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Research Paper: Non-Christian Worldview
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Worldview: Hinduism
Hindu religion believes in the wheel of life and death known as samsara while the
universe and all life forms are shaped and directed by the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and
Shiva. From the perspective of Hindu cosmology, it is a cyclical process which has no
creation and no culmination, but the universe is perennially passing through the processes of
creation, sustenance and dissolution. As the embodiment of Brahman, the eternal truth of
existence, humanity possesses the Atman or the eternal soul linked intrinsically to Brahman
and cyclically governed by karmic principles that determine every reincarnation (Weider &
Gutierrez, 2014).
In Hinduism, people’s individuality is closely connected with the belief in Atman,
which Fort is a part of the spiritual self rather than a bodily one. This true essence is however
hidden by what is referred to as the material world or maya. In contrast with many Western
discourses that place human above the rest of the species, Hinduism perceives all living
entities as equal. However, humans are different from other animals as they possess the latent
capacity for self-fulfillment or self-actualization and may escape samsara eventually.
According to the Bhagavad Gita, moksha or liberation is the ultimate goal of life and can
only be attained once one is able to shed their ego and realize that Atman is Brahman
(Weider & Gutierrez, 2014). This spirituality forms a core cultural framework for shaping the
identity and a sense of life’s purpose in Hindus.
Hinduism being a complex religion views the soul’s purpose on earth as the
attainment of Moksha, meaning freedom from the rebirth cycle. The attainment of this goal is
possible through bhakti marg, the path of devotion, through the path of jnana or knowledge,
and through the path of karma, the path of righteous action, based on one’s preference as well
as the development of one’s spiritual stage (Saleem et al., 2024). Following Dharma, which
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means duties as well as righteousness people work towards good karma that help them
achieve Moksha (Weider & Gutierrez, 2014). However, Dharma is not fixed but dynamic and
changes with age, caste and the duties one has to perform to further one’s spiritual needs
(Knott, 2016).
Indian moral system is based on Hindu religion and Dharma, which offers a complete
concept on right and wrong. In the Manusmriti which is a Hindu script accommodated in law,
there are elaborate duties and responsibilities for each and every person depending on the
status of life-cycle (Weider & Gutierrez, 2014). In Hindu ethics the belief regarding the law
of karma reveals that every action in this life has its reward and it is law so if an individual
does good things she or he will reap a good fate meaning good karma while if one does
something bad, he or she will reap an ill fate meaning his or her bad karma. This belief points
to the fact that moral actions affect spiritual status, as well as the number of future
reincarnations (Saleem et al., 2024).
Hindus usually believe that after death, the soul is reborn in a new body according to
the accumulated karma in one’s previous life (Weider & Gutierrez, 2014). The cycle of
rebirth known as Samsara goes on in vain until the soul reaches the ultimate liberation of
Moksha and unites with Brahman. This state of liberation is defined as constant bliss and
one’s deliverance from the inherent suffering of the physical realm to which the soul is
doomed (Saleem et al., 2024). Moksha, therefore, is the final liberation where the soul no
longer undergoes the round of birth, death and rebirth but exists in a state of unity with
divinity (Weider & Gutierrez, 2014).
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References
Knott, K. (2016). Hinduism: A very short introduction (Vol. 5). Oxford University Press.
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PnM&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false
Saleem, Q. U. A., Fatima, S., & Siddiqui, D. H. (2024). Islamic governance in legal contexts:
Navigating challenges and opportunities in contemporary administration. Journal of
law, social and management sciences, 3(2), 8–17. Retrieved from
https://jlsms.org/index.php/jlsms/article/view/67
Weider, L., & Gutierrez, B. (2014). Finding your worldview: Thinking Christianly about the
world. B&H Academic. https://app.logos.com/books/LLS
%3AWS_63F5C52380F143988447EF478B99C574
