Hinduism in 5 Minutes

Steven W. Ramey is a Professor in Religious Studies at the University of Alabama, where he also directs the Asian Studies Program. His specialty is in contemporary issues surrounding identifications in India, which he addresses in his book Hindu, Sufi, or Sikh (Palgrave 2008), where he analyzes specifically the practices and contested definitions of communities identified as Sindhi Hindus. He has extended this analysis to reflect on issues in the academic and public discourse surrounding the category religion and issues of identifications in the United States and other contexts.

• PrefaceSteven RameyGeneral questionsIs Hinduism a religion or something else?Prea Persaud, University of North CarolinaWhat are the primary ideas in Hinduism?Brian K. Pennington, Elon UniversityWhat is the ultimate purpose or goal of Hinduism?Varun Khanna, Swarthmoe CollegeBeginningsWhat is the creation story in Hinduism?Gil Ben-Herut, University of South FloridaWhere and when did Hinduism originate?Thomas B. Ellis, Appalachian State UniversityWhere does the name Hinduism come from?Will Sweetman, University of OtagoWhere did the concept of caste begin?Gil Ben-HerutDevelopmentAre there different denominations like Christianity?Vincent Burgess, Cornell UniversityWhat are the regional differences in Hinduism across India?Bhakti Mamtora, Wooster CollegeHow does someone become a guru?Antoinette E. DeNapoli, Texas Christian UniversityDoes violent extremism exist in Hinduism?Jimi Wilson, University of North Carolina, GreensboroTexts and StoriesHow many ‘sacred texts’ does Hinduism have?Steven RameyWhat are the Vedas?Varun KhannaWhat is the Bhagavad Gita?Vincent BurgessGods and GoddessesHow many gods are in Hinduism?Vasudha Narayanan, University of FloridaWhich deities are most popular?Vasudha NarayananWhat does each god represent?Thomas B. EllisPersonal practicesWhat are the daily practices that Hindus try to follow?Bhakti MamtoraWhat does someone have to believe to be a Hindu?Richard S. Weiss, Victoria University of WellingtonDo Hindus still have arranged marriages?Susan Prill, Juniata CollegeWhy do Hindus not eat beef?Will SweetmanRituals and WorshipAre there any ceremonies that Hindus hold very sacred?Thomas B. EllisHow is caste determined?Maharshi Vyas, University of CaliforniaWhat does worship in Hinduism look like?Katherine C. Zubko, University of North Carolina, AshevilleHindus in relation to non-HindusHow do Hindus live in Muslim countries like Pakistan, if any do?Jürgen Schaflechner, Freie Universtät Berlin What is the main difference between Hinduism and the more popular religions in America?Michael J. Altman, University of AlabamaWhat do Hindus think about Christianity?Collin Sibley, University of CaliforniaCurrent IssuesWhat are some values taught to children?Varun KhannaDo you have to be Indian to be a Hindu?Collin SibleyHow do Hindus respond to environmental issues?Vincent BurgessDo men and women have equality in Hinduism?Antoinette E. DeNapoliWhat is the Hindu response to people who identify as LGBTQ?Maharshi Vyas Why does Hinduism seem to have spread less around the world than other major religions?Prea Persaud