Key findings about religion in India,Buddhism: Buddhism, The Father Of Buddhism
WebJun 29, · While Hindus, Muslims and Christians in the South are all less likely than their counterparts elsewhere in India to say religion is very important to them, the lower WebRELIGIONS IN CHINA AND INDIA There are many different religions in both China and India. The most popular religions in China are ancient Confucianism and Taoism, WebUnder the British Empire, India had remained fairly peaceful up until the s. Its two major religious groups, the Hindus and the Muslims, began lashing out at each other WebMoore () describes “caste system as the organisation of the population into hereditary and endogamous groups” where males engaged in social and political functions. There ... read more
But some researchers have speculated that Jainism may have come into existence in a much earlier time. In the world today, the religion has about 4. Jainism has to a greater extent contributed to and influenced political, economic and ethical spheres in India Titze pg. Schism is a monotheistic religion that was founded in the fifteenth century. It was founded on the precepts of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and the ten subsequent Sikh Gurus. Schism has been found to be the fifth largest worldwide and is among the fast growing religions. Schism is a system of religious expression and philosophy that has been referred to as Gurmat.
In spite of Schism, which is a monotheistic religion, monotheism has failed to develop in India. The Hindu gods and goddesses are just like candidates contesting for a seat in a democracy. These gods and goddesses have to promote themselves claiming about the good things they are going to do after they are sworn in. Hindus would be very distressed by that god who puts a man to an unnatural deed only to test his trueness Korte and Maaike pg. For example, the story of Abraham in the Old Testament of a Bible, as God instructed him to sacrifice his son as an offering. The Buddha dwelt in the northeastern subcontinent of India during the time between 6 th and 4 th centuries BCE and it is in this northern subcontinent of India where he was teaching Keay pg. Buddhism is divided into to major branches namely, Theravada and Mahayana.
Mahayana was widespread all over East Asia and it encompasses those traditions of Zen, Tibetan Buddhism, and Pure Land. As Buddhism remains popular in Asia, the three branches are spread throughout the world Sikora pg. The Buddhist schools are seen to deviate from one another on the precise nature of the way to liberation, the significance and canonicity of the assorted scriptures and teachings, and particularly their various practices. Buddhist practice and tradition is founded by the Buddha, the Sangha, and the Dharma Kinnard pg. Hiding in the triple gem was traditionally been seen as commitment and declaration to being on way of Buddhist and this was used to distinguish a Buddhist from a non-Buddhist. The other practices includes ethical precepts, the practice of meditation and the development of mindfulness, devotional practices, study of scriptures, ceremonies, discernment and refinement of higher wisdom, and the invocation of bodhisattvas and buddhas Keown pg.
The disappearing of Buddhism from India which is its land of birth becomes a supreme irony. Most scholars of Hinduism, Indian history, Buddhism, and of religion have shown a devotion of finding out how this happened and why. It has been seen that there is no complete consensus on the issue, while some scholars have argued that Buddhism did not disappear as such from its land of birth, but was simply altered in its form, or the Hindu practices absorbed it. Buddhism disappeared because of the dominance of reformed Hinduism. Some scholars view that the Buddhists were persecuted by the Brahmins, who were enthusiastic to put forward their caste domination Conze pg.
The major cause that resulted into Buddhism disappearing from India was that the monks neglected its life and values. The Buddhist philosophers started to teach about this life being a value of misery and tears. Women were admitted into monasteries and there were more haphazard conversion of women and men into nuns and monks. This was another reason to why Buddhism disappeared from India. Hindus traditionally view cows as sacred, and laws on cow slaughter have recently been a flashpoint in India. Muslims favor having access to their own religious courts. These courts are overseen by religious magistrates known as qazi and operate under Shariah principles, although their decisions are not legally binding. Whether or not Muslims should be allowed to go to their own religious courts remains a hotly debated topic.
Muslims are more likely than Hindus to say the partition establishing the separate states of India and Pakistan harmed Hindu-Muslim relations. Only three-in-ten Muslims say it was a good thing. Regardless of whether they are Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist or Jain, Indians nearly universally identify with a caste. Members of lower caste groups historically have faced discrimination and unequal economic opportunities , but the survey finds that most people — including most members of lower castes — say there is not a lot of caste discrimination in India.
The Indian Constitution prohibits caste-based discrimination, including untouchability, and in recent decades the government has enacted economic advancement policies like reserved seats in universities and government jobs for members of some lower-caste communities. These figures vary only modestly across different castes. Religious conversion is rare in India; to the extent that it is occurring, Hindus gain as many people as they lose. Conversion of people belonging to lower castes away from Hinduism to other religions, especially Christianity, has been contentious in India , and some states have laws against proselytism. This survey, though, finds that religious switching has a minimal impact on the size of religious groups.
An overall pattern of stability in the share of religious groups is accompanied by little net change from movement into, or out of, most religious groups. Among Hindus, for instance, any conversion out of the group is matched by conversion into the group: 0. For Christians, however, there are some net gains from conversion: 0. Most Indians believe in God and say religion is very important in their lives. The main exception is Buddhists, one-third of whom say they do not believe in God. Belief in God is not central to Buddhist teachings. Note: Here are the questions used for this report, along with responses, and its methodology. About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world.
Beginning around the fifth century, Ancient India played a huge role in shaping the world of sport today. Ancient Indians brought us several games known all over the modern world, such as competitive archery. To these people, sport was their highway to perfection. Their religion, Hinduism, asked them to achieve perfect knowledge over their body to gain perfection. Not only did sport pertain to their religion, but also to politics. Sport was entwined in Indian culture for hundreds of years. RELIGIONS IN CHINA AND INDIA There are many different religions in both China and India.
The most popular religions in China are ancient Confucianism and Taoism, Buddhism, Islam, Protestant, Catholic, and a new form of religion Falun Gong. India has many religions that are different or the same as the Chinese. Indian religions include: Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Jainism. There are also many people from China that do not follow a religion because of its communist. I am here today to tell you which religion in India should be the main religion. I think that Buddhism should be the main religion, because they think everyone is equal, everyone can believe what they want, and they don't believe in life after death. Even though that Hinduism is the main religion in India, Buddhism should be instead.
Continue reading, to have your mind blown away, and to switch your beliefs if you believe in Hinduism. To begin, in Buddhism everyone is equal. Unlike in Hinduism. China and India have many differences and similarities in religious practices. Some religions including Buddhism is in both India and Chinas culture. One of the first religions is Confucianism. The creator was named Confucius and is the belief of respect between elder and within the family. And when being good with each other will lead to peace. Legalism was also a major religion. Both America and India can a wide range of religions within their populations.
Although both have numerous religions, their main religions and belief systems have more differences than similarities. India, with its vast size, is the most religiously diverse nation in the world. Some of the major religions in India include Buddhism, Jainism, Sikism, and Judaism. However, the religion that encompassed most the nation is Hinduism. While Hinduism. The religion and kingship Among the ancient civilizations of China, India and Egypt, their religion and kingship are strongly related to each other. However, they all have their own concept about how the religious belief plays a role in the authority of the kingship and the connection between the king and the god. In the ancient India, the two most well- known and developed through nowadays religions are Hinduism and Buddhism.
Hinduism is basically saying that reincarnation is based on the previous. during a time of great religious exploration. While these religions have some similarities, they also have some distinct differences. The key to all three of these is enlightment. Buddhism and Jainism, originated and developed individually in the same geographical area of India with neither believing in the existence of God, but they do recognize a higher human form. All three religions believe in a cycle of birth, death and rebirth with the. This was because both China and India religion and philosophy used religion to. Hinduism is the major religion of India and is monism.
Hinduism is a religion where it is not as structured or has a lot of rules as catholic or baptist.
Essay 1. Meaning of Religion : Indian society is pluralistic in nature. India is a land of religious pluralism. Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Sikhism, Christianity, and several other religions have been coexisting and growing side by a side in Indian society since ancient times. Religious diversity is a feature of Indian social structure and it plays an important role in politics. The presence of religious communalism too reflects the harmful side of religious diversity. It is indeed quite perplexing to find that no Indian religion advocates violence and exclusiveness, yet in the name of various religions violence often erupts in different parts of India. We regularly face the loss of human life and precious resources because of aggressive and biotic clashes between the forces of Hindu Communalism, Muslim Communalism and Christian Communalism.
The spirit of secularism and the process of secularisation of political culture are yet to secure a sizeable hold in the polity. Religious tolerance is preached by all yet it is not effectively practiced and cultivated. As such religious factor continues to act as a hindering and harmful factor in the harmonious process of socio-political development. In sociology, the word religion is used in a wider sense than that used in religious books. It defines religion as those institutionalised systems of beliefs, symbols, values and practices that provide groups of men with solutions to their questions of ultimate being.
A common characteristic found among all religion is that they represent a complex of emotional feelings and attitudes toward mysteries and perplexities of life. As such religion comprises first, systems of attitudes, beliefs, symbols which are based on the assumption that certain kinds of social relations are sacred or morally imperative and second, a structure of activities governed or influenced by these system. According to Radin, it consists of two parts—physiological and psychological. The physiological part expresses itself in such acts as kneeling, closing the eyes, touching the feet. The psychological part consists of supernormal sensitivity to certain beliefs and traditions. Religion is one of the most influential forces of social control. Different writers have defined religion in different ways.
Robertson maintained that religion is not a vague fear of unknown powers, nor the child of terror, but rather a relation of all the members of a community to a power that has well of community at heart, and protects its law and moral order. In this way there are numerous definitions of religion given by thinkers according to their own conceptions. As a matter of fact the forms in which religion express itself so much that it is difficult to agree upon a definition. Some maintain that religion includes a belief in supernatural or mysterious powers and that is expressing itself in overt activities designed to deal with those powers.
Some regard religion as belief in the immortality of soil. While it is possible to define as belief in God or some supernatural powers, it is well to remember that there can also be a Godless religion as Buddhism is. The Buddhism rejects belief in the immortality of the soul and the life hereafter. The ancient Hebrews did not have a definite concept of immortal soul. They seem to have had no conception of post-mortem rewards and punishments. Others regard religion as something very earthly and materialistic designed to achieve practical ends. Spirituality and the virtues are two social values which were discovered in the process of social life.
Nevertheless the making of the pearl is a by-product in the life of oyster and it does not give a clue to the evolution of the oyster. The constitution of India embodies secularism in letter and spirit and it is accepted as a principle affirming I. No religion of the state as such II Equality of all religions in the eyes of law III Freedom of religion for all citizen IV No discrimination on the basis of religion V Freedom of the individual to accept and follow voluntarily any religion or faith or creed VI freedom of the each religious group to establish and maintain religious and philanthropic institutions, with their own organisational set up VII prohibition of religious instructions in recognized, government and government aided educational institutions. The role of state in religious matters has been kept limited to the preventing violations of public order, morality and health and for eliminating social evils being practised in the name of any religion.
The Preamble of the constitution while defining the scope of the ideal of liberty holds that it includes liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship. Right to freedom of religion stands enhanced in the constitution as one of the Fundamental rights of an Indian citizen and as such enjoys a constitutional guarantee. In spite of all these constitutional provisions, secular political culture has not been developed in Indian political system since independence. Unfortunately there is gap in theory and practice. The Indian state does not prefer any religion and yet maintains its relationship with all religions.
Communalism in all its ugly forms continues to be present and even appears to be spreading its fangs. The emotional integration of people is yet to take place. Like every other liberal democratic constitution, the constitution of India guarantees to the citizens the freedom to form their associations as well as the right to freedom of religion. These two freedoms have, however, led to the organisation of several political parties on the basis of various religions. The parties, being organised on narrow foundations, tend to remain away to get partially and parochially attached to the national mainstream. Religion plays a crucial role in the Indian elections. Right from the process of political socialisation and leadership recruitment till the making of authoritative values, religious factor constitutes an important factor in Indian politics.
It is operative in all spheres of electoral politics—the selection of candidates for contesting elections, the allocation of constituencies to various party candidates, the election campaigns organised by almost all political parties and even the independents, the casting of votes, the formation of ministries and the process of policy making. Ram Janam Bhumi vs. Babri Masjid issue was definitely an important issue in the November and June elections. The political parties in India try to develop their vote banks among the minority religious groups. These parties continuously follow the policy of appeasement of religious minorities. They support and encourage the forces of religious fundamentalism, which are always present in all religious groups, but more particularly in minority religious groups for furthering their chances of success in elections.
The political parties always try to establish a rapport and connection with religious organisations, particularly the ones which are functioning in their respective areas. The religious group which enjoys numerical majority feels greatly disturbed by the policy of appeasement of the minority religious groups and as a reaction or even otherwise tends to organise and support a party that commits itself to the majority religious tenets. The success of the B. P in the November Lok Sabha elections and state elections has been largely due to this factor.
In fact, in some of the States like Punjab which has been having religion based political parties; religion has been a determining factor of state politics. It acts as a major determinant of electoral behaviour. In the organisation of governments, both at the Centre and State levels, the political leaders always keep in mind the religious factor. They try to appease or accommodate religious leaders by giving ministerial berths to the candidates who stand elected as representatives of the people. The search for inducting a Sikh minister or the exercise involved in the appointment of a Muslim to a high office tend to reflect the presence of religious factor in the process of government making.
Shiv Sena Government in Maharashtra reflects an increasing role of religion in government making at least in some of the Indian states. In Kerala communists have always used religious factor to gain majority in the state legislature. The voting behaviour of the minorities in particular is always determined by this factor. are the usual slogans which the electorate in Punjab and Kerala always listen during election days. Arya Samaj, Jamait-lslami, Sikh intellectual Forum, Sikh Students Federation, Hindu Suraksha Samiti, Anti-cow Slaughter Movement, Brahmin Sabhas etc.
These are involved in all processes of politics as political socialisation, leadership recruitment, interest articulation, interest aggregation, political communication etc. These groups use political parties for securing their interests and in turn political parties use them for strengthening their support basis. Some of these forces act as forces of religious fundamentalism and seriously strain the secular forces. The Muslim interest groups are currently engaged in safeguarding the interest of Muslims regarding Babri Masjid while Hindu interest groups are determined to build the Ram Janam Bhumi Temple in Ayodhaya. The issue of Ram Janam Bhumi vs. Babri Masjid has been a major active issue in Indian politics for the last ten years.
In this way it is clear that religion plays a very important role in the socio-political life of the people of India. This is something natural for a society inhabited by religious people believing in various religions. Unfortunately the religious symbols, practices, rituals and non-religious values serve as the basis of antagonism. All religions preach the gospel brotherhood of man and Fatherhood of God. All stand for human values and humanism. All uphold similar values and hence can safely co-exist and develop side by side. The adoption of religious values over and above the religious symbols or rituals is what is needed most in Indian Society.
This has been what Mahatma Gandhi had meant while advocating the need for making religion as the basis of politics. Unless and until it is accepted and adopted, the Indian policy shall continue to suffer from communalism and dangers of disintegration. The forces of religious fundamentalism must realise that progress and development can be possible only by accepting secularism. The Muslims and the Hindus must accept that the religious factor was not the only factor behind the partition. The creation of Pakistan must bring home the fact those religious differences when got politicised lead to division and disintegration.
The separation of Bangladesh from Pakistan must bring home the fact that religion alone cannot be the basis of nationhood. Ethnic wars among people belonging to the same religion and wars among people belonging to same religion but different nationalities must make us realise the limited nature of religion as a factor of nationhood. Adoption of secularism as a principle of healthy and prosperous living and the integration of minorities in the national mainstream but neither by force nor by appeasement but voluntarily by dependence upon reason, science and education can go a long way to channelise the role of religion in a healthy direction.
Religious fanaticism and fundamentalism must be met by recourse to the religious values and not by counter-fanaticism and counter- fundamentalism. Religion is therefore, a reality and integral part of Indian social structure. It can neither be ignored nor overlooked nor even eliminated. But through secularisation and by cultivating a rational love for religious value, which fortunately happen to be same in all religions, the harmful and negative role of religion can be replaced by a positive, healthy and unifying role of religion in Indian society.
Without doing this no one can or should expect a bright and better future of India. Rites can be seen to be regulated symbolic expressions of certain sentiments. Rites can, therefore, be shown to have a specific social function, when and to the extent that, they have for the effect to regulate, maintain and transmit from one generation to another sentiment on which the constitution of the society depends. Taking two different types of religion, ancestor worship in ancient China and Australian Totemism, he shows how in both it is possible to demonstrate the close correspondence of the form of the religion and the form of social structure, and how in each case the religion contributes to the social cohesion of the society. Because religion is a complex institution, the social functions it performs are quite diverse.
If a religious function produces beneficial consequences, then we normally refer to it as a positive function—as, for example, when religion stimulates tolerance, peaceful cooperation or love. Religion can also generate harmful or dysfunctional effects.
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WebRELIGIONS IN CHINA AND INDIA There are many different religions in both China and India. The most popular religions in China are ancient Confucianism and Taoism, WebMoore () describes “caste system as the organisation of the population into hereditary and endogamous groups” where males engaged in social and political functions. There WebJun 29, · While Hindus, Muslims and Christians in the South are all less likely than their counterparts elsewhere in India to say religion is very important to them, the lower WebUnder the British Empire, India had remained fairly peaceful up until the s. Its two major religious groups, the Hindus and the Muslims, began lashing out at each other ... read more
Han China B. Only the Muslim community has the option of having cases tried by a separate system of family courts. Home Research Topics Religion Religions Hinduism. Similarities Between Hinduism And Hinduism. Due to its history, Hinduism is a religion that comprises of traditions and has evolved due to social and political events overtime. Before independence, political pressure was eminent in India and characterised by political differences between non-Hindu and ethnic minority. Hindus believe in Idol-worships.
Sikhism is one of four major religions — along with Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism — that originated on the Indian subcontinent. Similarities Between India And Chinese Religions Words 3 Pages. Some regard religion as belief in the immortality of soil. Similarly, Indians of different religious backgrounds hold elders in high respect. For example, nearly identical shares of Dalits and members of Essay on religion in india Category castes say stopping inter-caste marriages is very important. It was founded on the precepts of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and the ten subsequent Sikh Gurus.
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