Great World Religions: Hinduism

In Hinduism, you'll find a religion that is perhaps the most diverse of all. It worships more gods and goddesses than any other, and it rejects the notion that there is only one path to the divine. These 12 lectures provide a window into the roots of, perhaps, all religions. You'll explore over the course of Hinduism's 5,000-year journey: the Indus Valley civilization; the sizable variety of Hindu gods and goddess; the sacred writings in the Vedas, Bhagavad Gita, and Upanishads; ritual purity rites; the Aryan language of Sanskrit; and more. As you'll discover, the story of Hinduism is the story of very non-Western traditions - such as arranged marriages and the caste system - that have survived and thrived for thousands of years. It's also the story of gods, terms, and practices - karma, Krishna, yoga, guru - that have found a home in Western lives and language. The lectures move chronologically through the history of Hinduism, from its earliest precursors through its classical manifestations to its responses to modernity. Along the way, you'll encounter the multiple paths to divine reality acknowledged by Hindus: the Way of Action (which aims to improve an individual's future lives through meritorious deeds), the Way of Wisdom (a more demanding pathway to salvation), and the Way of Devotion (oriented toward faith in a deity of one's personal choice). Dr. Muesse also discusses salient aspects of Hindu life and places them in historical and theological context.