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Hinduism: Social and Historical Developments in Religious Thought

Diversity, pluralism and Hindu attitudes to other faiths

  • 3 things to know
  • Component 1

Overview

Diversity within Hinduism itself, one Hindu movement founded on the equal validity of religions and hindu exclusivism in practice.

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Key term

Distinguish diversity from pluralism.

Key term

Give two examples of diversity within Hinduism itself.

Key term

What is an iṣṭadevatā?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Distinguish diversity from pluralism.

    Model answer

    Diversity is the plain fact that different religions and worldviews exist. Pluralism is the judgement that such variety is legitimate and even valuable.

  2. 2

    Give two examples of diversity within Hinduism itself.

    Model answer

    Vaiṣṇavas, Śaivas and Śāktas each treat a different deity as supreme. Advaita, Viśiṣṭādvaita and Dvaita disagree about the relation of God and soul.

  3. 3

    What is an iṣṭadevatā?

    Model answer

    An iṣṭadevatā is the chosen deity on whom a Hindu focuses personal devotion. The choice does not deny the reality of any other form of God.

  4. 4

    How does the iṣṭadevatā idea support pluralism?

    Model answer

    Worship under one name is not held to exclude worship under another name. Different deities are treated as forms of a single divine reality.

  5. 5

    Which Ṛg Veda principle do Hindus cite in support of pluralism?

    Model answer

    The Ṛg Veda says that truth is one, though the wise call it by many names. Hindu pluralists treat that verse as the tradition's charter.

  6. 6

    What is exclusivism?

    Model answer

    Exclusivism is the claim that salvation is found only within one's own tradition. Other religions are then judged mistaken rather than partial.

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