Hinduism and Christianity

1. The Hindu Concept of God
• There a many different schools of thought in Hinduism: Monotheism, Polytheism, Pantheism, Atheism
• The soul (Atman) is eternal
• For many Hindus, Atman is Braman and Braman is Atman (God and the soul are the same)
• Others see God as a supreme being separate from the soul and worship him as Vishnu, Brama, Shiva or Shakti

2. Devas and Avatars
• Heavenly beings or gods are very integral to Hindu culture
• Most Hindus distinguish devas from their Ishvara, their concept of a personal supreme God
• There are stories of God descending to earth in bodily form, called an avatar, to restore dharma (ethics) in society and guide men to moksha (liberation from the cycle of rebirth)

3. Karma and Samsara
• Karma means action, work or deed, and can be called the moral law of cause and effect
• Samsara is the cycle of action, reaction, birth, death, and rebirth
• Moksha is the liberation from samsara, the letting go of ephemeral pleasure for eternal happiness and peace (nirvana)
• One’s atman (soul) then achieves union with Brahman (the cosmic spirit)

4. The Hindu Concept of the Goal of Life
• Classical Hindu thought accepts two main life-long dharmas: Grihastha Dharma and Sannyasin Dharma
• The Grihastha Dharma recognize four goals known as the purusharthas. They are:
1. Kama: Sensual pleasure and enjoyment
2. Artha: Material prosperity and success
3. Dharma: Correct action, in accordance with one's particular duty and scriptural laws
4. Moksha: Liberation from the cycle of samsara
• The Sannyasin Dharma recognizes, but renounces Kama, Artha and Dharma, focusing entirely on Moksha

5. Yoga
• The methods one chooses to achieve the goal of life are called Yogas, and a person can follow more than one Yoga
• A teacher of one of these methods is called a Yogi
• Paths one can follow to achieve the spiritual goal of life (moksha, samadhi, or nirvana) include:
1. Bhakti Yoga (the path of love and devotion),
2. Karma Yoga (the path of right action),
3. Raja Yoga (the path of meditation) and
4. Jnana Yoga (the path of wisdom)

6. Hindu Scriptures
• Shruti (lit: that which is heard) refers to the Vedas which form the earliest record of the Hindu scriptures (There are four Vedas: Rigveda, Samaveda Yajusveda and Atharvaveda)
• All other Hindu texts are called the Smritis (memory) and include the Mahabharata, Puranas, and the Ramayana
• The Bhagavad Gita is an integral part of the Mahabharata and one of the most popular sacred texts of Hinduism

7. Hindu Practices, Rituals, Pilgrimages and Festivals
• Hindus can engage in puja (worship or veneration), either at home or at a temple
• Hindus perform their worship through icons (murtis) which serve as a tangible link between the worshiper and God
• Mantras are invocations, praise and prayers that through their meaning, sound, and chanting style help a devotee focus the mind on holy thoughts or express devotion to God

8. Hinduism and Christianity
• Realize that Hiinduism is rooted deeply in the culture so that religion and culture often cannot be separated
• Always look for common ground upon which to build bridges
• Don’t attack but seek to clearly present Christ in a way that is clearly understood and not misunderstood
• Be careful when using the phrase “born again” since it means something entirely different to a Hindu