What is Religion
Hindu Core Beliefs
History & Sacred Texts
Hinduism Today
Ninian Smart & Comparison
100

This is the organized system through which humans seek meaning and connection to what is sacred.

What is Religion

100

The ultimate reality in Hinduism.

Brahman

100

The earliest Hindu sacred texts containing hymns and rituals.

The Vedas

100

The daily worship practice often done at home in Hinduism.

Puja

100

The scholar who created the Seven Dimensions of Religion.

Ninian Smart

200

These are the big life questions religion tries to answer.

Questions about purpose, suffering, death, and meaning

200

The individual soul in Hindu belief.

Atman

200

These texts focus more on spiritual reflection and ultimate reality.

The Upanishads

200

This festival celebrates light overcoming darkness.

Diwali

200

This dimension focuses on sacred stories.

Mythic (or Narrative) dimension

300

According to St. Augustine, the human heart is described as this.

What is Restless

300

The cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.

Samsara

300

This famous dialogue about duty is found in the Mahabharata.

The Bhagavad Gita

300

This colorful festival celebrates renewal and joy.

Holi

300

This dimension focuses on moral rules

Ethical dimension

400

Mircea Eliade said religion separates the sacred from this.

The ordinary (or profane)

400

The moral duty or right way of living.

Dharma

400

The Ramayana centers on this heroic prince.

Rama

400

Beliefs like karma and dharma influence this aspect of daily life.

Moral behavior (or daily decisions)

400

Ritual belongs to this dimension.

Ritual Dimension

500

Religion includes beliefs, practices, moral teachings, and this shared group element.

Community

500

The ultimate liberation from the cycle of rebirth.

Moksha

500

Hinduism was first passed down through this method before being written.

Oral Tradition

500

Religion shaping identity and daily habits shows belief becomes this.

Practice (or action)

500

Community structure belongs to this dimension.

Social dimension

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