What do Hindus believe? How do they see the world? What do Christians and Hindus have in common, and what are the major differences?

1. World Religions
The Gospel and Friendship in a Pluralistic Suburb

2. What Do You Know?
How long have you been
1. at Beavercreek Nazarene?
Do you have any personal experience
2. with Hinduism?
3. What do you know about Hinduism?
What questions do you have
4. about Hinduism?

3. Our “Mars Hill” Methodology
• A basic introduction to the faith’s worldview
1.
• Areas of agreement between that faith and
2. Orthodox Christian theology and practice
• Areas of disagreement between that faith
3. and Orthodox Christian theology and practice
GOAL: To equip you to build a truth-seeking
relationship with someone of another faith.

4. Hinduism
Beyond Karma and Cows

5. A Brief History of Hinduism
Really a history of India
• No founder
• Many influences
• Difficult to identify

6. A Brief History of Hinduism
The Vedas – Pre-1500 BC
The Upanishads - 500 BC
- Aryan migration into The Bhagavad Gita – 200
the Indus Valley BC-AD 200
- Collection of about 100
- Proto-Greek pantheon works with 12 key texts
- Modern Hinduism in 2
- Vedas are sacred rituals - Movement toward a
½ hours
& chants sort of monotheism
- Part of an epic poem
- Rig Veda is most - Spiritual disciplines
important. connect worshipers to - Features Krishna, an
God avatar of Vishnu
- Duty in life is the path
to enlightenment.

7. The Hindu Worldview
Maya
Re-
incarnation Samsara
Brahman
Karma Atman

8. The Hindu Worldview: Brahman and Maya
Maya
Re-
incarnation Samsara
Brahman
Brahman
• The Ocean of Divine Reality
Karma Atman Maya
• Reality is Impermanence

9. The Hindu Worldview: Samsara
Maya
Re-
incarnation Samsara
Brahman
Karma Atman

10. The Hindu Worldview: Atman
Maya
Atman
Re-
incarnation Samsara
Brahman
Karma Atman
•Our true “self”
•Eternally changing

11. The Hindu Worldview: Karma & Reincarnation
Maya
Karma
Re-
Samsara
incarnation
• Moral consequence of action
Brahman
• Determines direction of rebirth
Karma Atman
Reincarnation
• Our Atman is constantly reborn

12. The Hindu Worldview: Moksha
Maya
Re-
Samsara
incarnation
Brahman
Moksha
• Escape from Samsara
Karma Atman
and reunification
with Brahman

13. Dharma: The Path to Enlightenment
Renunciation
Retiree
Householder
Student

14. Yoga: The Paths to Enlightenment
Devotion/
Study Karma Meditation Yoga
Bhakti

15. Bhakti: The Gods of Hinduism
Brahma Vishnu Shiva
• Creator • Preserver/Sustainer • Destroyer/Recreator
• Not very popular • Most popular • A natural part of
Brahma Samsara
• Visits earth as an
Avatar
Brahman
Shiva Vishnu

16. Building Bridges to Hinduism
Devotion to God
God’s Immanence
The Danger of the Material World
Spiritual Practices are a path to God
Grace: Only God can release us from suffering

17. Hindus and Christians Both Value
A relationship with God
Peacemaking as a spiritual practice
Taking care of the natural world
Spiritual practices

18. Where Hinduism and Christianity Disagree
Trinity
• God is three persons in one being
• God is distinct from creation
• God is always unified
Brahman
• All gods are one essence
• Gods’ essence is identical to creation
• The “Big 3” are Modalism

19. Where Hinduism and Christianity Disagree
Creation
• Good gifts from God
• Point back to God
• Creation is God’s final plan
Maya
• Creation is fundamentally impermanent
• Gets in the way of God
• Will ultimately be reabsorbed

20. Where Hinduism and Christianity Disagree
Grace
• XXX
• XXX
Karma
• XXX
• XXX

21. Where Hinduism and Christianity Disagree
Just In
repeats Hinduism
Some-
Christians Believe The World Is Going
where
Every-
Time
thing
Is
Cyclical

22. How to be a Perfect Stranger
Not all Indians are Hindu!
You may refuse food at a puja.
Shoes off in the home.
Meals will be vegetarian.
Use your right hand. Always.

23. Got Questions?
• jrforasteros@gmail.com
• @jrforasteros
• facebook.com/jrforasteros
Submit Questions