Aims of Today’s LessonAims of Today’s Lesson

By the end of this lesson you By the end of this lesson you should be able to:should be able to:

(a)(a) Tell me where Hinduism beganTell me where Hinduism began(b)(b) Explain what Hinduism means Explain what Hinduism means

when it calls God Brahmanwhen it calls God Brahman

You have three minutes to You have three minutes to write down anything you write down anything you know about Hinduism in know about Hinduism in the back of your bookthe back of your book

Try and think of something Try and think of something but if you can’t, write but if you can’t, write down one question you down one question you

would like to ask a Hindu.would like to ask a Hindu.

The religion of India …..The religion of India …..

Hindu FactsHindu Facts1.1. The “ind” in hINDuism teaches us The “ind” in hINDuism teaches us

that the religion started in Indiathat the religion started in India2.2. The word “Hindu” refers to the The word “Hindu” refers to the

people who lived up in the North of people who lived up in the North of India, where Hinduism beganIndia, where Hinduism began

3.3. Hinduism is the oldest religion going Hinduism is the oldest religion going back about 5,000 yearsback about 5,000 years

4.4. It is so old that no one really knows It is so old that no one really knows how it beganhow it began

5.5. The religion has grown over many The religion has grown over many years into thousands of different years into thousands of different branchesbranches

6.6. Unlike Christianity, there is no one Unlike Christianity, there is no one founder of Hinduismfounder of Hinduism

7.7. There are around 900 million Hindus There are around 900 million Hindus in the world today and 559,000 in in the world today and 559,000 in the UK making it the third largest the UK making it the third largest religion in the world.religion in the world.

Hindus and GodHindus and God For most Hindus, God or the Supreme Spirit is in For most Hindus, God or the Supreme Spirit is in

everything that has, does or will ever exist. everything that has, does or will ever exist. When they say EVERYTHING they mean When they say EVERYTHING they mean

EVERYTHING, from a grain of pollen to the entire EVERYTHING, from a grain of pollen to the entire universeuniverse

They call this Supreme Spirit BrahmanThey call this Supreme Spirit Brahman Because of the belief in Brahman Hindus will bow Because of the belief in Brahman Hindus will bow with their hands together when they greet someone with their hands together when they greet someone

and say and say ´Namaste´. Namaste means I bow to the ´Namaste´. Namaste means I bow to the spirit within you.spirit within you.

Take a moment to greet the people on your table in Take a moment to greet the people on your table in the traditional Hindu fashion.the traditional Hindu fashion.

How do these 2 pictures relate to the Hindu belief in Brahman

Research TaskResearch TaskFor next lesson each student on For next lesson each student on

each table has to bring in a each table has to bring in a series of pictures that series of pictures that represent the words represent the words

1.1. CreationCreation2.2. PreservationPreservation3.3. DestructionDestruction

Tables 1Tables 1&4 Creation&4 CreationTables 2&5 PreservationTables 2&5 PreservationTables 3&6 DestructionTables 3&6 Destruction