BIBLICAL BRIEFS 149
South Africa’s most famous Hindu is Ghandi, and then the Guptas, but generally, local believers know little of this belief, although it is the third largest religion in the world. Besides Christianity and Islam, Hinduism is one of the oldest organized religions, and originated in Abraham’s time. There is no definite known saviour or founder in this faith; intentional vague and diverse doctrines exist, and the vast array of sects, systems and ways of consecration, as well as the more than 330 million gods that can be worship by them, make it very difficult to adjudicate doctrines. Hinduism occurs mainly in India and Nepal, although there is also a large contingent in South Africa. This is mainly the case as a result of the colonial import of Hindu labourers for plantations in Natal, and mines elsewhere. The main holy scriptures of Hinduism are known as the Vedas. This written work contains hymns, spells, philosophies, rituals, poems and stories on which Hindus base their faith and honour their polytheism. Usually, the creator god, Brahma, is worshiped, which together with Shiva (the god of song and healing) and Vishnu (the god of space and time – he creates avatars). They form a kind of trinity. They are also responsible for creation, conservation and destruction. There are also many other prominent gods, e.g. Durga (the mother god) and Ganesh (the elephant god). Brahma is an impersonal and incorruptible being that exists in every facet of reality and thus inhabits the entire universe. Hinduism accepts any additional theology if it incorporates the Indian culture in one way or another, even if it is theistic, nihilistic or atheistic. Because Brahma is in everything, it is assumed that everything is therefore divine, “infused with god material”. Through unification with all things, mainly through meditation, yoga and rites, enlightenment is possible and the four overarching goals of life are achieved: pleasure, wealth, harmony and deliverance (even if the first two work against/contradicts the last two). There are seven core foundations of the Hindu religion: 1) All evil is an illusion. 2) All gods are equal as a consequence of their divinity, and form a god-essence. 3) All things are God (we call it pantheism: the belief or doctrine that god is greater than the universe and includes and interpenetrates it); everything’s own god-soul manifestation is referred to as ‘atman’ 4) Time is cyclical and therefore reincarnation is a given, 5) until you reach the highest level of purity, known as nirvana (a state of nothingness). Thereafter the individual becomes part of the eternal god-essence. 6) Ethics are also cyclical, and is called karma, a law of sowing and reaping – you get back what you have put in. 7) By reincarnation and karma one reaches a higher or lower level of life, and to create better casts in the next life should be your aspiration. Hindus can be identified by a sacred red bracelet, also called a kalava/mauli/charadu/raksha. It serves as an amulet or talisman to protect against evil spirits and to prevent illnesses and accidents. Hinduism stands against Christianity on several key truths: we believe in one God, which is both personal and recognizable (1Cor. 8:6); the only revealed holy book, the Bible, teaches that God created the earth and everything else through Jesus Christ (Gen. 1:1; Heb. 11:3); believe that man is created in God’s image (Gen. 1:27); teach that salvation is only obtained through Jesus Christ (John 3:16; 6:44; 14:6; Acts 4:12). But to return to your question – in spite of all the gods that Hindus worship, and possible spiritual drives behind it, no proverbial spiritual influence can overpower you – “There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man.” (Mark 7:15). However, through sexual intercourse, it may pass to your child, but you really can not do much about it. Treat your future son-in-law with overwhelming love, and respect, in spite of his religious beliefs, just as Acts 10:28 explicitly spells out: “But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.” Then live in such a way that the Hindu beloved can see the incarnate living God in you, and will desire to know Him.
Dr Tom Gouws
