Introduction

While almost all who are taking this course come from a Christian tradition, remember that over half of the world’s population today are part of religions not connected to Christianity. Learning about these religions is not about becoming a follower but about trying to see from a different worldview in order to understand people who have that worldview. Hinduism and Buddhism are examples of human creativity and of the dangerous mixing of error with truth. For example, humans experience pain, often because of sin, but the solution to their suffering does not come about by doing good works. Scripture teaches us that we cannot become good merely by doing good. Hinduism and Buddhism appeal to human pride by saying that we can rescue ourselves.

Objectives

After completing this lesson, you will be able to

identify the beginnings and key principles of Hinduism.
explain how Buddhism developed from Hinduism and altered Hindu principles.
outline the changes over time in Hinduism and Buddhism.

Key Questions

Why did the Indus valley civilization decline?
How did the Aryan people change as they moved into the Indus valley?
How does geography help us understand the development of India?
How are Hinduism and Buddhism connected?

Key Terms

Aryan migration
Rig Veda (Vedic hymns)
caste
brahmans—vaishyas—shudras
jatis
Ramayana
Mahabharata
Shiva and Vishnu
Sanskrit
(karma and reincarnation)
dharma
Upanishads
Jainism
Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama
nirvana
Four Noble Truths
Eight-fold Path

Reading

Read the following:

Roberts & Westad, pp. 116-24
Kindle location: 1187-2573 (Start: “Nor do we know…”)
An article by Alan Peto that includes two helpful infographics: https://alanpeto.com/buddhism/buddhism-quick-intro/

Hinduism

Buddhism