Introduction to Hinduism, exploring the history, scriptures and important religious movements of India. Consideration will be given to the Christian/Hindu interaction both historically and in the modern period. The state of missions to India and contemporary Hindu political movements will also be discussed.
Students need to understand the origins of "philosophized animism" which is the essential content of Hinduism. They also need to understand the universalism that is inherent in Hinduism and its only common thread of belief. Universalism is finding enormous attraction to western youth in the age of tolerance and diversity.
Understanding the foundations of Hinduism is essential to the task of reaching Hindus with the good news of Jesus.
The struggle of the exclusive claims of the Bible within the pluralistic Hindu context will form one of the key values of this study.
Hinduism today presents a greater challenge than ever before in the mission of the Church to all tribes and tongues. This course will grapple with that challenge and how to meet it.
Understanding Hinduism, in its many contexts, will be an essential discipline of this class.
Fieldwork and actual face-to-face interaction with Hindus will be strongly encouraged in the inter-cultural aspects of this class.
Course outcomes will be geared toward practical engagement with Hindus and towards the task of establishing the Church amongst them.
Students will come away with significant intercultural experiences with the Hindu group of their choice.
