Loading...

Hinduism

Take an in-depth exploration of Hinduism, from its Vedic roots to modern practices, covering key texts, deities, philosophies, and rituals. Learn about Hinduism’s influence on Buddhism, Jainism, and global thought, and examine the ethical, cultural, and philosophical dynamics shaping Indian spirituality.
Number of lessons: 27
Total length: 17 hours and 14 minutes
Format: Audio and Video
Attend this Class

About This Class

This course provides an in-depth exploration of Hinduism, from its early Vedic origins to its modern practices and philosophies. You'll gain insight into sacred texts like the Vedas and Upanishads, the caste system, karma, and reincarnation. Key topics include the paths of knowledge, action, and devotion; major deities; and the influence of Hinduism on global religious thought. The lessons also cover the parallels between Hinduism and Buddhism, the Bhakti movement, and how modern Hinduism interacts with other global religions.

Dr. Tennent occasionally uses pictures of Hindu gods or other visual resources in his lectures. You can download a document with these pictures by clicking on the Hindu Deity Pictures link. 

 

Recommended Reading:

Hinduism, the Basics, Herbert Ellinger 

The Sacred Thread, John Brockington 

The World of Gurus, Vishal Mangalwadi, 1977

The World of Gurus

Catholic Belief - 15th edition

Indian Christian Theology, Robin Boyd

Finding Jesus in Dharma, Chaturvedi Badrinath

www.sacred-texts.com/hin/upan

(more)

About the Professor

Timothy Tennent

Dr. Timothy C. Tennent is the President of Asbury Theological Seminary and a Professor of World Christianity. With extensive experience in academia, he previously taught at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Toccoa Falls College. An adjunct professor in India and an ordained United Methodist pastor, Dr. Tennent's global engagements include China, Thailand, Nigeria, and Eastern Europe. He has authored several books on Christianity, theological education, and missiology, further solidifying his expertise in the field.

(more)
Timothy Tennent

Lessons

  • 1. Hinduism as a World Religion
    Join this study on Hinduism, the world's third largest and one of the oldest religions, dates back to 2800 BC in the Indus Valley. Practiced by 12% of the global population, 95% of Hindus live in India.
  • 2. Historical Windows on Hinduism (Part 1)
    Learn about early Vedic religion, the Aryans' and Dravidians' historical context, the Rig Veda's composition and significance, the concept of mandalas and cosmic homology, the importance of sacred sounds, the structure of Vedic literature, and the Upanishads' role in Hindu philosophy.
  • 3. Historical Windows on Hinduism (Part 2)
    Learn how Vedic religion precedes Hinduism and influences its development, focusing on the Rig Veda's revelation of a historical racial conflict forming the basis of the Varna system, categorizing society by color, with karma and reincarnation perpetuating social status across lifetimes.
  • 4. Mahavakyas of the RgVeda
    Learn about the Rig Veda's "Maha Vacca" and Hindu creation myths, focusing on Purusha's dismemberment, transmutation, the caste system's origins, and cosmic homology's societal impact.
  • 5. Key Themes in the Upanishadic Vision (Part 1)
    This lesson offers insights into the structure of Hindu sacred texts, particularly the Vedas and Upanishads, and explores the concepts of Nirguna Brahman (without attributes) and Saguna Brahman (with attributes), emphasizing their philosophical and theological significance in Hinduism.
  • 6. Key Themes in the Upanishadic Vision (Part 2)
    Learn about Hinduism's essential concepts such as Brahman, Atman, Tat Tvam Asi, and samsara, understanding their philosophical significance and how they interconnect within Hindu teachings and Advaita Vedanta.
  • 7. Key Themes in the Upanishadic Vision (Part 3)
    You gain insight into Brahmanical Hinduism, learning about the importance of realizing Brahman, escaping samsara through strict adherence to Dharma, the concept of Maya as illusion, and the sociopolitical power of Brahmans.
  • 8. Key Themes in the Upanishadic Vision (Part 4)
    Explore the foundational concepts of Indian worldviews, understanding the distinctions between ultimate reality, daily experiences, and perceptual errors, along with the principles of karma and the goal of moksha, comparing these with Western perspectives on reality and science.
  • 9. Mahavakyas of the Upanishads (Part 1)
    Explore key Upanishad concepts, understanding how metaphors convey the unity of Brahman and Atman, how diversity stems from oneness, and the Hindu perspective on creation, providing insights into Hindu and Christian cosmological differences.
  • 10. Mahavakyas of the Upanishads (Part 2)
    Understand the Upanishadic vision, exploring the divine nature of the soul, the three branches of Hinduism, the role of karma, sacrifice, and the inner controller, and understand how these concepts shape Hindu theology and practice, influencing interactions with other faiths.
  • 11. Key Metaphors in Hindu Thought
    This lesson covers modern Hinduism’s three-vehicle structure, highlighting its philosophical and popular branches, the paths of knowledge, actions, and devotion, and key concepts like karma, the caste system, and the role of Brahmins in daily practices.
  • 12. Three Vehicle Structure of Modern Hinduism
    Examine the three-vehicle structure of Hinduism, exploring how philosophical, karmic, and devotional paths influence the relationship between caste, karma, and spiritual practices.
  • 13. The Voice of Dissent: The Emergence of Buddhism
    Discover how Indian frame stories intertwined with political dissent shaped global storytelling. Explore their journey through the Silk Road, impact on Western tales, and review Hindu-Buddhist philosophical contrasts and the ethical ideals of the bodhisattva.
  • 14. Buddhist Dissent
    Learn the parallels and distinctions between Hinduism and Buddhism, emphasizing their structures and ethical bases. Bhakti Marga offers a devotional path, simplifying Hindu worship by focusing on a single deity, like Krishna, and reflecting a universal longing to know God.
  • 15. Bhakti Movement
    Learn the parallels and distinctions between Hinduism and Buddhism, emphasizing their structures and ethical bases. Bhakti Marga offers a devotional path, simplifying Hindu worship by focusing on a single deity, like Krishna, and reflecting a universal longing to know God.
  • 16. Identifying Gods/Goddesses in India - Vishnu
    Explore Hindu deities and their iconography, learning to identify major gods like Vishnu and Shiva through their symbols, understanding their avatars such as Rama and Krishna, and appreciating the cultural impact of these figures within Indian society.
  • 17. Identifying Gods/Goddesses in India – Siva
    Identify Hindu deities by their iconography, focusing on Shiva’s trident, cobra, drum, third eye, Ganges River, and dreadlocks, understanding his meditative, dancing (Nataraja), and lingam forms, and appreciating how these features convey divine attributes to non-literate devotees.
  • 18. The Bhakti Movement (Part 2)
    Explore the Bhakti movement's shift to personal devotion, the practice of Puja, reinterpretation of classical texts, integration of knowledge, works, and devotion, and the modern influence of devotional literature in contemporary Hinduism.
  • 19. Epic and Classical Period
    Hear about the cultural and historical significance of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, the epic tales of heroism and devotion involving characters like Rama, Sita, and Hanuman, and the philosophical depth of the Bhagavad Gita, focusing on duty and spirituality through Krishna and Arjuna's dialogues.
  • 20. Modern Day Guruism in India and the West
    Understand the synthesis of Hindu religious practices, influenced by figures like Ramakrishna and Vivekananda, who promoted religious unity and acknowledged multiple paths to enlightenment, including those from other religions.
  • 21. Major Holidays in Popular Hinduism
    Explore India's major Hindu festivals, their diverse regional practices, and their cultural significance, including Hottie, Holi, Nog festival, Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, Durga Puja, and Diwali, providing a rich understanding of these vibrant celebrations.
  • 22. The Philosophical Theology of Sankara and Ramanuja
    Gain insights into Shankara's interpretation of monism, the nature of Brahman, the illusory nature of the world, and the critical responses from Ramanujan, offering an understanding of fundamental debates in Hindu philosophy.
  • 23. The Philosophical Theology of Sankara and Ramanuja (Part 2)
    Gain insight into Ramanuja's philosophy that Brahman interacts with the material world while remaining unaffected by karmic impurities, emphasizing a real, dependent relationship between souls and Brahman, and promoting a devotional approach to worship.
  • 24. Christian Response Case Studies (Part 1)
    Explore the debate on Brahman's freedom from karma, Shankara's emphasis on God's absolute freedom, the significance of mantras, the Brahmo Samaj movement's integration of Hinduism with Western thought, and Brajendra Nath Seal's Christian conversion and integration of Vedic and Christian thought.
  • 25. Christian Response Case Studies (Part 2)
    Explore the sacred thread tradition, the sensory experience of sandal incense, the application of vermillion powder, and the responses of Indian theologians to Hinduism, learning about different engagement strategies, the importance of journals, progressive revelation, the bhakti tradition, and Christian engagement models in India.
  • 26. Christian Response Case Studies (Part 3)
    Gain insights into the influence of Western Christianity on Indian churches, the cultural disconnects it causes, and the need for an indigenous theological approach that resonates with Indian cultural and social contexts.
  • 27. Communicating the Gospel in India
    Discover the challenges of church planting in India's diverse regions, focusing on language, caste, and religion. Learn strategies to overcome barriers, develop leadership, and foster sustainable, multi-generational church movements.
Scroll Down

Class Resources

Downloads

Recommended Readings

About BiblicalTraining.org

BiblicalTraining.org wants every Christian to experience a deep and loving relationship with Jesus by understanding the life-changing truths of Scripture. To that end, we provide a high-quality Bible education at three academic levels taught by a wide range of distinguished professors, pastors, authors, and ministry leaders that moves from content to spiritual growth, all at no charge. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit funded by gifts from our users. We currently have over 180 classes and seminars, 2,300 hours of instruction, registered users from every country in the world, and in the last two years 1.4 million people watched 257 terabytes of videos (11 million lectures).

Our goal is to provide a comprehensive biblical education governed by our Statement of Faith that leads people toward spiritual growth.

Learn More