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With a table partner, discuss the above
question— create a 3 column chart on your
paper: on one side put your name, on the other
side, place your partners name, leave the
middle blank (for Now)
Record findings by being your partners Scribewrite down the answers you hear as they say
them, as closely as possible- WITHOUT
CLARIFICATION OR Q’s!!!
Switch Roles, and become the Scribe for your
partner. Follow the same rules- force Thought!
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In the center column, find concepts you both
agree with about the central question, and rewrite them concisely- Highlight
AGREEMENTS in Yellow.
For DISAGREEMENTS, follow the same
procedure, but highlight in a different color.
Discussion to follow-
Formed
c. 2000 B.C.E.
Origin
India
Followers
1,000,000,000
Deity
Polytheistic
Sacred Texts
Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Epics
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Non-evangelical (along with Judaism)
Hinduism: collective term applied to the many
philosophical and religious traditions native to
India.
Hindu worldview: in the doctrines of samsara
(the cycle of rebirth) and karma (the universal
law of cause and effect), and fundamentally
holds that one's actions (including one's
thoughts) directly determine one's life, both
one's current life and one's future lives.
Q: what if this is true? Discussion--
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Deity: Many Hindus recognize a vast diversity
of gods and goddesses; others believe in a
Hindu "trinity" (trimurti): Brahman, Vishnu,
Shiva; yet others claim an essential
monotheism, believing that all the gods are
manifestations of one.
Q: Discuss the concept of ‘Trinity’ (three
concepts or ideas that hold One central
philosophy together)- Is this concept familiar?
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Dharma is one of the most complex terms in all
of Hinduism:
 dharma fundamentally underlies conceptions
of morality and ethics in Hinduism.
 it creates guidelines for religion, law, duty,
order, education, proper conduct, morality,
righteousness, justice,
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the vision for society articulated within
Hinduism is that it should be ordered, aks,
dharmic.
The most dominant way this order is created is
through the caste system.
Discuss the Caste System (as understood by
Hinduism)
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Q: Does a ‘caste system’ exist today in modern
America?
Formed
c. 5th century B.C.E.
Origin
India
Followers
350,000,000
Deity
None / pantheon of deities
Sacred Texts
Pali Tipitika, Mahayana, Vajrayana Canons
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Evangelical (in common with Islam and
Christianity)
Siddhartha Gautama -typically referred to as
the Buddha (the "Awakened" or "Enlightened
One"). Siddhartha observed the suffering in the
world and set out to find an antidote.
Through meditation and analysis, he attained
an enlightened state of being that marked the
end of attachments (and therefore suffering),
and ultimately, upon his death, release from
the cycle of rebirth (samsara).
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Four Noble Truths:
1) human life is full of suffering;
2) suffering stems from cravings for pleasure
and avoidance of pain;
 3) suffering can be eradicated;
 4) the path of freedom from suffering is the
path of enlightenment
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Q: Partners Discuss the “Noble Truths”: Scribes take note of
partners Answers—(switch off)
What do you agree with? What do you not agree with? Why?
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Ethical guidelines:
not to take human life,
 not to lie,
 not to steal,
 not to use intoxicants,
 not to engage in illicit sexual behavior
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Q: Does this sound familiar? If so, from where?
Do you think that Ethical Guidelines are universally
accepted? Why or why not? Any current examples?