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On Hinduism
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12. Origin
Abrahamic concept of creation of the world is it was created in seven days or dissolution of it on the Judgment Day. Hindus believe this universe is the result of a continuous process of creation and dissolution. The universe was there billions of years before and it will still be there after billions of more years; though it will continuously be changing.
When creation happens, the unmanifest becomes manifest, takes a form. When dissolution happens, the manifest becomes unmanifest.
According to Shrimad Bhagwad Gita, there was no time when Bhagwan Krishna was not there and there was no time when Arjun was not there. The only difference was that Bhagwan Krishna remembered all His births while Arjun did not.
Other reading material:
Relevant videos:
Contributor: Dilip Amin
Location of this page:(12b): hinduspeakers.org/ufaqs/what-is-the-hindu-concept-of-creation/
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12. Origin
Hinduism (vedic tradition) started with creation, when Brahma was handed the Vedas as the body of knowledge to administer the creation function in the Universe. In that, it exists beyond just earth in other life-sustaining planets in the Universe. Historically, on earth, it has existed since creation of life on earth.
The root of Hinduism is in Dharma. Dharma is a mix of morality, virtue, integrity, conduct, physical and metaphysical concepts. E.g. it’s the dharma of water to wet a material, as is the dharma of fire to burn, or the dharma of Earth to go around the Sun. Dharma has always existed. Therefore, the metaphysical underpinnings of Hinduism have always existed.
Politically speaking, the term Hindu became prevalent to describe the civilization that lived in the subcontinent between the Himalayas and Indian Ocean. The identity of the people was termed Hindu by the conquerors from the West–Romans, Turks, Arabs, Persians, Mongols, and the British.
Hinduism as a philosophy has been well-formed at least for 5000 years, it has moulded as a political identity only in the last 1000 years since the Islamic conquests of India started in about 1100 AD.
Other reading material: https://houseoflac.wordpress.com/2018/02/14/what-is-dharma/
Relevant videos
Contributor: Rajeev Singh
Location of this post (12d): https://www.hinduspeakers.org/ufaqs/in-what-historical-context-did-hinduism-emerge/
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12. Origin
29. Other Faiths
Yes and no. Some religions consider their God as being the “only” one. Anything else is false. Some reflect the flexibility of modern times and indicate that while others may choose to label it different, it is essentially the same “God”. So, it appears that the God-ful religions in their very own essence talk about their “different” and very “own” God. Hinduism, on the other hand, is a “God” less philosophy. There is all-pervasive energy and its creation.
Other reading material:
Relevant videos: Swami Nikhilanand Hinduism Q & A: Do Different Religions Have Different Gods
Contributor: Rajeev Singh
Location of this post (29a): https://www.hinduspeakers.org/ufaqs/do-different-religions-have-different-gods/
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29. Other Faiths