Jessica Gallegos

HUMA 2300-00
ePortfolio Assignment and Reflection

As I have observed and what I have learned so far in this class is that there are many different
religions and many different beliefs but all contain similar characteristics and flow around
similar principles as well.

To begin with all religious have a supernatural sovereign deity or God(s) that is the master judger
of character and the way they live. Theyre the one who says you are living your life in
accordance or not. There are also spirits that are different and powerful but are all around us
that can contribute to and connect to us as humans. Some religions believe in one God like
Christians do, while some believe in many gods. Hindus for example acknowledge hundreds
upon hundreds of gods and one supreme God (Brahman)(1).

Another thing many religions have in common is spiritual rituals. Rituals differentiate in every
culture but have the same principle idea, that what they are doing, they are doing so it in the
name of some God or gods. Some religions celebrate stories while others do sacrifices. An
example of this would be how Hindus have a sacred cleansing that they do in the river to signify
they are washing themselves clean of bad things.

The next common way religions are similar is in their means of communication with the
supernatural. Enlightenment, prayer, meditation, and chants are some ways that people as
individuals and groups alike try to connect with a higher power.
In addition Religious groups and organizations also like to set apart sacred things, times, places,
and people from the regular areas of life. Some example of this would be the way that Hindus
take pilgrimages or the way Easter I celebrated for Christians. They are setting in their belief that
the day or event has significance to it so they celebrate and honor it.

As swindler mentioned is his definition, Religions more often than not have a moral and ethical
code that they follow to show obedience to their gods or to achieve some kind or prize for it.(3)
This is shown in Buddhism when they follow the path of Buddha and proclaim poverty or in
Christianity when they follow the Ten Commandments.

Overall, Religion cannot be defined in one term because it is a mix of things there are many
different cultures and practices that make up many different religions. All have things in the
basic characteristics and organization that make them similar but there are also things that set
them apart from each other and make them unique.

In another light, there is a wide range in religious traditions that Hindus practice. However,
though is differences, there is a connection between all the doctrines and practices because all
their basic principles are based on natural universal laws which are defined as Sanatana (eternal)

Dharma (laws of nature). Dharma is an expression of how one should behave in respect to the
cosmic order.

The knowledge of the universe and the laws contained in the Vedas and in other sacred scriptures
are considered to evidence to Hindus to prove that these laws bind the universe and its
components together. In essence Dharma is the foundation to life and without it we could not
exist.

The word Dharma' comes from the Sanskrit root 'dhru',(1) meaning to sustain or support. Hindu
Dharma is a way of life and acts as a value system. It is a way for humans to be content and
happy, and also to be save from sadness and suffering. Dharma is a mixture of moral law and
spiritual discipline that directs life.

In Hindu society, Dharma is part of their caste system which has four sections. 1. Brahmin:
spiritual leaders and priests. 2. Kshatriyas: nobles, warriors and politicians 3. Vaisyas: the
producers or farmers, 4. Shudras: the unskilled laborers and slaves laboring class. There are also
untouchables who are the outcast, old and sickly. These groups are assigned by birth and
cannot be changed. The Hindu view of the social order is that people are different, and people
will fit best to their different areas of society. Social order or social class according to varna
forms the framework of moral duties according to personal characteristics of individuals. (1)

Hinduism also associates the concept of reincarnation. What determines the position of an
individual in the next existence is karma, which refers to the actions made by the body and the
mind. To be able to get good karma, it is important to live life according to dharma. This means
doing your duty for yourself, the family, caste and also for the universe itself to work. What you
put out comes to show in your next life so it is better to strive for good karma and stay away
from bad. So, dharma impacts the future according to the karma you build up in your current life
and makes one's dharmic path in the next life is the one of the most necessary to bring the full
result of karma into focus.

One of the imporant texts, the Manusmrti, written by the ancient sage Manu, prescribes 10
essential rules for dharma: Patience ( dhriti ), forgiveness ( kshama ), self control ( dama ),
honesty ( asteya ), sanctity ( shauch ), control of senses ( indraiya-nigrah ), reason ( dhi ),
knowledge or learning ( vidya ), truthfulness ( satya ) and absence of anger ( krodha ). Manu also
writes, "Non-violence, truth, non-coveting, purity of body and mind, control of senses are the
essence of dharma". This is an example of how these laws teach an entire society a way to live.
There is also the Bhagavat Purana which is righteous living. This say that the dharmic path has
four aspects: austerity ( tap ), purity ( shauch ), compassion ( daya ) and truthfulness ( satya );
and adharmic or unrighteous life has three vices: pride ( ahankar ), contact ( sangh ), and
intoxication ( madya ). The power of dharma is in having control and spiritual strength. (1)

The purpose of dharma is not only to achieve the unity of the soul with reality, but also creates a
way of life that is made to secure both secular pleasure and deeper happiness. Hinduism is the

religion that suggests ways for the goal of the highest self and eternal bliss for both here on earth
and in the next life. The practice of dharma gives an feeling of peacefulness, joy, strength and
discipline.

To put both of them in perspective, religion is a very big and real area of many peoples lives.
Everyone has different beliefs and practice different things. II am going to discuss what religion
is and what dharma is, then I am going to explain why I think they are the same or different. It is
a set of beliefs that concerns the cause, nature, effect and purpose of the world and supernatural
aspects, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman being. Religions usually
involve devotional and ritual practices, and often contain a moral and/or ethical code that
governs the way we live our lives. In other words, religion is a specific fundamental set of
beliefs and practices that are generally is sync by a large number of people.

Dharma on the other hand is the path of righteousness and living life in accordance to the codes,
conducts and ethics as directed by the Hindu scriptures. Hinduism describes dharma as a natural
universal laws whose obedience allows humans to be at peace and happy. So in essence dharma
is a moral law combined with spiritual discipline that directs and guides one's life in a particular
way. Hindus consider dharma the very foundation of life and is the "law of being" without which
things cannot exist.

In conclusion I would argue that Hinduism is not a religion but a way of life. It should be
considered dharma. India remains a predominantly Hindu country. It has evolved over the ages

through its ancient traditions, customs, and culture.

(1) Fisher, Mary Pat. Living Religions. 4th ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 2011.
Print.

2. William James., The Varieties of Religious Experience (University of Edinburgh, 1902 )

(3)Leonard Swindler., Toward the Universal Theology of Religion (MaryKnoll, New York,
1987)
(4)Rodger Schmidt et al., Patterns of Religion (Belmont, CA; Wadsworth, 1999),

Reflection
I am glad I took this course, I learned a lot in this class. It was cool to look into all the
different cultures and religions of the world. The class had a lot of information that I
found very informative and interesting. I have always liked to learn about people of
different places and try to understand what they believe and why. This class was long but
engaging, I liked how the instructor used videos, discussions, lectures and reading to help
us fully submerged in what is was we were learning. Above all I love the open-minded
and objective approach to every religion; the history behind it all and the greater

understanding I now have the major world religions. I feel this class has not only
increased my knowledge but also broadened my perspective on life.