Hindu Influences in America. Although

¶ … Hindu influences in America.

Although the United States did not receive Asian immigrants in large numbers until the twentieth century, Hinduism has had a deep and lasting influence on American culture, politics, and social life. The most notable example of how Hinduism has indirectly affected the United States is the influence of Mahatma Gandhi on Martin Luther King, Jr. In the late 1950s and early 1960s. In the late 1960s, the hippie movement embraced Hinduism via the Beatles and other cultural icons. From that social movement, Hinduism began to influence American culture via alternative spiritualities, the New Age movement, and widespread interest in yoga and meditation. Hinduism has left a distinct mark on American society and culture.

The Civil Rights movement in the United States was indirectly linked with Hinduism. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. drew extensively from the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, who first practiced civil disobedience and nonviolent political protest to drive out the British from India in the 1940s. King directly acknowledged Mahatma Gandhi's interpretation of ahimsa as the root of his own civil disobedience theory. The Hindu concept of ahimsa thereafter made its way into American political theory and practice, changing the ways citizens protest.

During the 1960s, an interest in Eastern religions in general flourished with the hippie movement. The Beatles spent time in India and studied with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, a Hindu spiritual leader. Subsequently, the Beatles incorporated Hindu motifs and musical instruments into their work. The Beatles were partly responsible for introducing the American public to Hinduism.

The hippie movement's embrace of Hinduism had a long-lasting effect on American culture. From then on, Hindu meditation practices and philosophies have been incorporated into New Age and self-help movement literature. Yoga is now a mainstream practice taught at standard gyms and meditation is a recommended practice by conventional doctors. These trends stem from Hinduism but have been adapted to suit the American lifestyle.

Hinduism has had a tremendous impact on the United States, even though that influence is indirect and subtle. The Civil Rights movement and especially Dr. Martin Luther King, drew from ahimsa. The Beatles seized upon Hindu spirituality and music and brought those concepts into the mainstream. Hindu meditation and yoga practices then took root and are now part of the foundation of American popular culture.

Written Assignment Unit Two

2. Compare and contrast the general world views and major ideas of Shinto and Taoism. What do these religions basically share in common and how do they basically differ?

Shintoism and Taoism are often fused in the daily spiritual practice of people in East Asia. However, the two religious trends differ in terms of their histories, beliefs, and practices. Shintoism is the indigenous religion of Japan and has many shamanic elements. Taoism encompasses a larger geographic area and more closely resembles a philosophy than a religion. The two religious traditions do differ on some key points, but also share many elements in common.

One of the main differences between Shinto and Taoism is that the latter is less concerned with deities than the former. Shinto is characterized by its kami or nature deities. The religion is animistic. Taoism likewise has some concept of deity but is more fundamentally a way of life than it is an animistic belief system. A Taoist is more concerned with issues such as harmony and balance in daily life.

Shinto and Taoism also differ in terms of their concept of morality. Whereas Taoism is rooted in the dualistic concept of yin and yang, Shinto does not have a clearly explicated ethical code. Shinto practice is rooted more in ritual honoring of the deities than Taoism.

In spite of these differences, Shinto and Taoism share some elements in common that make them essentially compatible religions. Both Shinto and Taoism share in common a respect for ancestors, often interpreted as ancestor worship. Ancestors are prayed to and receive offerings from the living in both Shinto and Taoism. Another element shared in common by Shinto and Taoism is religious purity. The concept of purity is taken to a greater extreme in Shinto, in which physical illness is perceived as spiritual impurity. A Taoist is concerned with both physical and spiritual health, but practices Tai Chi and similar methods of calming and balancing body and mind.

Shinto is an indigenous Japanese religion, whereas Taoism originates in China. Although the two religions have different geographic origins and different means of worship, they share some elements in common. Both include reverence for ancestors or ancestral spirits, and both are concerned with physical and spiritual purity.

Written Assignment Unit Three

2. Discuss the process that led to the formation of the Talmud. Explain the basic contents of the Talmud and their relation to the Torah.

The Torah refers to the Hebrew Bible as a sacred text. The Talmud evolved as a living body of knowledge related to but extending from the Torah. Whereas the Torah is a sacred text, the Talmud is an ongoing discussion, debate, and interpretation of the essence of Judaism.

The Talmud was formed in response to historical changes in Judaism. Scholars and rabbis began to write down their previously oral teachings. These teachings eventually became codified in writing as the Talmud.

Technically, the Talmud comprises two bodies of writing: the Mishnah and the Gemara. These were codified around the fifth century C.E. But have also evolved and changed over time. The contents of the Talmud in general include commentary on Jewish law and interpretations of the Torah.

The Talmud epitomizes the nature of Judaism as a scholarly faith. Rabbinical study of the Torah led to differences in opinion about how the Jews should live and practice their faith, especially since the diaspora. Differences in opinion were honored and celebrated rather than shunned. The result of the debates between rabbis and various schools of thought is the Talmud.

Both the Talmud and the Torah are essential components of Jewish religious scripture. Whereas the Torah is a sacred text believed to derive directly from God, the Talmud is a definitively human body of discourse. Both are crucial in defining Jewish religion, philosophy, and practice.

Written Assignment Unit Four

1. Discuss several features of new religious movements

New religious movements range from cults to New Age spiritual belief systems. They share in common a break from the traditional canon of religious teachings, stemming from established world religions such as Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism. In some cases, new religious movements fuse together many different theories and beliefs.