🤝 Interfaith bodies
Hindu organisations in Britain have taken part in national and local interfaith groups, such as the Inter Faith Network for the UK, where people of different religions meet to discuss shared concerns.
Hindu Beliefs about Rights, Equality and Social Justice » Hinduism in a Multi-Faith Society
What you'll learn this session
Study time: 30 minutes
Edexcel spec: Paper 1, 4.4 (Hinduism)
- Hindu teachings about other religions that help a multi-faith society to develop
- Where Hindus stand on exclusivism, inclusivism, pluralism and proselytisation
- Examples of Hindus taking part in interfaith relationships
- Why Hindus do not all agree, and how to use this in the exam
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Unlock This Course"Truth is one": many paths, one destination
In the lesson The Multi-Faith Society and Interfaith Relationships you learned that a multi-faith society has people of many religions living side by side, and that interfaith relationships are the links between them. Now we look at what Hinduism teaches about people of other faiths.
A very famous Hindu teaching comes from the Rig Veda (1.164.46): "Truth is one, the wise call it by many names." Many Hindus read this to mean that there is one ultimate truth, and that different religions are different ways of describing and reaching it. You met a similar idea in Brahman: Nirguna and Saguna, where one Brahman can be worshipped in many forms.
The Bhagavad Gita says something similar. In chapter 4, Krishna says that however people come to him, he accepts them. Many Hindus use this to say that sincere worship matters more than the label of the religion.
Key terms:
- Many paths: the Hindu idea that different religions can be different routes to the same truth.
- Convert: someone who changes from one religion to another.
Exclusivism, inclusivism, pluralism and proselytisation
Remember from the shared lesson: exclusivism says only one religion is fully true, inclusivism says one religion is most true but others hold some truth, pluralism says many religions are valid paths, and proselytisation means trying to convert others.
🌍 Pluralism
Many Hindus are close to pluralism. "Truth is one" and "many paths" suggest that people of other faiths are not wrong, just following a different road. This is a main reason many Hindus welcome a multi-faith society.
📖 Inclusivism
Some Hindus are inclusivist. They see their own tradition, for example worship of Krishna or Shiva, as the clearest way to the truth, but they accept that other faiths also hold truth and are not enemies.
🔒 Exclusivism
A few Hindus take an exclusivist view, saying that only their own path leads to moksha (release from the cycle of birth and rebirth). This is not the most common Hindu position, but it exists, so do not write that "all Hindus" are pluralists.
Proselytisation. In most Hindu traditions there is no history of seeking converts. Most Hindus do not go door to door asking people to join Hinduism, because they believe other paths can also lead to the truth. A person can choose to follow Hindu teachings and practices, but most traditions do not run campaigns to convert people. There is an exception: ISKCON (the International Society for Krishna Consciousness) welcomes converts and teaches the worship of Krishna to anyone who wishes to learn.
How these beliefs promote a multi-faith society
- They reduce conflict. If other faiths are paths to the same truth, there is little reason to argue about whose religion is "right".
- They encourage respect and welcome. The teaching that the world is one family (see Hinduism and Racial Harmony) and ahimsa (not harming) both fit with treating neighbours of other faiths kindly.
- They allow cooperation. Hindus can work with people of other faiths on shared causes, such as helping those in need, without feeling that their own faith is threatened.
Examples of interfaith relationships in practice
🏛️ Open mandirs
Some mandirs hold open days and welcome visitors from other faiths and from none, to look around and ask questions about Hinduism.
- Gandhi's prayer meetings. Mahatma Gandhi held prayer meetings in which readings were taken from the holy books of several religions, to show respect for all faiths.
- Ramakrishna. The Hindu holy man Ramakrishna is said by his followers to have followed the ways of other religions, and the Ramakrishna Mission teaches the harmony of religions.
- Swami Vivekananda spoke about respect for all religions at the Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago in 1893. You will study him in the Paper 2 lessons.
These are examples of how some Hindus live out their beliefs. They are not rules that every Hindu follows.
Different views among Hindus
The views differ because Hinduism has no single founder or creed. Traditions such as the Vaishnavas and Shaivas see the supreme reality in different forms, and Hindus read the Vedas and the Gita in different ways.
- Many Hindus say all religions are valid paths and welcome interfaith work.
- Some Hindus say their own tradition is the clearest path, while still respecting others.
- A few say only their path leads to moksha.
- Most traditions do not seek converts, but ISKCON welcomes them.
Common mistakes
Saying "all Hindus believe all religions are the same" (many Hindus accept many paths, but not all do). Saying Hindus never welcome new followers (ISKCON does, and anyone may choose to follow Hindu teachings). Describing the examples as laws of Hinduism instead of ways Hindus live out their beliefs.
Exam-style question
(a) Identify three ways in which people of different religions can build good relationships. [3 marks]
(b) Choose one religion. Outline two teachings in this religion that help to promote a multi-faith society. [4 marks]
(c) Choose one religion. Explain why there are different attitudes to people of other religions in this religion. [6 marks]
(d) "All religions are equally true." Evaluate this statement, showing you have considered different points of view. In your answer you should refer to at least one religion. [12 marks]
Model answer
(a) 1. Joining local interfaith groups (1) 2. Visiting each other's places of worship (1) 3. Working together on community projects (1)
(b) In Hinduism, the Rig Veda teaches "Truth is one, the wise call it by many names" (1), which means many Hindus see other religions as different ways of reaching the same truth (1). Hindus also believe the world is one family (1), so people of other faiths should be treated as relatives, not enemies (1).
(c) Many Hindus are pluralist. They believe in "many paths to one truth", so they accept other religions as valid. Some Hindus are inclusivist: they believe their own tradition, such as worship of Krishna, is the clearest path, though they still see truth in others. A few are exclusivist and say only their path leads to moksha. Most Hindu traditions do not seek converts, because they believe other paths can reach the truth, but ISKCON welcomes people who wish to follow Krishna. These differences exist because Hinduism has no single founder or creed, and followers read the Vedas and the Gita in different ways. (6)
(d) Plan. For: many Hindus believe "Truth is one" and that all paths lead to it; pluralists say all religions point to the same truth; claiming one religion is better can cause conflict. Against: religions disagree on basic matters, such as whether there is one God, many gods or none, so they cannot all be true in the same way; exclusivists and some inclusivists in several religions believe their own is the most true; humanists would say none can be shown to be true. Possible conclusion: Hindu teaching gives a reason to respect every religion, but "equally true" is hard to defend when religions contradict each other, so respect for others is a stronger idea than saying they are all the same.
Exam tip
In (b) and (c), name Hinduism and use its own ideas, such as "Truth is one" and the many paths. In (c), show different views: pluralist, inclusivist and exclusivist.