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Religious Experience in the Hindu TraditionThis Special Issue of Religions brings together a talented group of international scholars who have studied and written on the Hindu tradition. The topic of religious experience is much debated in the field of Religious Studies, and here, we present studies of the Hindu religious experience explored from a variety of regions and perspectives. Our intention is to show that the religious experience has long been an important part of Hinduism, and should not be dismissed or considered as irrelevant. As a body of scholarship, these articles refine our understanding of the range and variety of religious experience in Hinduism. In addition to their substantive contributions, the authors also show important new directions in the study of the third-largest religion in the world, with over one billion followers.
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Hindu worldviews : theories of self, ritual and reality"Designed to help readers deepen their understanding of Hinduism, and reflecting themes central to the study of religion and culture, Jessica Frazier offers Hindu-culture based theories of self, ritual, community, the body, the cosmos and the sacred. Boxed case-studies from a wide number of Hindu texts provide readers with direct access to primary sources in translation, ranging from canonical texts and tantric cosmology, to devotional poetry. Hinduism is often depicted as being so diverse in its regional cultures, doctrinal forms and its history, that it is the most difficult of all of the world religions to understand, or for adherents to explain to others. Hindu Worldviews explains the practice and doctrines of Hinduism using western theoretical and philosophical concepts as a point of entry, connecting Hindu thought and practice directly with both western and Hindu theories. The breadth and diversity of Hinduism is addressed, with each chapter providing an interpretative paradigm to understanding the conceptual rationale behind Hindu ideas, texts, practices, and culture. Reflecting the typical themes and structure of Hinduism courses, Hindu Worldviews provides an accessible new perspective on both Hinduism and modern theory in the study of religion"--
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Hindu views on euthanasia, suicide and abortion in the Durban areaAdvances in technology and medicine have greatly impacted on religious thought
 and have contributed to a large extent in bringing to the fore questions regarding
 euthanasia, suicide and abortion. This has raised a plethora of questions regarding
 actions and consequent ethical choices. What impact this has had on the Durban
 Hindu regarding the interpretation and re-interpretation of scripture to
 accommodate euthanasia, suicide and abortion is examined in the background of
 karma and dharma.
 A cross-section of Durban Hindus consisting of lawyers, doctors, academics, schoolteachers,
 Hindu scholars, priests and housewives were interviewed. Their views on
 karma and dharma, to what extent these concepts underlie their thinking with
 respect to euthanasia, suicide and abortion and what influence classical views based
 on Hindu scripture as well as Western thinking have had on the contemporary
 Hindus of the Durban area, are examined. Consequently, karma and dharma are
 viewed from a hermeneutical perspective and examined in the light of the
 phenomenological approach. The key hermeneutical concepts of karma and
 dharma have been modified and re-interpreted to accommodate changing
 circumstances. The views expressed range from the extremely liberal to the ultra
 conservative. Although the subjects were not all familiar with Hindu scripture, the
 views expressed were similar to scripture. Many Hindus therefore are reasoning on
 traditional lines, although the basis of their reasoning has shifted from scripture.
 Ethics and morality are not the only underlying principles affecting the euthanasia,
 suicide and abortion debate: financial and social considerations are also important.
 Although euthanasia and abortion are strongly condemned by the conservative
 Hindu they are accepted on medical, social and utilitarian grounds.