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So get your research tools handy, you might find the Internet extremely helpful this week as has it been in the past, as well as Dr. Martin’s book, "The Kingdom of the Cults", and answer the following questions:

1. How many followers of Hinduism are there today?
   1. ANSWER: 425 million.
2. Where was it founded and when?
   1. ANSWER: Evolved starting around 1500. Doesn’t have a start date, a single god, or a founder. Is actually a compilation of many religious practices and gods into a single religion encompassing all of them.
3. What is a henotheistic religion and how does it differ from a polytheistic religion?
   1. ANSWER: It is a religion which sees a single god with many other gods as subordinate, unlike polytheistic who simply believe in many gods.
4. What is the core fundamental belief of Hinduism?
   1. ANSWER: Reincarnation, transmigration of the soul, continues until enough Karma is earned to break the cycle and become united with the truth (Brahman).
5. What is their position on the Bible, God and Theology?
   1. ANSWER: Complety rejected, yet accepted as they accept all religions as pointing to the same central truths in their religion. “The truth is one, but different sages call it by different names.”
6. What does the word “Hindu” mean?
   1. ANSWER: Origin of the word and its meaning are unclear. Probably something derived from it’s location or the Persian word for India but actual origin and meaning are not really known.
7. What are the Vedas?
   1. ANSWER: Most important of all the Hindu sacred texts. The rig vesa, sama yajr veda and atharva veda. Contains hymns, incantations, and rituals from ancient India.
8. What are the Upanishadas?
   1. ANSWER: A group of primary texts, a continuation of their philosophy written between 800 and 900 B.C. elaborating on how the soul can be united with the ultimate truth through contemplation and mediation.
9. What do they believe about reincarnation that is different from Buddhism?
   1. ANSWER: Transmigration of the soul, reincarnation repeats and repeats with the soul coming back sometimes in animals, not just human form.
10. What are the three goals of the Pravritti?
    1. ANSWER 1: Dharma – righteousness in their religious life.
    2. ANSWER 2: Artha – success in their economic life.
    3. ANSWER 3: Kama – gratification of the sense, pleasure, sensual and mental enjoyment.
11. Why is liberation from the samsara the supreme goal of mankind?
    1. ANSWER: It breaks the repeating cycle of reincarnation forever.
12. What is the significance of the Red Dot worn on the forehead?
    1. ANSWER: It is a sign of religious piety.
13. What are the four levels of the Caste System?
    1. ANSWER 1: Brahmins (Priests and Academicians)
    2. ANSWER 2: Kshartriyas (rulers, and military)
    3. ANSWER 3: Vaishyas (farmers, landlords, and merchants)
    4. ANSWER 4: Sudras (peasants, servants, and workers in non-polluting jobs)
    5. ANSWER 5: Dalit - Outcasts
14. Who are the Hare Krishna’s and Sikhs?
    1. ANSWER: Sects of Hinduism.

Again this week we look at a religion that offers its followers freedom from this life and a hope that a lasting peace and freedom can be found through following the teachings and practices of works and many gods with the hope of finding “the truth”. Again you’ll see a focus on mankind’s actions in achieving an inner peace, calmness through meditation, a focus on right living and clear thinking, and a striving to find happiness.

It’s difficult to believe such goals would be wrong and that following such a religion leads to eternal separation from God, but again this week we see this is another form of man developing his own plan of salvation based on his world and his views and his thoughts, and not on God the Creator of all things.

God clearly tells us that His thoughts are not our thoughts, and that His ways are not our ways. He tells us that wide is path that leads to destruction and many there be that follow it. We know that He is our only salvation and He will be our only Judge. We also know that Jesus the Christ is the only truth and the only path to follow, not man’s.

I encourage you to remain faithful in this study and to commit to loving, seeking and witnessing to our lost brothers, sisters, neighbors, friends and co-workers, who have followed after such false teaching, believing these lies for the truth.

May God fill us with a discerning spirit as we continue our study – next we’ll look at another of the world religions claiming to have the answer and attracting millions of followers – next week we’ll take a quick look at the Muslims, the followers of Islam.

In Christ,

Wes