SOC 101 Lecture 57: Hinduism

• School: University of Alabama
• Department: SOC
• Course: SOC 101
• Professor: Chenoia Bryant

Document Summary

The four major religions of the far east are hinduism, buddhism, Hinduism, a polytheistic religion and perhaps the oldest of the great world religions, dates back about 6,000 years. Hinduism comprises so many different beliefs and rituals that some sociologists have suggested thinking of it as a grouping of interrelated religions. Hinduism teaches the concept of reincarnation the belief that all living organisms continue eternally in cycles of birth, death, and rebirth. Similarly, hinduism teaches the caste system, in which a person"s previous incarnations determine that person"s hierarchical position in this life. Each caste comes with its own set of responsibilities and duties, and how well a person executes these tasks in the current life determines that person"s position in the next incarnation. Hindus acknowledge the existence of both male and female gods, but they believe that the ultimate divine energy exists beyond these descriptions and categories. The divine soul is present and active in all living things.