Islam Hinduism and Judaism

¶ … Hinduism With Other Religions

There are a number of common characteristics that Hinduism shares with other religions. One of the most fundamental of these is the notion of the afterlife in Hinduism. Specifically, Hinduism posits the notion that there is both a heaven and a hell that people will encounter after their physical existence ends on earth. This idea is reflected in Christianity and in Judaism. Additionally, it is significant to realize that Islam is also partly predicated on the conception of paradise, which is largely akin to the Hindu tenet of heaven. Hinduism is also extremely polytheistic, which is one of its notions that is also found in other religions such as those which dominated classical Greece and Rome during the period of antiquity (and prior to Rome's adoption of Christianity by Constantine as its official state religion). Interestingly enough, there is a conception in Hinduism of a trinity, which is evinced in Christianity with the notion of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. However, in Hinduism, the trinity reflects three different gods and is known as Trimurti (Larson, 1972, p. 145).

Another aspect of Hinduism that is shared in common with Greek and Roman mythology is the dwelling place of the gods that is found in these religions. In Greek and Roman mythology, the gods lived on a mountain known as Mt. Olympus. Similarly, the gods are believed to live on a mountain in Hinduism known as Mt. Meru. Not only is Mt. Meru considered the location where the gods in Hinduism dwell, but it is also widely considered the center of creation. It has a sort of holy salience that is akin to that which is ascribed to Mt. Olympus for the aforementioned Greek and Roman religions.

There are a couple of truly pivotal ways in which Hinduism is responding to the challenges of the contemporary world. The first of these pertains to religious tolerance. During the initial period of this religion, it existed during a time and in a place where primarily the only other religion adherents encountered was Buddhism -- which partly explains why there are so many points in common between these two religions. Today, Hindu followers regularly encounter numerous Occidental religions such as Christianity and Judaism, as well as eastern religions such as Islam. Faced with so many divergent cosmologies, Hinduism has adapted to them by responding with a form of religious tolerance that could possibly quell some of the more noted religious conflicts taking place in the world today (Hebbar, 2002).

Additionally, Hinduism has responded to the modern world by renewing its emphasis on worship, which partially pertains to this religion's importance ascribed to growth and personal transformation (Kak, 2002). Moreover, it has done so by diversifying it. Hindus make a point to worship, pray, and commune with their deities regardless of location. Whereas in earlier times worship was largely attached to temples, it is fairly common for Hindus to worship at home in contemporary times (Hebbar, 2002) in order to accommodate busier work schedules and activities that involve their children. The basic precepts of the religion still exist in their native form, such as the importance placed on dharma (Larson, 1972, p. 145). However, there is increased tolerance and versatility associated with this religion, whether in the form of tolerance for other religions or how and where people commune with their deities.

The main thing that has changed about the role of women in Hinduism over time is their regard in this religion. Although there are some female deities in Hinduism, there roles were traditionally relegated to the home and to the maintenance of certain Hindu concepts. For instance, women have always been valued for their abilities as wives and mothers to preserve order in society, which is expressed in this religion as the concept of dharma. Additionally, women were traditionally valued for their childbearing ability (Hoffert, n.d.). However, like most societies, those in which Hinduism were traditionally practiced were decidedly patriarchal. As such, mothers were more valued for their ability to conceive sons than for their propensity to conceive daughters. Moreover, the patriarchal nature of traditional Hindu societies manifested themselves in other ways that were much more noxious to women. Because of their sense of stabilizing and operating as the central element of the home life, women were historically valued in Hinduism for the sort of dowry that they could bring. There are even some instances in which women were abandoned, beaten, or murdered after their dowry was received (Hoffert, n.d.). Still, the most prominent change about the roles of women over time pertain to their evolution outside of traditional domestic spheres. There are examples of Hindi women who are educated and who work as professionals across various vertical industries. In most instances, however, they are still expected to factor eminently in the maintenance of one's household. However, it has become much more common for women to have careers and to be found in roles outside of those strictly pertaining to the home. For instance, there are women in political positions throughout India.