Hinduism

Fülszöveg

What are the great religions? When did they come into being, and how are they practiced today? How much influence do they exert on the conduct of individuals and nations? The books in the World Religions series are specifically designed to address such questions in clear, accessible language. Rigorously nonsectarian, they offer an objective survey of the major spiritual traditions, including: • Historical origin • Fundamental beliefs • Organizational structure • Population of believers • Geographical distribution • Cultural contributions • Rituals and ceremonies • Sacred sites • Current activities INDUISM o ne of the most ancient and complexly evolved of the world's spiritual traditions, Hinduism is the religion of more than four-fifths of the Indián subcontinent's population. From the mystical Brahmanism of its core scriptures to the gods and goddesses of village cults, from the austerities of yogis to the teachings of gurus, Hinduism's multiple levels of complexity have long been... Tovább

Fülszöveg

What are the great religions? When did they come into being, and how are they practiced today? How much influence do they exert on the conduct of individuals and nations? The books in the World Religions series are specifically designed to address such questions in clear, accessible language. Rigorously nonsectarian, they offer an objective survey of the major spiritual traditions, including: • Historical origin • Fundamental beliefs • Organizational structure • Population of believers • Geographical distribution • Cultural contributions • Rituals and ceremonies • Sacred sites • Current activities INDUISM o ne of the most ancient and complexly evolved of the world's spiritual traditions, Hinduism is the religion of more than four-fifths of the Indián subcontinent's population. From the mystical Brahmanism of its core scriptures to the gods and goddesses of village cults, from the austerities of yogis to the teachings of gurus, Hinduism's multiple levels of complexity have long been misunderstood by Westerners. Its lack of a central structure of authority, or a single, overriding book of holy scripture, helps to keep it adaptable to the needs of a highly stratified society in a rapidly changing world. Out of a host of recent Hindu reformers, the most famous was Mohandas Gandhi. Hinduism clearly and succinctly presents the customs and beliefs of this religion as it is practiced today and deals as weil with the mysteries and myths that sustained its growth over the centuries. MADHU BAZAZ WANGU has taught at the University of Pittsburgh, where she earned her Ph.D. in religious studies. The winner of several awards for her work as a freelance artist, she has alsó taught classes in the Hindi language. Vissza