family structure is due to industrialization. The concept that had emerged is a new version of the domestic ideal that encapsulates changed expectations of family relations and housing conditions. The family life in the postwar period was highly affected. The concept of companionate marriage emerged in the post war era just to build a better life and build a future in which marriage would be the foundation of better life. Equality of sexes came into being after...
I plan to write about the St. Thomas India Catholic Mission Detroit Inauguration Program from Aug. 5, 1995. I am interested in the adoption of Catholicism within the Indian community and whether it was done as a result of assimilation within the United States or as the result of mission work in India. Thus, I would like to address the role that Catholicism, and maybe Christianity in general, plays in South Asian American history and in the lives of South Asian Americans by contextualizing the program this way. I would also like to address the content of the program that it outlines, specifically, its cultural program and how the mission chooses to fuse Catholic and Indian tradition and what that fusion suggests for South Asian Americans and
The first understanding of India arrived in America through commercial and missionary activity. The finding of America itself was a mistake, as explorers were searching for a shorter route to India. At the time India was known for its great wealth, kingdoms and exotic mysteries (Charles Lippy & Peter Williams). Based on religious perspective India was thought to have an “ancient wisdom”, which rest upon a philosophy with the oldest religious scriptures. Prior to the twentieth century Americans knew little about Hinduism, therefore conceived it as inferior, pagan, and probably idolatrous (Charles Lippy & Peter Williams). Sadly this will not be the first of or last time America will have made quick and inaccurate decision on a diverse world religion. Even though Hinduism may have had difficulty establishing itself earlier in America, it has grown exponentially over the years.
Other than a religion, Hinduism is a way of life through philosophy that is mostly concerned with spirituality and enlightenment. The impracticality of the Hindu religion comes from the Vedas. Vedas are the oldest scriptures in the Hindu religion that are considered to be a straight ...
The English word religion loosely translates into “rules” in Latin. Therefore, a religion teaches us how to think, how to act, and basically everything except what to eat in the morning. The Hindu and Christian religion agree on many things and our society follows some of the rules too because religion and laws are based on humanity. From holy literature many different ideas have been pawned but they are all supposed to lead you to the same things: a happy, healthy life, contribution to the world around us, and some kind of liberation after death. Concerning these ideals the Hindu religion has come up with three ways to make sure that everybody will get what they want out of life and those are the four stages, the four goals, and the four castes of life. There is so much holy war about which religion is right and wrong but if they all are striving for the same thing it is hard for me to see why they take place. In this essay I will show that Christianity is very similar to Hinduism.
Perterson, L.K., & Cullen, Cheryl. 2000. “Hindu symbolism and colour meanings dominate Indian culture and society,” in Global Graphics: Gloucester, Massachusetts:Rockpoint Publishers, pp.175-176.
Families.” University of Delaware – Human Development and Family Studies. N.p., 2008. 1-36. Web. 13 Dec. 2013.
Several changes have occurred since the 1920s in traditional family values and the family life. Research revealed several different findings among family values, the way things were done and are now done, and the different kinds of old and new world struggles.
Ed Christopher Vecsey. NewYork: Syracuse University Press, 1981. - - - . Native Religions of North America: The Power of Visions and Fertility. New York: Harper & Row, 1987.
Hinduism is unlike many other religions in that it does not have a single founder or text, but is more like an umbrella in ways of life. In death and life for the Hindu, “The ultimate goal of the soul is liberation from the wheel of rebirth, through reabsorption into our identity with the Oversoul (Brahma)-- the essence of the universe, immaterial, uncreated, limitless, and timeless” (Leming & Dickinson, 2011, p. 134).
The Hinduism is believed to be one of the oldest religions and the third biggest religion in the world. The Hinduism can be a very confusing religion. They believe that there are many different Gods. They have their own theory on their Hinduism religions. They like to be called Hindu for short.
Starting at the core of India, its heart can be correlated with Hinduism. Hinduism started in Indian approximately the third millennium BC and is still practiced in the present day. Also, as it is of Indian origin, its rightful place can be considered the heart of India. It can be said that Hinduism is substantially “outdated” by today’s standards as formidable religion of Indian majority. During the period of the caste social structure within India it was en excellent fit. But this ensures its position of the heart of India by being fundamental to the development of ancient India and forming modern India.
Religion is the ideal concept that separates human kind from the rest of the animal kingdom through social responsibility and morality. It encompasses an institutionalized set of beliefs and attitudes that are formed and practised over generations. The social responsibility aspect of religion is what creates the foundation of laws and social structure for a society to evolve over time. The morality gives a path for guidance to accept friendship, love family and respect the rights of others in order to co-exist in this world today. Religious practises give us a direction on how to treat our neighbours, and live our daily lives. The most important concept that religion creates is equality among everyone whether rich, poor young or old. Religion in the United States includes a wide diversity of beliefs and practises. A majority of Americans report religion as a “very important” aspect in their daily lives (Eck, pg 432). Religious freedom is highly valued in America, yet is not guaranteed to everyone. The history of America showcases the true ignorance towards religion displayed by the same people who claim to practise it daily. This essay will examine several works that showcase the perceptions of Native Americans and the prejudice displayed towards them that is deeply rooted from the American culture and local religious churches. The themes of religion and discrimination are displayed in the works of famous historical writers, Lydia Sigourney and William Apess. Sigourney and Apess are both Native American writers whose work shed light on the hypocrisy displayed by the religious society of America towards the religions of others. Also the documentary, In the Light of Reverence will be discussed to explore the arising conflicts over...
Huyler, Stephen P. Meeting God: Elements of Hindu Devotion. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1999.
Today, Hinduism stands as India’s primary religion. In fact, India houses 90% of the world’s Hindi population and 79.8% of India’s population follows the Hindu religion, according to the 2011 census. It is thought by some to be the oldest religion in the world and the “eternal law” (Fowler). This culture is truly one as defined by Edward Taylor: “A complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, law, morals, customs, and any other capability and habit acquired by man as a member of society.” In order to have somewhat of an understanding about what the Hindu religion entails, one must study the Hindu conception of God, its basic concepts and key beliefs, as well as symbolism.