HINDUISM

     We have difficulty in explaining the religion of HINDU, due 
to the innumerable customs, concepts and beliefs that have been 
absorbed, as well as, the numerous branch-off religions that have 
come from HINDU. We will endeavor to qualify our comments due to 
this vast base of thought that Hindu is comprised of.

     The earliest form of Hindu can be referred to as pre-Vedic 
and began about 3,000 years ago. Very little is known of the 
Indians who lived in the pre-Vedic period in the Indus valley of 
Northern India or the Dravidians of the Indian Peninsula. By the 
time of Abraham, these people had developed a civilization 
resembling the Mesopotamians. Their polytheistic religion, a sort 
of proto-Hinduism, was in some ways a form of witchcraft. The 
pre-Vedic Hindus especially worshipped a MOTHER GODDESS and a 
horned god in the posture of a yogi. They offered sacrifices to 
the various gods, but did not maintain any temples.

     The VEDIC period began around B.C. 1500, when a central 
Asian people called the Aryans invaded Northern India and 
eventually took over the Southern Indian area. These light-
skinned conquerors imposed their Vedic civilization and religion 
on the Indians. Vedic religion differed greatly from the 
Dravidian religion - the Aryans worshiped the powers of nature 
rather than images. The most important of their gods were INDRA, 
a god of the atmosphere and stars, VARUNA, a sky god, and AGNI, 
the god of fire. There were many, many other gods, one of which 
was SOMA, the god of the soma plant.

     The Aryans developed an elaborate system of sacrifices which 
later led to the formation of a priesthood (the Brahmins). They 
also absorbed the Dravidian gods and concepts into their 
religion, and this assimilation resulted in a complicated array 
of gods and goddesses.

     The Vedic period was followed by the Upanishadic period, 
about B.C. 600. During this time Hinduism began dividing, into 
the popular religion of the masses and a more philosophical 
religion. The Upanishads were sacred books which reinterpreted 
the Vedic religion and boiled all gods down into a single 
principle or absolute universal soul. This monistic or 
pantheistic viewpoint held that the universe is God, and God is 
the universe. The impersonal universal soul was called Brahman, 
and this form of Hinduism was called Brahmanism.

     During the Upanishadic period, the Hindu concept of 
salvation shifted from an emphasis on fulfillment and on life to 
an emphasis on release and escape from life. Life on earth began 
to be viewed quite pessimistically as the doctrines of KARMA and 
SAMASARA grew.

     The law of karma was a moral law of cause and effect, which 
COULD NOT BE VIOLATED! It was called "the law of the deed" and 
one could build either good or evil karma depending on his or her 
deeds.

     The doctrine of SAMASARA - transmigration-taught that all 
life goes through and endless succession of rebirths. EVERY 
living thing is on the wheel of life, and each new rebirth 
depends upon the karma built up in its past lives. Salvation is 
defined as the "breaking away from this wheel" could be achieved 
by philosophical speculation on the words of the sages and by 
meditation. Release and liberation from the wheel of life (moksha 
or mukti) would finally come when one realized his individual 
soul (the ATMAN) was identical with the universal soul (Brahman).

     Hinduism was now so philosophical in theory and so corrupt 
and legalistic in practice that reform movements arose within it. 
Two of the most known were BUDDHISM and JAINISM. Another reform 
was a movement back to the worship of a supreme personal God. Not 
that Hinduism became monotheistic; polytheism was never really 
eliminated. Instead, a TRIAD of Hindu gods was often used to 
represent the impersonal and absolute Brahman (neuter). Brahma 
(The masculine form of the word Brahman) was regarded as the 
Creator, VISHNU as the Preserver, and SHIVA as the Destroyer.

     Many Hindus (referred to as VAISHNAVITES) chose to worship 
the god VISHNU and his 10 incarnations. These incarnations, 
called AVATARS, or descendants of God to earth to save the world 
from grave perils were a fish, an amphibian, a boar, a man-lion, 
a dwarf, PARASURAMA, RAMA, KRISHNA, BUDDHA and KALKIN, who is YET 
TO COME... The seventh and eighth incarnations of VISHNU, RAMA 
and KRISHNA, are the most important and are worshiped more than 
VISHNU himself.

     Other Hindus (referred to as SHAIVITES) worship the god 
SHIVA and his wife, who is variously represented as DURGA, KALI, 
SATI, PARVATI, and best known as DEVA. Many of these 
representations are sinister and blood-thirsty. Among the KALI 
worshipers is a cult known as the SHAKTI, which encourages such 
immoral practices as temple prostitution.

     After the time of Christ, philosophical Hinduism was 
dominated by VEDANTIC thought. The VEDANTA, a philosophical hindu 
book based on the earlier Upanishads, teaches that man needs 
liberation, Individuals go through stages of wanting pleasure and 
worldly success. If they mature, their desires may turn to self-
renunciation and moral duty (DHARAMA). But the deepest need, 
whether people recognize it or not, is for liberation (MOKSHA).

     MOKSHA occurs when a person extends his being (SAT), 
awareness (CHIT), and bliss (ANANDA) to an infinite level. Since 
Brahman, the impersonal absolute, is infinite being, awareness, 
and bliss, the only way a man can obtain MOKSHA is to come to the 
realization that his hidden self (ATMAN) is actually the same as 
Brahman. TAT TWAM ASI (used in TM) means "Thou Art That" is the 
term for coming to this realization. Salvation is achieved by 
detachment from the finite self and attachment to reality as a 
whole. This is called NIRVANA or "State of Passionless Peace."

     AS there are MANY teachings as to HOW one reaches this 
state, we will not delve into them. It is sufficient to comment 
that Hinduism created the CASTE system. Originally there were but 
four caste - Brahmins (Priest), Kshatriyas (warriors or rulers), 
Vaisyas (Craftsmen, farmers,artisans), and Sudras (Servants). 
Below these were the "uncaste" or "untouchables." Today, there 
are now over 3,000 subcastes that have been created.

                       BIBLICAL EVALUATION

     In philosophical Hinduism, God is generally an IT, not a 
person as in the Bible.

     In popular Hinduism, there are great multitudes of gods (3 
Million by one count!) and goddesses. This is polytheistic and 
idolatrous according to God's Word.

     Popular Hinduism abounds in immoral practices, 
superstitions, fear and occultism. Demon worship and possession 
are also integral to Popular Hinduism.

     The caste system is rigid, unjust and cruel. There were very 
few attempts to reform this system UNTIL Christianity was 
introduced and began to influence Hinduism.

     There is no recognition of sin and moral guilt. Sin is an 
illusion. In an ultimate sense, man is God. He is therefore not 
separated from God by his sin, as the Bible teaches so clearly, 
and human experience confirms so deeply.

     Hinduism is a system of works. Forgiveness of sins does not 
fit into the picture of KARMA (Law of cause and effect). Each 
person has many lives in which to achieve 'salvation'. There is a 
slow, evolving process toward the highest level. (SATORI)

     Hinduism denies the exclusive claims of Christ and despises 
the Christian teaching that Christ is the ONLY way to God.

     When we REALLY look at this religion, we will come to a 
'realization' that ALL CULTS HAVE THE SAME BASIC FOUNDATION as 
Hinduism! Mormonism, JW, The WAY, etc all have similar heresies 
and false teachings that LOCK a follower into a system that keeps 
the follower from the saving knowledge of JESUS.

     The 'toleration' of faiths in America has given rise to the 
practice by many young people into forms of Hinduism and its 
derivatives, such as TM. Hinduism claims to be tolerant of all 
faiths and believes that "all faiths have truth" and can be 
assimilated into Hinduism.

     Christianity is the ONLY faith and religion that offers a 
REAL solution to the problem of SIN. ONLY the vicarious work of 
JESUS the CHRIST adequately copes with man's sinfulness. 
Hinduism, Christian Science and others only COVER UP sin as being 
an "illusion."

     It is imperative that Christians DEFINE THEIR TERMS, because 
our terminology has TOTALLY different meanings to a HINDU. 
Salvation and other terms just do not mean the same to a Hindu as 
they mean to a Christian. Explain your meanings in clear, concise 
words to avoid this problem. In fact, this is the best way to 
talk to anyone who does not KNOW CHRIST as personal Lord and 
SAVIOUR!

     One other area to witness to is the area of AUTHORITY. Ask a 
Hindu what AUTHORITY he represents (basis of teaching, etc). The 
normal response will be for him to allude to the many Christian 
sects, but the Bible is CONSISTENT and harmonious in its picture 
of God's plan of salvation. The Hindu works all contradict one 
another at some point or another - NO HINDU CAN ASCRIBE TO THE 
HINDU SCRIPTURES CONSISTENTLY BECAUSE OF THE SERIOUS 
CONTRADICTIONS!

     Bring them to Christ. Show them RELEASE and FREEDOM from 
their SINS through the FORGIVENESS of their sins from the payment 
of JESUS CHRIST on the CROSS AT CALVARY. To this end, we pray.