LFU:online

Overview of the religious mainstream in India, historical and thematic discussions, relations between religion and philosophy in India. Transition to the detailed provisions of 'religion' and 'philosophy'. Other priorities: ethics and mysticism in the Indian traditions.

The three ancient, indigenous Indian religions are Brahmanism/Hinduism, Jainism und Buddhism. They developed gradually as religious systems since the 6th century BCE. Whereas Buddhism and Jainism can be traced back to founders of these religions, the followers of Brahmanism/Hinduism regard their religion as being eternal (sanātana-dharma) and of non-human (apauruṣeya) origin. Indian culture as a whole is formed out of the interplay and interaction of these three basically divergent world views.
It is well-known that Jainism and Buddhism do not recognise a creator god, although they accept divine beings. Some followers of Hinduism, e.g. the Śaivaites and Vaiṣṇavites, ascribe the creation of the world to the gods Śiva or Viṣṇu respectively. The divergent religious perspectives in India give rise to the question about how to define the word ‘religion’. After a brief presentation of the basic presuppositions of the three Indian religions, e.g. the acceptance of the karma and rebirth theory, religio-philosophical questions will be discussed. The relation between religion and philosophy, ethics and mysticism will also be thematised. Questions for the sake of clarification and discussions of some topics will be most welcome during the lectures.

Lecture, discussion.

Oral exam.

Th. W. DE BARY (ed.): Sources of Indian Tradition. Vol. I. New York, 1958.
Paul DUNDAS: The Jains. London: Routledge, 2002.
Karl F. GELDNER: Vedismus und Brahmanismus. Tübingen: J.C.B. Mohr, 1928.
H. VON GLASENAPP: Indische Geisteswelt, Glaube und Weisheit der Hindus. Baden Baden: Im Bertelsmann Lesering, 1958.
H. VON GLASENAPP: Der Jainismus. Eine indische Erlösungsreligion. Hildesheim: Georg Olms Verlag, 1925/1984.
Jan GONDA: Die Religionen Indiens. 3 Bde., Stuttgart: Kohlhammer, 1978 (2. Aufl.)

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