HinduismHinduism is considered one of the oldest religions in the world. Hinduism predates recorded history. Hinduism is a unique religion because it does not have a single founder, but developed over a period of 4,000 years in the Indus River region, better known today as the Indian subcontinent . Hinduism does not have a specific theological system, a single moral system, or a central religious organizing center. The word Hinduism “is derived from a name applied by foreigners to people living in the Indus region and was introduced in the 19th century under British colonial rule as a census category” (Axia College, 2005). Today, Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world, after Christianity and Islam, with 837 million followers. This represents approximately 13% of the world's population (Religioustolerance.org, 2008). There are thousands of revered forms of Hinduism, developed in India, Nepal and among the Tamils ​​of Sri Lanka. In the United States, there are estimated to be around 1.1 million Hindus. The preferred term today is Sanatana Dharma, translated as eternal or ageless religion (Axia College, 2005). Hinduism is sometimes considered henotheistic, meaning “involving devotion to a single god while accepting the existence of others” (Reference.com, 2008). . Such a term is actually considered an overgeneralization. Hindus believe that a person's true self or soul, called Atman, is eternal. This Atman is ultimately indistinct from Brahman, the supreme spirit. The aim of life is to realize that our Atman is identical with Brahman, the supreme soul. “One who becomes fully aware of the Atman as the deepest core of oneself realizes an identity with Brahman and thus attains Moksha (liberation or freedom)” (Reference.com, 2008). Moksha is “liberation or freedom from the limits of space, time and matter through the realization of the immortal absolute” (Axia College, 2005). It will take several incarnations, or lifetimes, to achieve this. This is why Hindus believe in reincarnation and karma. Reincarnation is the soul leaving a corpse and being reborn again and again in a new body to continue working towards the ultimate goal of Moksha. Karma is action and the consequences of those actions in an incarnation. What we do in our lifetime will have consequences in this life and in all lives to come...