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Hinduism: Wisdom and Way
Discussion and Review Questions
The Scriptures
- Why are the Vedas regarded as authoritative?
- What is the significance of the Upanishads?
- How is the Hindu argument for the authority of the Vedas similar to or different from the one made for the scriptures of other religions?
God
- Why do Hindus believe that God created the universe out of Godself?
- Where does the universe exist after its creation?
- What is the significance of the Hindu teaching that God exists equally in all beings?
- Is Hinduism pantheistic? Give reasons for your view.
- Are there any similarities between the Hindu teaching about the avatara and the Christian doctrine of the incarnation? How do these differ?
- Why is AUM an appropriate name for God?
One God, Many Names and Forms
- What is polytheism? Is Hinduism polythesistic? Give reasons for your answer.
- How can we account for the variety of names and forms used for God in Hinduism?
- Can the doctrine of the ishtadeva help us to understand religious pluralism in today's world?
The Purpose of Icons
- What is a murti ?
- What purposes do murtis serve in Hinduism?
- Are murti - like objects present in other religions? What purposes do these serve?
The Meaning of Worship
- What is the relationship between puja and the tradition of Indian hospitality?
- What is the significance of the murti in a puja ritual?
- Does the use of a murti in worship constitute idolatry? Give reasons.
- How is the puja ritual similar to or different from the worship practices of other
religions?
The Law of Karma
- What does the word karma mean? Why are all actions not considered karma?
- What is the relationship between a particular action and its result?
- Why are the results of actions not always immediate?
- Is karma similar to predestination?
Reincarnation
- How does Krishna's example of a change of clothing help us to understand better the process and meaning of re-birth?
- What is the relationship between samsara and karma ?
- Are all experiences in the present influenced by choices made in the past?
- Clarify the Hindu understanding of the relationship between God and the law of karma?
- What is the justification for compassion towards others? How can we reconcile this belief in the doctrine of karma ?
Liberation
- Is there an end to the cycle of birth, death and rebirth?
- How does the understanding of the true you (atman) result in liberation (moksha)?
- Is the Hindu argument for happiness as the nature of the atman persuasive?
- What does moksha free us from? What do we gain by attaining moksha?
- What is the nature of avidya and why is it problematic?
The Cardinal Virtues
- What is the justification for dharma?
- What, according to Gandhi, are the two sides of ahimsa?
- Why is good intention significant in truth-speaking?
- Do the cardinal virtues of Hinduism overlap with those of other religions?
The Five Duties
- Why is the fulfillment of duty or obligation emphasized in Hinduism?
- Do we need a declaration of human obligations to complement the emphasis on human rights?
- Are there other obligations which should be added to the five which are specified in
Hinduism?
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