Editor’s Note: This article is the third in a series dealing with Seventh-day Adventism’s relationship with those of other world religions. It assumes readers have access to the first two articles in the series. The first article established the biblical basis for engagement with those of other faiths. The second article explored how Adventists could engage redemptively with their Muslim neighbors.
He was a Hindu—a Brahmin—serving as a priest in a very active temple in Virginia. I had called ahead and arranged to interview him, and he seemed genuinely excited to see me. Before we sat down to talk, he gave me a tour of the temple facility. As we walked, I noticed several conspicuous signs that discouraged worshippers from bringing certain food items as offerings. The priest explained that the County Health Department inspectors were upset that Hindus coming to the temple often brought food offerings. It seemed to the inspectors that perhaps the temple needed a food handlers’ license or maybe even that restaurant protocols should be followed. With a wry smile, the priest shrugged and said, “They don’t really know what we are doing here.”
I’m quite certain that his words could apply to many of us, too. Globally, approximately 1.2 billion people identify as Hindu, and nearly 2 million Hindus live in the United States. But do we know who they are? Do we understand what they do?[1]
This article will provide introductory answers to these questions. It will introduce common Hindu terminology, explore some similarities between Adventists and Hindus, and provide words of counsel for Adventists who seek to build genuine relationships with Hindus so that doors might be opened for witnessing. Please understand that this truly is a basic introduction. A full exploration of Hinduism’s cultural contributions and its rich tapestry of philosophies, rituals, and traditions would be beneficial for all of us, but such an exploration is beyond the scope of this article.[2]
Important Vocabulary
Hinduism
The term Hinduism technically does not refer to a single religion but actually describes a whole family of religions. Historically, outsiders coined the term Hinduism to refer to an incredibly broad range of religious beliefs and traditions originating from the geographical region of South Asia. Hinduism is not a doctrinally unified, organizationally connected religious body. So, there is no “president of Hinduism” (or high priest or pope!) and no official list of “Hindu Fundamental Beliefs.” Since this is the case, this article’s description of Hinduism should be understood as a generalization and oversimplification.
Brahman-Atman
For many Hindus, Brahman is God—the Ultimate, Supreme Reality of the universe. It is an all-pervasive, incomprehensible, all-powerful, eternal, and impersonal spiritual essence—a kind of “world soul.”
Atman refers to the spark of Brahman, or God, that many Hindus believe exists in each of us. It is our innermost self and will continue on after our body dies, albeit in some other form. All beings have this atman, or soul, which means that humans are all part of divine Brahman. Careful readers will notice that a soul in Hindu thinking is not the same as a soul in mainstream Christian thinking.
Hindu Deities
Hinduism is usually considered a polytheistic religion. Many Hindus worship a central god or goddess, along with several other deities who may be associated with their family, region, or occupation. Additionally, still other deities may be appealed to as life circumstances warrant. In other words, before taking a trip, proposing marriage, or initiating a business deal, a Hindu may seek the help and guidance of the specific gods or goddesses associated with travel, marriage, or business.
Some Hindus, however, emphasize Brahman as the One God and view these other various gods or goddesses merely as channels to or manifestations of some aspect of Brahman. The priest at the temple in Virginia explained it to me this way: “There is only one God [Brahman]. But the perception of him is many.”
Karma
For Hindus, karma expresses the universal principle of cause and effect. Every act is understood as having a consequence that will surely come, either in this life or in a future life. If we do good, we will receive good. If we do evil, we will receive evil. The caste one is born into is usually understood by Hindus to be a result of one’s karma in a prior life.
Reincarnation or Rebirth
If one accepts the Hindu concepts of Brahman-atman and karma, the doctrine of reincarnation becomes almost unavoidable. After all, if my atman is a spark of eternal Brahman, where does it go when I die? The Hindu answer is that it is reincarnated (or reborn) again and again in various life forms, which are determined by karma.
Moksha
For many Hindus, this cycle of life-death-rebirth (called samsara) represents a kind of bondage because one must deal with the unavoidable sufferings of existence over and over again. Thus, the ultimate goal is to achieve moksha (literally, “freedom” or “liberation”). In much of Hinduism, moksha, or salvation, is to cease to exist by becoming one with Brahman, the Eternal Reality. Although there is a great diversity of beliefs on the precise way to achieve moksha, Hindus generally believe this will be earned by human effort.
Areas of Similarity
If we want to build a redemptive friendship with someone, it is important to find common interests. After exploring the terms above, it may seem that there isn’t much that could be shared between an Adventist and a Hindu. But that is not the case! Here are some areas where there are similarities or overlapping interests between Adventists and Hindus:
The Importance of Prayer
Like Adventists, Hindus believe in prayer and typically begin their day with it. Note that Hindus teach purification as essential before approaching their deities, so they take baths before prayer. Hindu women also generally cover their heads before praying.
Hindus in some parts of the world will even seek out Christians to pray for them as they deal with illness or evil spirits. In many cases, Hindus have accepted Jesus Christ as a result of His answers to their prayers. If we have the privilege of praying with Hindus, it would be best to remove our shoes before prayer, as this is seen as a sign of reverence and respect.
Genuine Spirituality
In addition to prayer, Seventh-day Adventists and Hindus share several commonalities in terms of general spirituality. Worship plays a very significant role in all areas of Hindu life. Hindus compare worship to the air humans breathe—one cannot survive without it. Hindus have regular home worship, which typically includes offering flowers and/or food on the family altar.
Mistakenly, many Christians perceive Hindus solely as idol worshippers who practice pagan rituals. Hindus may pray in front of an image, but some will explain that they are not praying to that image. God, they may explain, cannot be contained or worshiped in any image.
Many Hindus are willing to talk about spiritual subjects with Christians and are often surprised to learn that the Bible teaches that God is love, He is powerful, and He cares about the affairs of humanity.
Reverence
Both Hindus and Adventists have a high regard for their respective places of worship and believe that what happens there must be according to the teachings of God. A Hindu is expected to remove their shoes as a sign of reverence before entering a place of worship. Modest dress is mandated. Personal conversations are not permitted; men and women generally sit on the floor on separate sides of the worship hall.
Many Adventist church services would be a shock for a Hindu guest. So, if we invite a Hindu to our church, we should prepare them for the differences, allow them time to adjust, and even consider how the differences can be minimized.
Health
Hindus are encouraged to care for their mind and their body and thus hold vegetarianism as an ideal. While many Hindus do eat some meat, beef is prohibited. Not surprisingly, Adventism’s health message has proven helpful to many Hindus worldwide and may be the best way to connect with a Hindu community.
Family Values
While we all live in imperfect families, Adventists and Hindus both support good family values. Hindus teach that a good family knows about sacrifice, love, service to humanity, and religious observance. Hindus derive from South Asian cultures, where children are taught at a young age to respect others, especially parents and older individuals.
Divine Incarnation
Though there are distinct differences between Hindu and Christian teachings on incarnation, the idea of God dwelling among humans is taught in both religions. Hindu writings tell stories of deities coming to earth in human form. Vishnu is an important deity in Hinduism, a god of love and compassion who has repeatedly incarnated himself to help humans. According to Hindu texts, nine incarnations of Vishnu have already taken place. The last incarnation, Kalki, will come soon, riding a white horse and carrying a flaming sword.
As Adventists, it may be helpful for us to share our understanding of Jesus’s incarnation and how this shapes our understanding of God and His care for all humanity.
Building Disciples in a Hindu Context
With these commonalities in mind, we can now reflect more wisely on the process of witnessing to Hindus. God loves the world (John 3:16), and Jesus Christ gave His life for everyone, including Hindus. How can we, as disciples of Jesus, humbly yet bravely invite others to become Jesus’ disciples?
Perhaps the main principle to remember is that God has been at work among Hindus long before any Adventists arrived. So, we should begin with prayer for discernment as to how God is working, then ask for humility, patience, and genuine love so we can join God in whatever He is doing. There are also some practical things we should keep in mind.
Belonging before Becoming
Most Hindus do not have a Christian frame of reference for the God of the Bible or an understanding of Christian culture. For them, it is crucial to belong to a Christian community so they can observe and absorb what it means to follow Jesus. This belonging probably needs to take place even before they have made a full commitment to following Jesus. This allows Hindus to taste and see that God is good. This means we should invite Hindus into our community of faith without demanding baptism first.
Supernatural Encounters
Many Hindus commonly encounter unwelcome spirits and practice a multitude of rituals with the hope that their families will be protected from these evil forces. The good news is that many Hindus find Jesus because they are delivered from the power of evil spirits through His name.
Another powerful witness among Hindus is their experience of physical healing through the name of Jesus. Still other Hindus begin to follow Jesus because of dreams or visions. Disciple-makers should be open to these manifestations of Jesus’ power, and even pray specifically for God to work in miraculous ways.
Power of Example
Because of the frequent misunderstandings that exist between Hindus and Christians, it is essential for Christian disciple-makers to become known in Hindu communities as a blessing and not a threat. Ellen White’s well-known counsel, which calls for us to mingle with those we want to reach, paves the way for connecting with Hindus in a non-threatening way.
Spending quality time with Hindus in a non-threatening environment provides them with an opportunity to be exposed to Jesus Christ without a sermon being preached to them. Instead, they can witness a sermon of practical living. Many Hindus confess their desire to have the Christ-like peace that they see among fully devoted followers of Jesus.
Hospitality
Hindus see hospitality as both a religious and social obligation. Entertaining visitors or strangers is non-negotiable. It is taught that showing hospitality to strangers or visitors will bring blessings. In South Asian culture, hospitality is shown, and friendship is formed when food is involved.
So, if a Hindu invites us to their home and offers food or something to drink, we should respond graciously. Our refusal will likely be viewed as a rejection of their friendship, even if that is not what we intend.
Bible Study
Most Hindus are not familiar with the Christian worldview or the Bible. Using a proof text method of study will probably be confusing for many Hindus. Instead of skipping from text to text, it is better to start with a biblical story, then share the meaning from a biblical perspective, and finally ask them for their interpretation and discuss it together.
Pitfalls to Avoid
Terminology
Adventists have several terms that we traditionally use when talking about evangelism and outreach. Among Hindus, some of these terms have become associated with prejudice, colonialism, an attitude of superiority, and even atrocities committed in the name of Jesus Christ. To avoid being misunderstood, we should do what we can to avoid flippant use of these terms.
Conversion
For most Hindus, conversion means abandoning one’s culture, family, and society to join something strange and foreign. It is even a political issue for some Hindus. Because of this, repeatedly pushing Hindus to “convert” often becomes an unnecessary stumbling block that actually prevents them from accepting Jesus! Becoming a follower of Jesus is a process, and we should trust that the Holy Spirit will lead each person at the best pace for them.
Baptism
Hindus are very open to learning about Jesus Christ. A challenge, however, arises when they are pressed to be baptized before fully understanding its purpose or meaning. In the past, some Christians in India heralded baptism as an event that marked a kind of arrogant “victory” over Hinduism. As a result, an Indian national movement arose which described baptism as a political tool used by Westerners to suppress their people. Even today, this view of baptism remains widely held among Hindus.
Baptism should never be forced on anyone and should be treated as one aspect of an individual’s journey with Christ. It should be something that Hindus celebrate with their children and spouse, rather than a means of dividing a family or community. It is best to allow a Hindu to first receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Then, over time, they can come to desire and accept the public expression of baptism and continue as a witness in their communities.
Christian
Among Hindus, there are at least two challenges with using the term “Christian.” First, many Hindus closely associate it with Roman Catholicism. To be a Christian, then, is understood as being a Catholic. Second, because early missionaries worked primarily with low caste groups in India, Hindus now think of Christians as a low caste religion. To avoid these misunderstandings, it may be best to introduce ourselves as followers of Jesus. This will allow us a chance to explain ourselves more clearly and will also help our Hindu friends see what a Christian really is.
Arrogance
Many Hindus doubt the genuineness of Christians who often present themselves as being superior. Additionally, Christian presentations of truth are sometimes done in very arrogant and boastful ways which are repulsive to Hindus.
The remedy for this is both spiritual and practical. First, we should repent of our pride and ask for the Holy Spirit to give us a heart of genuine humility and compassion. We can love the truth and still be kind to those who see things differently. Practically, we should avoid language that elevates ourselves and denigrates or dishonors others. For example, there is no need to argue about what religion is best. Instead, we should be genuine friends, listen well, and share the gospel of Jesus in ways that show His love for all of us—Adventists and Hindus alike.
The Opportunity Before Us
Chances are good that there are Hindus living near us. This means that there are many opportunities for Hindus to experience the saving grace of Jesus Christ, communicated through the life and testimony of a friendly Adventist. Many former Hindus tell of their gratitude for the followers of Jesus who sacrificed much to share Christ with them. May God help us all in this joyful task.
[1] For those who are uncertain about the call to understand others, it might be helpful to review the first article in this series, which establishes a biblical and practical rationale for learning about those of other faiths (see https://adventistreview.org/commentary/new-neighbors ). If we want to be understood, we must first seek to understand, and God’s call for us to love others requires us to invest in the people we seek to reach.
[2] For a more complete exploration of these questions, see Paul Dybdahl and Clifmond Shameerudeen’s Hinduism: Conversations, Contrasts, and Commonalities (Lincoln, NE: AdventSource, 2020).