In the Indus Valley, the general belief was polytheism.
Today, we will be talking about the different belief systems in the Indus Valley. Namely, Hinduism, Buddhism, Bahaism, Sikhism, Jainism, and Zoroastrianism.
The sacred text of Hinduism is the Vedas (also the Bhagavad Gita). This book *tries* to explain Hinduism. It is the closest they could get to their a Holy Book. (The Green Mile is a horror movie, with many instances in it taken straight from the Vedas.) The Vedas is filled with all sorts of weird, creepy, and horrible things of Hinduism.
The Hindus had an elite class called the Brahmanas. These were considered the top-ranking guys. We will talk more on this subject later.
Hindus believe that matter is enternal, therefore, you never really die. When you "die" you are reincarnated into either a higher being or a lower being, depending on karma and how good you were in the previous life.
The Hindus eventually created a caste system. The Brahmanas were at the top, and at the bottom were the untouchables. You do not move out of that catagory. They had 18 different levels. This was eventually eradicated by law.
Gurus: these people wrote down the disscusions between themselves and the gods. The Hindu's poetry were these discussions. The Gurus were the Hindu's holy men, or priests. The gurus typically came from the Brahmana class.
In 599 BC there was a rebellion against the caste system. Vardhamana Mahavir, the leader of this rebellion, actually came from the Brahman (Brahmin) class, he was a guru, and a teacher. He created Jainism, which centers more on the lower classes. He felt that the lower classes were too low and that they were treated unfairly. He also believed that priests and sacrifices and even God were unnecessary, since this world had an inbuilt, ruthless moral order which automatically rewarded goodness and punished evil. Salvation was therefore attained by destroying the evil of one's heart through doing good.
Everything (gurus, Brahman class, weather, world, etc.) doesn't make sense and is fickle. But they are in charge, and if something doesn't make any sense, it's probably correct or right.
Buddhism: there are no gods. Buddah was a great teacher. They were atheistic. They believed that we have spirits...spirits in a physical world that we must overcome.
539 BC: Darius (king) conquered the Indus Valley and connects it to the Persian world. But he puts up a garrison and leaves.
329 BC: Alexander the Great came into the Valley, but his men are tired. He leaves shortly after he came.
These people brought impact and knowledge of the outside world to this secluded valley.
250 BC-500 AD: at this time, there was an emergance of imperial power. Mass Culture: imposed on everyone and everyone accepts it rather passively. Pop culture, on the other hand, everybody is contributing to culture. Our country is a mass culture.
500 AD: at this time, there were a series of invasions. The Huns came with Attila. He imposed tyrannical rule. This worked easily because of the mass culture. After that came the Arabs and Islamists.
1288 AD: Maroco Polo stops in on his way to China and describes the Indus Valley to them.
There was no advance to the Indus Valley. This was mainly due to the caste system. No progression. For 1,000 years, they remained just above the Stone Age.
1498 AD: efforts to reach the Indian (and Chinese?) culture through trading. This didn't bring much success.
During this time all the way through till 1971, and even now, the Indus Valley has not changed much with lifestyle. Life is religion. The way you live your life is completly based on what your religion is. You cannot help but do this.
Hinduism - mass culture...polytheistic...reincarnation (for everyone)...gurus...vedas and the caste system.
Buddhism - gods are no different spiritually than us...they erase all distinction between gods and people...they were a materialistic cult...they believed in spiritual suicide...nothingness is the goal...to reach nothing is their aim.
Jainism - they are Buddhists with a trapdoor...they deny themselves food, water, health, etc. When they do this, they are trying to get their children and grandchildren etc. to get higher up in the caste system.
Zoroastrianism - Hindu-like in Persia...dualistic monotheistic: two forces in one god, one good (Creator Ahura Mazda) and one bad (no name, but called asura meaning demon). They believed that stringent morality will overcome the god.
Sikhism - materialistic pantheists...they use the gods to advance...materialistic joy...they look to the future.
Bahaism - there is one god...one undiversal god. We may call him idfferent names, but let's just all get along together.
Now, I would like to point out the common strands between all these different religions. Firstly, they all believe that time doesn't matter and that there is no need for progress. And secondly, they say that people don't matter.
I hope this has helped you understand these different beliefs!
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