Introduction to Hinduism

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Hinduism is one of the largest religions in the world today, with Pew Research Center recording that “The number of Hindus worldwide grew 12% from 2010 to 2020, rising from a little less than 1.1 billion to nearly 1.2 billion.”¹ Because Hinduism is so influential globally, Christians—especially young believers—need to understand what it teaches and how it differs from the truth of God's Word.

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Where Did Hinduism Come From?

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Unlike Christianity, Hinduism does not have one specific founder. Instead, Hinduism originated between 2300 BC and 1500 BC,² and, over thousands of years developed into a broad collection of beliefs and traditions.​ However, still many Hindus follow the Vedic texts, which serve as their sacred scriptures, and hold to teachings such as Karma and reincarnation.

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What is the Hindu Teaching of Karma & Reincarnation?

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Karma is the idea that every action has an opposite reaction that follows you -- either for good or bad. Additionally, Hindus teach that living a good, moral life in this present world causes you to reincarnate (literally, to take on flesh once again) into a better situation in your "next" life. If you continue to do enough good throughout your lifetimes, you will eventually reach "Moksha," or the Hindu word for being saved from the cycle of reincarnation.

 

“Hindus believe that the soul reincarnates, evolving through many births until all karmas have been resolved, and moksha, liberation from the cycle of rebirth, is attained. Not a single soul will be deprived of this destiny.”-⁴ Quote from Hinduism Today

 

Alternatively, for those that choose to live an immoral life; they, "may be born [reincarnate] into circumstances where they suffer in order to reap the consequences of bad decisions from this and previous lives."³ Some Hindus also believe that an immoral life may result in one reincarnating as an animal or insect. Because of this belief, animals, such as cows, are forbidden to be eaten by some Hindus.

 

"...people can be reincarnated as other living things based on their previous actions. This process of reincarnation and the presence of souls in all living things is the basis for respect that Hindus are encouraged to show for all people and forms of life.”⁵ Quote from Hindu American Foundation 

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Why Karma and Reincarnation Are Biblical Errors

 

​As with many other religions, Hinduism puts the burden upon man to earn their salvation. In Hinduism, one must continually strive to do enough good within their life and reap enough good karma to eventually reincarnate to the level of "moksha" or salvation.

 

In stark contrast, the Bible teaches salvation is by grace through faith alone - it is of no works of our own that we can attain heaven. In fact, the Bible says that even our righteousness is like “filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6) and that “There is none righteous, no, not one" (Romans 3:10). If one had to attain a level of perfection on this earth before attaining heaven, salvation would be impossible. 

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Who Is god in Hinduism?

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Many Hindus believe in an ultimate reality called Brahman. For example, one source stated that “…Hindus recognize one God, Brahman, the eternal origin who is the cause and foundation of all existence.”⁷ Though Christians also believe that there is one God, (Mark 12:29) Hinduism errors in teaching that Brahman [their god] appears in many different forms, resulting in a belief of several other "forms" of Brahman. In fact, Encyclopedia Britannica noted that some "Hindus acknowledge a plethora of deities and provide symbolic numbers ranging up to 330 million” (10). At its core, Hinduism is teaching that there are many different roads to God, each unique but all still leading to the same god.  

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“Hindus believe that God [Brahman] can take many manifestations, each with a different physical form, personality, origin story, and set of associated rituals.”⁸ The Hindu American Foundation

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“…there is one Supreme Being (Brahman) that manifests as numerous major and minor gods to aid people in their path towards moksha”⁹ Birmingham Museum of Art

 

Why is the Hindu concept of Brahman unbiblical? 

 

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First, the Bible teaches that there is only one God: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:" (Deut. 6:4). This one, true God is manifested in only 3 persons: The Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, which is referred to as the Holy Trinity. Yet even still, the Bible makes it clear that three Persons of the Trinity are only one: "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." (1 John 5:7).

 

Additionally, the Bible is clear that only way to receive eternal life and access to the Father is through the Lord Jesus Christ:  “I [Jesus] am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” The Hindu teaching that God is manifested in several forms contradicts the truth of the Trinity, and attempts to eliminates the only one true way to the Father, Jesus Christ.  ​One can have a multitude of gods, but they can not have eternal life at the same time: 1 “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” (1 John 5:12)​​

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Are you interested in reading about the one true way to heaven? Click here! 

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Works Cited

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1. Hackett, Conrad, Marcin Stonawski, Yunping Tong, Stephanie Kramer, Anne Shi, and Dalia Fahmy. How the Global Religious Landscape Changed From 2010 to 2020. Pew Research Center, 9 June 2025, section “5. Hindu population change,” https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/06/09/hindu-population-change/.

2. HISTORY.com Editors. “Hinduism.” History, A&E Television Networks, LLC, © 2025, https://www.history.com/topics/religion/hinduism. Accessed 20 Nov. 2025.

3. Hindu American Foundation. “What is Karma?” © 2014, https://www.hinduamerican.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/KarmaMokshaandSamsara2.0_0.pdf. Accessed 20 Nov. 2025.

4. Hinduism Today. “Nine Beliefs of Hinduism.” Hinduism Today®, Himalayan Academy Publications, © 2025, 6 Feb. 2020, https://www.hinduismtoday.com/hindu-basics/nine-beliefs-of-hinduism/. Accessed 20 Nov. 2025.

5. Hindu American Foundation. “What is Karma?” © 2014, https://www.hinduamerican.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/KarmaMokshaandSamsara2.0_0.pdf. Accessed 20 Nov. 2025.

6. “What Is Moksha and How Can We Attain It?” ISKCON Dwarka, 17 July 2020, iskcondwarka.org/blogs/moksha/. Accessed 20 Nov. 2025.

7. BBC. “Beliefs.” BBC Religions: Hinduism, © 2014, last updated 31 July 2003, https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/beliefs/intro_1.shtml. Accessed 20 Nov. 2025.

8. Hindu American Foundation. “Who Hindus Worship.” © 2018, https://www.hinduamerican.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/WhoHindusWorship.pdf. Accessed 20 Nov. 2025.

9. Birmingham Museum of Art. “Quick Guide to Hindu Deities.” © Birmingham Museum of Art, https://learn.artsbma.org/resource/quick-guide-to-hindu-deities/. Accessed 20 Nov. 2025.

10. Preston, Charles. “List of Hindu Deities.” Britannica, edited by Britannica Editors, Encyclopaedia Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/topic/list-of-Hindu-deities-2066639. Accessed 22 Nov. 2025.