Hinduism - Essay Questions
Hinduism - Essay Questions
Six questions are listed below. You need to complete three of them of your choice. (Each is worth 10 points.) Your completed answers should be turned in by the beginning of class on Monday, October 6th. (I'll deduct 3 points [10%] per class period that they are late after that. Of course, they can come in early.)Â
On questions
requiring written answers, you should limit your answers to somewhere around
400-500 words for each. There is no limit on the resources you can access, but you
do need to avoid plagiarism and appropriately cite any sources of information
that you use.
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*(Use one sheet of
plain paper for this one.) Show your understanding of Hindu beliefs by making a
drawing, diagram, or written description of their core beliefs. Your answer
should incorporate the following terms: atman, Brahman, karma, dharma,
moksha, samsara, reincarnation. Of
course, you may add any other terms you believe are necessary or useful.
* You have recently
been named a Hindu guru. It is your job to address a group of non-Hindu
students on the topic of yoga. You need to select two of the "main"
four yoga and explain to your audience how those yoga can be incorporated into
thier lives to help them reach their goals. (The "main" yoga would be
the four Smith discusses in the text.)
* You are designing
your own "Spiritual Tour of India." You can pick the times and places
you will visit on this journey to a deeper understanding of Hinduism. Choose at
least three times and/or places that you will include on your intinerary, and
explain the reasons for your selections.
* In the videotape, The
Wisdom of Faith with Huston Smith,
there were a number of examples of the role of art in Hindu belief. Smith
contends that great art can "elevate the soul," making people want to
be better. Discuss this contention. You can agree or disagree, but support your
answer with specific examples from Hinduism.
* How different is
Hinduism from the faiths of the West? You can approach this topic from whatever
angles you would like, but you will need to incorporate specific terms and
examples.
* You've been asked to
represent one of two religions that have roots in India in a presentation to
the 8th grade World Geography class at MPA. You can choose to represent either
the Sikhs or the Jains. You're expected to prepare a handout of no more than
one page on the basics of your faith. It can be done as a series of highlights,
a Q & A session, or whatever you believe to be useful. (The ideas need to
make sense to a typical eighth-grader.)
