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Great World Religions: Hinduism

Get an overview of the history and practice of the oldest living religion in this concise and accurate course taught by an award-winning professor.
Great World Religions: Hinduism is rated 4.1 out of 5 by 68.
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Rated 5 out of 5 by from I am a Hindu and i love this course I generally don't write reviews. But after reading 1 Start review I thought it was unfair not to write a good review. 1) I am Hindu in India and this course made me know more about my religion. 2) The organization, content, and delivery are excellent. 3) My insight into my religion expanded because of this course. (I have heard some chapters multiple times).
Date published: 2022-10-10
Rated 5 out of 5 by from The Erasing of Prior Misconceptions This course clarifies the historical development of the religion and how it came to be called 'Hinduism'. The explanations of the beliefs, and, above all, the iconography, serve to promote understanding and acceptance by followers of monotheistic faiths, such that my previous inability to comprehend various aspects of Hinduism has been replaced by enlightenment, and I particularly recommend the course to students interested in comparative religion.
Date published: 2022-02-20
Rated 4 out of 5 by from Robotic Presentation and Excellent Content Watching the presentation is like hearing nails scratching on a blackboard. This is one robotic dude. That is not significant, indeed it may be better, because the material presented is rich, easy to understand and organized very well. This course is one of the better ones from The Great Courses and is a good companion to the courses on Buddhism and the Qur'an, at least from someone from a Roman Catholic tradition
Date published: 2022-01-25
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Very clear and well organized I am well versed in Hinduism having grown up in a Hindu community. Still these lectures clarified in my mind a lot of contradictions and ambiguities I had. The lecturer presented in a very understandable way, and clearly categorized the different sections. He said Hinduism does not have clear categories, but I am glad he presented the way he did. It was amazing to me how he was able to simplify and explain the myriad hierarchy of gods and goddesses, the polytheistic as well as the monotheistic aspects of Hinduism. I have always been in love with the concept of Brahman (as opposed to Brahma) in Hinduism and the professor did remarkably well in presenting this very convolved idea. I also found that the lecturer was very objective about the religion, its origins in the Aryans as well as the Mohenjodaro-Harappa civilizations, as well as its reactions to western influences and other religions. Thank you. I appreciate how you mush have struggled to decide what to include or not, how to present etc.
Date published: 2022-01-12
Rated 3 out of 5 by from Not necessary to get video - audio is all you need I decided to buy the Video version of this course expecting to get a lot of interesting visuals. Sadly I wasted my money as the video doesn't add anything to the lecturer speaking. The course content is very academic and dry and lacking any human interest. I am sure I can get a lot more information on Hinduism from other books and documentaries.
Date published: 2021-10-06
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Well Presented, Good Teacher Mark W. Muesse, Ph.D. strikes as a bit of nerd, but he is an excellent teacher. His material is well organized and he presents it professionally and effectively. Like some other teachers in this series he did talk about twelve 30 minute sessions being too short a time period. Hinduism is a very ancient and complex religion, and would concur that most of the courses in this series should have been longer. I suppose a marketing decision. So far we have watched the courses on Judaism, Christianity, Islam and now Hinduism. The first three of these have approached the subject from an historical point of view and not spent a lot of time dealing with the nuts and bolts of the religion. Muesse did do a nice historical survey, but he did spend some time daily practices of the religion. Working in IT for many years I have had many Indian coworkers. I would occasional come across Hindu icons in their offices and I have had a few religious/philosophical discussions with them. This course was nice as it gave me a bit of a deeper understanding of their culture. We really enjoyed it.
Date published: 2021-04-11
Rated 4 out of 5 by from An Intelligent Introduction to Hinduism This course offers an intelligent discussion of the contours of a world religion far removed from the Western tradition. Prof. Muesse begins by placing Hinduism in its historical and geographic context, noting that the religion has always been confined to the Indian subcontinent. Hinduism considers India in its entirety to be sacred; there has never been an evangelical/proselytizing tradition to export it elsewhere. Following a discussion of the ancient Indus Valley civilization of Harappa, Muesse moves on to the Aryan migrations from the north that brought with them the Veda and its traditions. An examination of “Classical Hinduism” forms the core of the course. Muesse focuses on the Hindu view of life as a never-ending series of reincarnations (samsara=wandering of the soul) until one can escape the cycle by achieving mokśa, that is, release. He also does a good job trying to help listeners understand the almost limitless number of Hindu gods and goddesses, many of whom can seem very bizarre to the Western mind. Interestingly, he insists that Hinduism is both monotheistic and polytheistic. Most depressing is the discussion of Hinduism’s caste system and the views toward women in India. Muesse does not pull any punches or provide excuses, but simply describes how things have been. Such traditions may be changing today, but only very slowly.
Date published: 2021-03-06
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Clear and fascinating I loved the course. It is an excellent very short introduction to Hinduism. One can grasp the basic notions of Hinduism as they are provided in a very clear and fascinating manner. Also, the professor outlines some issues and limitations one can face while trying to understand Hinduism. As the course is very short, I think it is aiming mainly to kindle our interest in the subject for our own further exploration. Personally I loved to learn about Lalla, a Kashmiri poet who was greatly devoted to Shiva. After listening to the lecture, I read her poetry and found it deeply moving. Also, I genuinely enjoyed the lecture on monotheism, polytheism, and what is idolatry. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to listen to this course!
Date published: 2020-11-14
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Overview

Great World Religions: Hinduism provides you with an engaging window into the roots of a faith that is perhaps the most diverse of all, and which rejects the notion that there is one path to the divine. Over the course of Hinduism's 5,000-year journey, you'll explore the pantheon of Hindu gods and goddesses; the sacred writings in the Vedas, the Bhagavad-gita, and the Upanishads; the Aryan language of Sanskrit; and much more. As you move chronologically through Hinduism's history&;amp;-from its earliest precursors to its classical manifestations to its responses to the modern era&;amp;-you continually place salient aspects of Hindu life and worship in historical and theological framework. The result is an engaging and comprehensive look at the world's oldest living religious tradition.

About

Mark W. Muesse
Mark W. Muesse

Mindfulness allows us to become keen observers of ourselves and gradually transform the way our minds operate.

INSTITUTION

Rhodes College

Dr. Mark W. Muesse is W. J. Millard Professor of Religious Studies, Director of the Asian Studies Program, and Director of the Life: Then and Now Program at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee. He earned a B.A., summa cum laude, in English Literature from Baylor University and a Master of Theological Studies, a Master of Arts, and a Ph.D. in the Study of Religion from Harvard University. Before taking his position at Rhodes, Professor Muesse held positions at Harvard College, Harvard Divinity School, and the University of Southern Maine, where he served as Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. He is a recipient of the 2008 Clarence Day Award for Outstanding Teaching, Rhodes College's highest faculty honor. Known for his experiential teaching style, Professor Muesse was honored for his effective use of imaginative and creative pedagogy as well as his ability to motivate his students toward lifelong study. Professor Muesse has written many articles, papers, and reviews in world religions, spirituality, theology, and gender studies and has coedited a collection of essays titled Redeeming Men: Religion and Masculinities. He is currently compiling an anthology of prayers from around the world. Professor Muesse is a member of the American Academy of Religion and the Society for Indian Philosophy and Religion and has been Visiting Professor at the Tamilnadu Theological Seminary in Madurai, India. He has traveled extensively throughout Asia and has studied at Wat Mahadhatu, Bangkok, Thailand; the Himalayan Yogic Institute, Kathmandu, Nepal; the Subodhi Institute of Integral Education, Sri Lanka; and Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey.

By This Professor

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Trailer

Hinduism in the World and the World of Hinduism

01: Hinduism in the World and the World of Hinduism

Reflection on the subject and the methods used to examine it are very important when one begins the study of Hinduism, a very old and complex religion. This inaugural lecture describes how Hinduism will be studied in this series. We examine the words "Hinduism," "religion," and "India," discussing why they are problematic yet useful for the study of our subject....

32 min
The Early Cultures of India

02: The Early Cultures of India

Hinduism is an amalgamation of elements from several cultural sources. This lecture focuses on two major contributors, the Indus Valley civilization, and the Aryans. The discovery of the Indus Valley civilization in the 19th century revealed a sophisticated and long-forgotten culture. In this lecture, we examine the artifacts left by this civilization and contemplate their import for its inhabitan...

29 min
The World of the Veda

03: The World of the Veda

In this lecture and the next, we explore the Aryan contributions to the emergence of Hinduism. Our guide is the rich collection of Aryan texts known as the Veda, today regarded by Hindus as their most sacred and authoritative scripture. We shall examine how these texts envisioned the world and its creation, some Vedic gods and goddesses, and the Veda's understanding of the nature and destiny of hu...

29 min
From the Vedic Tradition to Classical Hinduism

04: From the Vedic Tradition to Classical Hinduism

This talk discusses the emergence of classical Hinduism and its views. We examine the place of ritual in Aryan life, their purposes, and their performers. In the central centuries of the first millennium B.C.E., remarkable changes raised doubts about the time-honored Vedic tradition. These doubts spurred the emergence of Hinduism. We see how philosophers came to see the human as an immortal soul e...

30 min
Caste

05: Caste

In addition to new ideas about life, classical Hinduism is defined by evolving social arrangements. This lecture and the next discuss the social foundations of Hinduism. We observe how Aryan society is transmuted into an exceedingly complex caste system. Rules regulating behavior within and between castes were developed and joined to the emerging ideas about the soul. These regulations had-and hav...

30 min
Men, Women, and the Stages of Life

06: Men, Women, and the Stages of Life

Like caste, patterns of behavior became a fact of life during the emergence of classical Hinduism. We examine the roles of women and men and the social mores governing relationships. We see how regulations formed in classical Hinduism prescribed particular stages of life to be followed by men and women of caste. We give special attention to the householder stage, marriage, the patterns of family l...

30 min
The Way of Action

07: The Way of Action

Classical Hinduism established the central problem of human existence for Hindus-samsara, the cycle of continual transmigration of the soul. Hinduism offers three ways to deal with this problem. This talk focuses on the first: the path of action, the most important religious discipline for most Hindus. The principal features of the path of action are performing meritorious religious deeds, includi...

31 min
The Way of Wisdom

08: The Way of Wisdom

Changes that precipitated classical Hinduism also caused transformation in Indian religious practices. Numerous movements rose in response to these developments. This lecture will discuss the sages who tried to continue the Vedic tradition by maintaining the authority of the Veda. These sages produced practices and philosophies to address transmigration and karma. We explore the new solutions from...

29 min
Seeing God

09: Seeing God

Early Western interpreters regarded Hinduism as a crude and hopelessly idolatrous religion. In this lecture we explore the dynamics of Hindu theism in theory and in practice. We see how the pantheon of Hinduism and devotion to images avoid idolatry, and we explore some of the rituals associated with worshiping the god(s). We focus on Siva, one of the most widely revered Hindu deities....

31 min
The Way of Devotion

10: The Way of Devotion

Hinduism affirms the multiplicity of the divine as well as the multiplicity of paths to divine reality. In this lecture, we will look at the path of bhakti, or devotion. Oriented toward faith in a personal deity of choice, the path of devotion is a widely traversed road to god among Hindus. Our entry to bhakti practice will be through one of the most important and beloved of Hindu texts, the Bhaga...

29 min
The Goddess and Her Devotees

11: The Goddess and Her Devotees

In this lecture, we study features of Goddess worship, a long-established tradition in India known as Saktism. We examine manifestations of the Goddess as consorts to the great gods and as autonomous devis. We learn that the feminine energy revealed by the Goddess is essential to Hindu theology. The lecture also explores the practices and concepts of Tantra, an esoteric yogic discipline with origi...

29 min
Hinduism in the Modern Period

12: Hinduism in the Modern Period

Modern Hinduism has been challenged by Islam and Western culture. Both incursions into India have left profound and lasting imprints. In this lecture, we discuss Islam's effects on Hinduism; we discuss how theological differences have formed tense relationships between Hindus and Muslims that frequently erupt into violence. We consider the effects of British expansion into India and religious resp...

33 min

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