Hinduism is the world’s oldest living faith, the third largest religion, and embodies the spirit of religious harmony. Hinduism acknowledges that only one God exists, but teaches that God may be realized through differing spiritual paths.[1, 2, 3]
The origins of Hinduism are somewhat unclear. Unlike many other religions, Hinduism cannot be traced to any one founder or historic event. Historians believe that the beginning of the religion dates back to 2,000 BC in northwest India near the Indus river.[4, 5] The religion spread along trade routes in India to other countries in the East.1 Hinduism has no set creed, doctrines, or religious organization, but emphasizes a way of living.
There is much diversity in the beliefs and practices of its followers.[6] The caste system has been legally abolished, but the practices within Hinduism remain affected by this system because of beliefs concerning reincarnation.
Today, more than eighty percent of India’s people are Hindu. There are sizeable populations in Thailand, Malaysia, Canada, Britain, and the United States. Worldwide, there are approximately eight hundred million Hindus.[5]
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