Hinduism

What is Hinduism?

• Principle religion of India
• 800 million Hindus in India, out of 1 billion people
  82% of people in India are Hindus
• 45 million Hindus in the rest of the world; 1 million in the U.S.
• 13% of world population is Hindu, making it a world religion
• Oldest religion in the world (over 5000 years old)

The "Hindu" in Hindu Scriptures

The word "Hindu" was not a religious term in the beginning. The term came from the Indus River, which flows through the Northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent (present-day Pakistan), making it most likely a geographical term. When the Greeks and Persians traveled to India in the 5th century B.C., they called the people who lived beyond the Indus River Hindus.

The term "Hinduism" has a recent origin, coined in the 19th century by the British, who ruled at the time. The term was used to describe the culture and religion of the people of India.

Uniqueness of the Hindu religion

• No known founder
• No known historical beginning
• No central authority
• No common creed or set of beliefs
• An inclusive religion that includes various faiths and beliefs
• Has many sacred books
• More than a belief system, it is a way of life.

This information was taken from a class I took at Rutgers called Hindu Scriptures. If any of it is incorrect/inaccurate, please comment and let me know (include a source) and I will correct it.