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Unlock This CourseIn the lesson The Multi-Ethnic Society, Racism and Racial Harmony you learned that racism is treating people worse because of their ethnic group, and that racial harmony means people of different backgrounds living together fairly and peacefully. Now we look at what Hinduism teaches about this.
Hinduism began in India, but Hindus today live in many countries and many multi-ethnic societies. Hindu teachings do not give a list of rules about race. Instead, several beliefs point in the same direction: every person matters equally.
Remember from earlier lessons: the atman is the divine spark in every living being, and ahimsa means not harming any living being.
Key terms:
Hindus believe the atman is the same in everyone, whatever their skin colour, country or language. Race is about the outside, the body. The atman is what makes a person who they really are. So judging someone by their race makes no sense.
"The world is one family" tells Hindus to treat all people as relatives, not strangers or enemies. Many Hindus use it to argue that no group of people is above another.
Racism harms people, through insults, unfair treatment and violence. Ahimsa teaches that causing this kind of harm is wrong, so Hindus who follow it should reject racism.
Prejudice is judging people before you know them. Discrimination is treating them unfairly because of that judgement. Hindu teachings work against both.
Many mandirs welcome visitors of any background to look around and ask questions. For example, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Neasden, London, welcomes visitors of all backgrounds and has an exhibition explaining Hinduism.
Many Hindu organisations give out free vegetarian meals to anyone who needs one, whatever their race or religion. ISKCON's Food for Life, started in 1974, is one example. This shows ahimsa and "one family" in action.
These are examples of Hindus living out their beliefs. They show racial harmony in practice, but they are not official rules of Hinduism.
Hindus do not all act in the same way, and you should show this in the exam.
Saying "Hindus believe all races are the same" (they believe the atman is the same in all). Describing the examples as laws of Hinduism instead of ways Hindus live out their beliefs. Forgetting to use the terms atman and ahimsa. Writing about caste in a racial harmony answer.
(a) Identify three ways in which people can promote racial harmony. [3 marks]
(b) Choose one religion. Outline two teachings that help to promote racial harmony in this religion. [4 marks]
(c) Choose one religion. Explain why some people in this religion oppose racism. [6 marks]
(d) "Religion is the best way to bring about racial harmony." Evaluate this statement, showing you have considered different points of view. In your answer you should refer to at least one religion. [12 marks]
(a) 1. Making laws against discrimination (1) 2. Teaching children about different cultures (1) 3. Working and socialising together in mixed groups (1)
(b) In Hinduism, Hindus believe the same atman is in everyone (1), so people of every race have equal worth (1). Ahimsa teaches Hindus not to harm any living being (1), which means they should not insult or treat anyone unfairly because of their race (1).
(c) Hindus believe the atman, the divine spark, is in every person. Race belongs to the body, but the atman is the same in all, so Hindus argue that judging people by race is wrong. Ahimsa, not harming, also matters: racism causes pain through insults and unfair treatment, so Hindus who follow ahimsa oppose it. The phrase "the world is one family" teaches Hindus to treat everyone as a relative, which supports welcome and friendship. Finally, Gandhi met racism in South Africa and answered it with ahimsa, which many Hindus see as an example to follow. (6)
(d) Plan. For: Hindu teachings (atman, ahimsa, one family) give believers a reason to treat all people equally, and many believers act on this, for example by serving free meals to anyone. Religions also bring people together in shared festivals. Against: laws, such as the Equality Act 2010, can punish discrimination whether or not people are religious; education and mixed workplaces build understanding; humanists believe in one human race without any religion; and some religious people still hold prejudices. Possible conclusion: religion is a powerful help because it gives people a deep reason to care, but on its own it is not the "best" way, since laws and education reach everyone, including people with no religion.
In (b) and (c), name the religion and use its own terms (atman, ahimsa), then explain what the teaching means for how people should treat each other. Do not just say "everyone is equal".