In Hinduism for Deepening and Dialogue, we will examine the complex of beliefs and practices that constitute “Hinduism,” numerically the world’s third largest religion, and one of the oldest. We will begin with an overview of Hinduism, including the problem of defining what it is. After reviewing its history and sources of authority, we will explore central Hindu concepts (the nature of the divine, the self, and the soul; Krishna and the “avatara” doctrine; concepts of karma and rebirth); Hindu ethics and social structures; and Hindu practices (yoga, meditation, laws, worship, festivals and holy days, diet).

A comparison with Bahá’í views will be threaded throughout. Last, we will examine Hinduism in the modern world, its spread from the place of its birth in the Indian subcontinent, and the growth of the Bahá’í Faith in India. We will be studying for two purposes: deepening in the basics of Hinduism as a divinely ordained religion and its relationship to the Bahá’í Faith and preparing for dialogue and service with adherents of Hinduism.