Essential Question: Do belief systems unite or divide people?
Beliefs of
Hinduism (76)
Many Gods
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No single founder
One of most complex religions
Starts in India
Polytheistic
Examples of Gods:
 Brahma-the Creator
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Sacred Texts
(77)
Goal of life
Karma and
Dharma
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Vishnu-the Preserver; Shiva—the destroyer
Vedas and Upanishads (Bhagavad-Gita)
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Atman=essential self, another name for brahman
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Moksha=union with Brahman (ultimate goal of Hinduism
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Reincarnation= rebirth of the soul into another bodily form, allows people to work
towards moksha
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Karma=actions of a person’s life that affect his or her fate in the next life (what
goes around comes around)
Dharma=religious and moral duties
o Duties are based on:
 Class, occupation
 Gender, age
Complex Caste
System (86)
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Ahisma= non-violence
o All things and people are part of Brahman so they should be respected
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Aryans divided society into 4 classes based on occupation
Non-Aryans were outcasts
Many Castes
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Many castes and subcastes evolve over time (hundreds of castes and thousands of
subcastes)
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Caste is based on spiritual purity (how close someone is to achieving moksha)
o Determined by your Karma
Caste rules govern every aspect of life (how people eat, dress, earn a living)
Can’t marry outside your caste or eat with people from a different caste
High castes must protect themselves from “polluted” lowers caste members
Untouchables-lowest caste (outcasts)
o Harsh life
o Only allowed to do “impure” jobs such as digging graves and cleaning
streets
o Forced to live apart and avoid contact with higher castes
o Had to make noise so others new they were coming
Complex Rules
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Effects (87)
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Inequality
Creates stable social order
Can only change your caste through reincarnation
Gave people a sense of identity and interdependence (jobs, leaders)
o Each caste has a special role in society
o Castes depend on each other for their needs
Caste system adapts to changing conditions (absorbs foreigners and new
occupations)
Essential Question:
 How does Hinduism unite people?
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How does Hinduism divide people?